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Among the themes that have graced ourIEEE Power & Energy Magazine issues this year were smart grid, large-scale solar integration, and energy storage. Still to come is the November/December issue that will focus on the integration of wind power into the electric system. These technology-oriented themes are bound together by public policy directives from governments throughout the world that determine how these technologies will be implemented. The directives, by these governments, are driven by a multitude of variables such as politics, public opinion, and economics.
As the IEEE Power & Energy Editorial Board was debating the 2009 issue themes at our meeting last year, Hugh Rudnick made the salient point that understanding global public policy in the energy sector was as pertinent to the arguments as any technical parameter and that being aware of and understanding policies in different parts of our world is very necessary to comprehend decisions that will be made in the energy sector. His arguments were most persuasive, and we agreed to have public policy as the theme of a 2009 issue.
Hugh also agreed to serve as the guest editor, and this issue is the result. He has assembled five articles from a very impressive group of authors that will enable the reader to better understand what drives energy policies in different parts of our world. Two of the feature articles look at regional policies in the European Union and Latin America while the remaining three are devoted to specific national policies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and India.
In This Issue
In his guest editorial Hugh will offer a detailed introduction of the subject and the articles, but allow me to introduce our feature articles by title and author in their order of appearance.
- “Unity for All” by José Sierra and Ignacio Pérez-Arriaga
- “Balance of Power” by Sebastian Mocarquer, Luiz A. Barroso, Hugh Rudnick, Bernardo Bezerra, and Mario V. Pereira
- “Brokering Power” by Stephen P. Holland and John L. Neufeld
- “This Sustainable Isle” by Goran Strbac, Charlotte Ramsay, and Rodrigo Moreno
- “Electrifying India” by Arjun P. Gupta and Jayant Sathaye.
Historical Intrigues
The issue's “History” column may be viewed as a prelude to the November issue's theme of the integration of wind power to the grid. It is an intriguing story, both of an unusual event as well as the personal account of its author, Dr. Dimitri R. Stein. It is difficult to conceive of a seminal event occurring in war-ravaged Germany in 1946, one very short year after the end of World War II. The story of Dr. Stein, which you will find in Associate Editor Carl Sulzberger's introduction to the column, is one of tragedy and triumph. I will leave it at that but strongly recommend that our readers not pass by this story.
Another Look at the Smart Grid
In our continuing series of future-oriented “In My View” columns during this 125th anniversary year, Saifur Rahman offers a comprehensive review of the challenges and opportunities that may accompany the advent of the smart grid. His column “Smart Grid Expectations” looks at the enabling technologies that must be addressed, which includes automated meter reading, security and privacy issues, advanced communication and infrastructure and cybersecurity, and renewable energy sources. He also cites the compelling requirement for the standards that will be necessary to insure compatibility between the myriad systems and components that will have to be integrated as well as a need for a model for customer involvement. Saifur concludes by predicting that the smart grid market will offer opportunities for many nonutility entrepreneurial entities.
