With an aim to reduce the loss of electric power and optimize the distribution of electrical energy among a huge customer base in an enhanced way, smart grids are being installed at increasing number of power stations worldwide. These grids enable the power supply organizations to understand, improve and streamline the process of power distribution in a proactive manner.

IEEE, a well known technical professional association working for advancement of technology for the benefit of humanity, has declared in its latest publication that the “Smart Grid Sandbox” microgrid of the University of Minnesota has achieved zero carbon. The organization offers valuable insight upon a number of topics related to aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics through its publications, conferences, technology standards and professional and educational activities.

In the December 2011 issue of the IEEE (News - Alert) Smart Grid Newsletter, the “Smart Grid Sanbox” microgrid has been especially mentioned while Kentucky’s university, industry and government cooperative work on the Kentucky Smart Grid Roadmap Initiative have also received ample focus within the recent document. It also features various write ups upon Broadband over Power Line and optimization of the power system’s technical and management layers. The newsletter is available online at the IEEE Smart Grid Web Portal without any charge.

“This year the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter has brought forth real world experience, case studies, technological and business insights to share with the Smart Grid community at large,” commented Massoud Amin, chair of the IEEE Smart Grid Newsletter. “Because IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional association, uniquely bringing together the experts from the myriad disciplines that make up Smart Grid, it takes seriously its responsibility to further the Smart Grid conversation, sharing knowledge and information from its vast international resource of IEEE member experts.” 

An impressive array of seasoned experts and authors from telecommunications networking, computer science, electrical engineering and power and energy sectors across the globe have contributed their efforts by writing a number of informative articles in the publication.

A case study of the microgrid at the University of Minnesota at Morris campus is presented by Dr. S. Massoud Amin and Anthony M. Giacomoni, authors of the document. The University of Minnesota has been utilizing locally generated renewable energy and has almost achieved the distinction of being totally energy-self-sufficient. The campus is zero net carbon since the year 2008, the newsletter states. Dr. S. Massoud Amin, Honeywell (News - Alert)/H.W. Sweatt Chair in Technological Leadership at the University of Minnesota, holds a senior position at IEEE, while Anthony, a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Minnesota is a student member at the organization.

In November 2011, IEEE announced that four of its globally recognized smart grid experts have been named to FierceEnergy Magazine’s “15 Most Influential People in Energy” list. IEEE Life Member Dick DeBlasio, IEEE Fellows Erich Gunther and John McDonald (News - Alert) and Andres Carvallo, IEEE Computer Society member are among the individuals singled out by the publication as having the greatest amount of influence in the energy industry during 2011.