by Shalin Sheth, Founder & Managing Director, Advait Infratech
The ongoing lifestyle of humankind thrives on consuming energy, making it an unavoidable necessity. Moreover, the increasing population has skyrocketed the overall energy demand across the nation. A majority of these energy demands are conventionally met with the help of traditional energy sources. However, it is important to understand that these conventional energy sources are continually depleting while generating major environmental concerns. To even enhance the existing challenge, the ongoing power infrastructure in the nation is unsustainable, aging, and inefficient.
The present electricity grid across the nation is prone to blackouts and burnouts and also experiences increased transmission losses, supply of inadequate energy, reduced power quality, while also discouraging the integration of distributed sources of energy. Mitigation of existing challenges in the energy sector will require comprehensive overhauling of the entire power delivery infrastructure.
The advent of smart grid
Smart Grid, representing the modernization of the conventional electric grid, is regarded as the rising combination of different cutting-edge technologies aimed at bringing about a major change in the electrical power industry. A Smart Grid is an extensive electricity network that leverages digital along with other advanced technologies like ERS (Emergency Restoration System) to monitor as well as manage the transmission of electricity from the source. The aim of modernizing the electricity sector of the country is to fulfill the varying electricity needs and demands of end users.
Smart Grids help in coordinating the needs as well as capabilities of all grid operators, electricity generators, electricity market shareholders, and even end users to operate all consecutive components of the system quite efficiently. In turn, this helps in minimizing the overall costs and environmental concerns while also maximizing the resilience, reliability, stability, and flexibility of the system.
ERS: A core technology for ensuring quick power restoration
In addition to Smart Grid in the power sector, other revolutionary technology solutions like Emergency Restoration System (ERS) can accelerate the progress of the otherwise outdated power system of the entire nation. ERS serves to be a great solution to commence the process of electricity transmission within the shortest span possible. It is made possible with the creation of a temporary bypass system.
The indigenous ERS technology has been developed by CSIR-SERC, Chennai in collaboration with Advait Infratech. The cutting-edge technology boasts immense potential to help the power transmission & distribution sector of India in multiple ways. ERS technology for rapid power transmission and distribution is unique. The entire system features lightweight modules connected with an advanced connection system. These units are supported with the help of gimbal joints. Moreover, these are relatively easy to construct in the foundation system.
The indigenous ERS technology by CSIR-SERC was recently handed over to Advait Infratech in Ahmedabad. The company has set up a dedicated ERS manufacturing plant to accelerate the generation and distribution of the revolutionary ERS technology to the entire Indian power transmission sector. It is a high-end patented technology in the energy sector and is made available for ensuring technology transfer across all players of the globe.
Conclusion
Modern industry and life depends significantly on round-the-clock electricity supply. With the overall population reaching its record high, it points towards the need for a continuous and ever-rising consumption of electricity. With the presence of existing unreliable and insufficient infrastructure, it is high time technological advancements take over conventional, outdated systems.
The advent of ground-breaking technologies like Smart Grids and ERS can aid the modernization and transformation of the energy sector of the country. As electricity serves to be a fundamental requirement of ensuring economic growth, transformation of outdated dumb electricity grids to the latest Smart Grid should be considered significantly.