Full Title: Renewable Electricity Futures Study: Bulk Electric Power Systems: Operations and Transmission Planning
Author(s): Michael Milligan, Erik Ela, Jeff Hein, Thomas Schneider, Gregory Brinkman, Paul Denholm
Publisher(s): National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date: June 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The electric power system is the infrastructure that converts fuel and energy resources into electric power (thus generating electricity) and carries and manages that electric power from where it is generated to where it is used. It is a system of systems that comprises physical networks that include fuel and resources; power plants of many different varieties; electric transmission and distribution line networks and measurement; information and control systems; and virtual networks of money, business relationships, and regulation. Achieving balance among all of these elements is a fundamental challenge for the planning, engineering, and operation of the overall system because of the variability and uncertainty of load and unexpected equipment failures that affect the generation and delivery of electricity. The system of systems is loosely referred to here as “the grid.”