The role of information and communication technologies in smart-grid development

The paper presents the smart-grid concepts and the role of information and communication technologies in their development. The idea of smart grids represents the evolution of the existing power grid. The today's power grid is faced with many challenges, like adoption of distributed generation (DG) and other elements in the grid, ageing infrastructure, etc. The basis of smart grids is the information and communication system (ICS). Its future goal is to actively connect as many users as possible (DG, loads, electric vehicles, etc.), with a particular emphasis laid on two-way communications between grid users. To manage and control such a big number of elements and data, new information solutions and new concepts of grid management are looked for. Solutions already used in telecommunications are now also being applied in the power system. Standardisation of ICT solutions is very important. Two of the most efficient standards in this area are IEC 61850 and CIM.