By Ian H. Rowlands

A technology roadmap usually provides valuable data and analysis on the current state of that particular technology as well as its expected future development.  A good roadmap can guide strategic efforts going forward and can catalyze progress.

In the smart grid world, roadmaps are becoming increasingly evident.

All of this is to be welcomed. The International Energy Agency, for instance, identified (see page 8) the following potential benefits of smart grid roadmap development:

·         Increase understanding among a range of stakeholders of the nature, function, costs and benefits of smart grids

·         Identify the most important actions required to develop smart grid technologies and policies that help to attain global energy and climate goals

·         Develop pathways to follow and milestones to target based on regional conditions.

Viewed collectively, the roadmaps that have appeared to date point to some key defining characteristics with respect to a smart grid future:

·         Technologies to facilitate deployment of diverse electricity generation sources, including renewables, and energy storage facilities

·         Technologies to enable customer engagement with the smart grid (for example, automation networks and energy dashboards)

·         Electrification of transportation

·         Electrification of space and water conditioning (heating and cooling)

Anyone wanting a picture of what a transformed power system could well look like need only consult one of these roadmaps.  Ideas about how to get to that future are also on offer.