Smart grid opportunities and challenges of integrating renewable sources: A survey

The smart grid is a new and improved power grid that seems to have all the solutions to our energy problems. The technology for the smart grid is still in the research and development phase but it is rapidly growing. There are many opportunities to be taken advantage of when talking about the smart grid. The possibility for the seamless integration of renewable energy resources and ushering in a new era of consumer choice is evident. However, there are still many challenges to be overcome in the pursuit of the smart grid. Energy storage is one of the biggest hurdles engineers face today along with the communication needed for the smart grid. The most ideal and efficient way to set up the smart grid is still a mystery with standards not fully in place. This paper will help uncover some of these issues and review available solutions, projects, and technologies to address them.