Building the Smart Grid: The Role of IoT in Powering Tomorrow’s Cities
As the population in the urban areas of the countries increases, these cities face the obstacles of directing enough energy to meet the needs of all while using the functions of these obsolete electrical networks. Built many decades ago, today’s power grids are unpredictable in performance, expensive to operate, and unproductive. A single fallen stick from a tree can cause blackouts in areas for long periods of time. Not to mention that these power grids also cause damage to the environment by increasing pollution levels.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has the technological prowess to evolve the way we plan cities around the world. IoT links people and governments with smart city solutions with the help of Smart Grid technology, specially selected to replace older structures. The benefits of exploring IoT monitoring and regulation in relation to smart grids are:
Efficient use of energy
Smart Grid technologies will help reduce energy consumption and expenses by using and maintaining data. For example, smart lighting with the help of smart city technology will be able to regulate usage in different areas, quickly adapt to external factors like rain or fog, alter output to meet specific time of day or particular conditions. of traffic, predict and address power outages in an instant. For consumer use, they can regulate the temperature of their home thermostats through mobile interfaces while they are in the office or on vacation.
Sustainable energy
Smart Grid technologies are less battery intensive, carbon efficient and designed to reduce peak load on distribution feeders. Developers can even strive to infuse green technology into their smart IoT management for more sustainable networks. Efficient wind turbines, solar cells, microgrid technologies, and feeder automation systems have the ability to power multiple phases of the distribution chain.
Systematic Transport
Smart IoT sensors can accumulate data in real time to transmit to drivers and authorities. Over time, this will minimize traffic congestion, offer elevated parking solutions, inform drivers of traffic incidents and structural damage to city landscapes, and enable automated payments at road tolls and parking gates. . In the future, IoT technology will probably even be able to charge electric vehicles wirelessly.
Water and Waste Management
Smart cities increase productivity and reduce expenses in their water and waste management applications. IoT applications offer real-time data to track inventory and mitigate theft/loss. Similarly, cloud-based technologies and traffic control can ensure better scheduling and time spent on certain routes. Smart energy analytics can collect information on water flow, pressure, temperature, and more to help consumers keep track of their usage habits.
