ASSESSING SMART GRIDS IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

The electric grid has not changed its’ structural conception, technology, tactics and topologies since its’ large-scale utilization. The usage of information and communication technologies along with the existing grid could make them more efficient, safe, dynamic and flexible, optimizing its’ operation and control, besides providing new market models. However, this new concept, called “smart grids” (SG), comprehends several actors of the electrical system, which have conflicting interests, what hinders project implementation, besides the inherent difficulty in integrating new technologies in different regional contexts. Therefore, it is essential to identify metrics and key-factors of success to create models that allow the comprehensive assessment of this kind of project, once the SG implementation is still in an early stage all over the world. This paper addresses this subject through a systematic literature review, aiming at defining a set of implementation key-factors and compare existing assessment models of SG projects. The main conclusions of this systematic review are that there is significate heterogeneity concerning the complexity level of the key-factors and the assessment models found; and despite that each project has its’ own goals and needs, these key-factors must be comprehensive and better characterized in their analysis depth. Finally, a tighter integration among stakeholders should be promoted in different levels (strategic, tactical, and operational), in order to align the understanding around this subject.

Keywords

• Smart electrical grid
• smart grid
• systematic review
• key-factors
• assessment model