"The smart grid consists of eight main features that functionally describe the characteristics of the grid, rather than the specific technology to be applied in the end, and they form a complete picture of the smart grid.

Smart grids are self-healing grids.

'Self-healing' refers to isolating problematic components in the grid from the system and quickly restoring the system to normal operation with little or no human intervention, so that the power supply service to the user is almost uninterrupted. Essentially, self-healing is the "immune system" of the smart grid. This is the most important feature of a smart grid.

Self-healing grids conduct continuous online self-assessments to predict possible problems in the grid, identify existing or developing problems, and take immediate steps to control or correct them.

Self-healing grids ensure grid reliability, safety, power quality, and efficiency. The self-healing grid will minimize the interruption of power supply services, make full use of data acquisition technology, implement decision support algorithms, avoid or limit interruptions in power supply, and quickly restore power supply services.

A probabilistic risk assessment based on real-time measurements will identify equipment, power plants, and lines that are most likely to fail; Real-time emergency analysis will determine the overall health level of the grid, trigger early warnings that could lead to the development of grid failures, and determine if immediate inspections or appropriate actions are needed; Communication with local and remote devices will help analyze faults, voltage drops, poor power quality, overloads, and other undesirable system states, and take appropriate control actions based on these analyses.

Self-healing grids often apply the design of networks that connect multiple power sources. In the event of a malfunction or other problem, advanced sensors in the grid equipment identify the fault and communicate with nearby devices to remove the faulty element or quickly switch the user to another reliable power source. At the same time, the sensor also has the ability to detect the precursors of a failure, before it actually occurs. Inform the system of the equipment status, and the system will provide early warning information in time.

Smart grids incentivize and include users.

in the smart grid. Users will be an integral part of the power system. Encouraging and facilitating user participation in the operation and management of the power system is another important feature of smart grids.

From the perspective of the smart grid, the needs of users are another manageable resource entirely, which will help balance supply and demand and ensure the reliability of the system; From the user's point of view, electricity consumption is an economical option that reaps tangible benefits by participating in the operation and management of the grid, modifying the way it uses and purchases electricity.

In a smart grid, users will adjust their consumption based on the balance of their electricity demand and the power system's ability to meet their needs. At the same time, demand response programs will meet the basic needs of users who have more choices in energy purchases. The ability to reduce or shift peak power demand allows the power sector to minimize capital and operating expenses, while also providing a host of environmental benefits by reducing line loss and reducing the operation of inefficient peaking power plants.

In the smart grid, the two-way real-time communication system established with users is the basis for encouraging and promoting users to actively participate in the operation and management of the power system. Users are notified in real time of the cost of their electricity consumption, real-time electricity prices, current grid conditions, planned outages, and other services, and users can also develop their own power usage plans based on this information.

The smart grid will defend against attacks.

The security of the grid requires a system-wide solution that reduces vulnerability to physical and cyber attacks on the grid and quickly recovers from power outages.

Smart grids will demonstrate the ability to recover quickly from an attack, even from determined and well-equipped attackers.

Smart grids are designed and operated to deter attacks, minimize their consequences and quickly restore power service. Smart grids can also withstand attacks on several parts of the power system at the same time and attacks that coordinate multiple times over a period of time. The security strategy for the smart grid will include deterrence, prevention, detection, and response to minimize and mitigate the impact on the grid and economic development.

Whether it's a physical or cyber attack, smart grids need to be better communicated by strengthening the communication of major threats between utilities and governments. Emphasize security risks in power grid planning, strengthen network security and other means to improve the ability of smart grids to resist risks.

Smart grids will provide power quality that meets the needs of users in the 21st century.

Power quality indicators include voltage offset, frequency offset, three-phase unbalance, harmonics, flicker, voltage dip and surge.

Due to the digitalization of electrical devices, power quality is becoming more and more sensitive. Power quality problems can lead to the shutdown of production lines, which has significant losses to social and economic development, so providing power quality that can meet the needs of users in the 21st century is another important feature of smart grids.

But power quality is not a problem for the power sector alone. Therefore, there is a need to develop new power quality standards to classify power quality. Because not all commercial enterprise users and residential users need the same power quality.

Power quality can be graded from 'standard' to 'premium'. Depending on the needs of the consumer, it will balance the sensitivity of the load with the power quality of the power supply at a reasonable price level. Smart grids will provide different levels of power quality at different price levels to meet the needs of users for different power quality levels, and at the same time, high quality and good prices should be written into the contract of power services.

Smart grids will mitigate power quality incidents from transmission and distribution systems.

Monitor the essential elements of the grid through its advanced control methods to quickly diagnose and accurately propose solutions to resolve any power quality incidents.

In addition, the design of smart grids should also consider reducing power quality disturbances caused by lightning, switching inrush currents, line faults and harmonic sources, while applying the latest research results in superconductivity, materials, energy storage, and power electronics to improve power quality to solve power quality problems.

In addition, the smart grid will adopt technical and management means to protect the power grid from the impact of power quality caused by the user's electronic load, and will limit the harmonic current generated by the user's load to the grid through monitoring and implementation of relevant standards. In addition, the smart grid will adopt appropriate filters to prevent harmonic pollution from being fed into the grid and deteriorating the power quality of the grid.

Smart grids will allow for the integration of various types of power generation and energy storage systems.

Smart grids will securely and seamlessly allow for a wide range of different types of power generation and energy storage systems to be connected to the system, simplifying the process of networking, similar to 'plug and play', which poses a serious challenge to the grid. Improved interconnection standards will enable easy access to a wide variety of power generation and energy storage systems.

Power generation and storage of different capacities, from small to large, can be interconnected at all voltage levels, including distributed power sources such as photovoltaics, wind power, advanced battery systems, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and fuel cells.

It will be easier and more profitable for commercial users to install their own power generation equipment and power storage facilities. In smart grids, large-scale centralized power plants, including environmentally friendly power sources such as wind power and large-scale solar power plants and advanced nuclear power plants, will continue to play an important role. Strengthening the transmission system will allow these large power plants to still be able to transmit power over long distances.

At the same time, the access of various distributed power sources on the one hand reduces the dependence on foreign energy, and on the other hand, improves the reliability of power supply and power quality, especially for dealing with wars and terrorist attacks.

The smart grid will allow the electricity market to flourish.

In the smart grid, advanced equipment and a wide range of communication systems support the operation of the market during each time period and provide sufficient data to the market participants, so the infrastructure of the electricity market and its technical support system are the key factors for the power market to thrive.

Through the interaction of supply and demand in the market, smart grid can most effectively manage parameters such as energy, capacity, capacity change rate, power flow blockage, etc., reduce power flow blockage, expand the market, and bring together more buyers and sellers.

Users will feel the price increase through real-time quotes, which will reduce the demand for electricity, drive lower-cost solutions, and facilitate the development of new technologies, and new clean energy products will also provide more options to the market.

Smart grids optimize their asset applications and make operations more efficient.

Smart grids optimally adjust the management and operation of their grid assets to deliver the desired functionality at the lowest cost. This does not mean that assets will be continuously used to their limits, but rather effectively manage what assets are needed and when, and each asset will be well integrated with all other assets to maximize its functionality while reducing costs. Smart grids will apply the latest technologies to optimize the application of their assets.

For example, through dynamic evaluation techniques to enable assets to perform at their best capabilities, and through continuous monitoring and evaluation of their capabilities to enable assets to be used under greater loads.

The smart grid realizes the online status monitoring of the operating equipment through the high-speed communication network, so as to obtain the operating status of the equipment, give the signal that the equipment needs to be repaired at the most appropriate time, realize the state maintenance of the equipment, and make the equipment run in the best state. The system's controls can be adjusted to reduce losses and eliminate blockages.

Through these adjustments to the system controls, the least costly energy delivery system is selected and the efficiency of the operation is improved. Optimal capacity, optimal condition and optimal operation will greatly reduce the cost of grid operation.

In addition, advanced information technology will provide a wealth of data and information and will be integrated into existing enterprise-wide systems, greatly enhancing their capabilities to optimize operations and maintenance processes.

This information will provide designers with better tools to create the best designs to provide planners with the data they need to improve their grid planning capabilities and capabilities. In this way, O&M costs, as well as investments in grid construction, will be managed more effectively. (To be continued......)