Smart grids are the power networks of the future. Using ICT technology, smart grids answer the world's need to better integrate renewable energy sources and to cope in an intelligent way with today's increase of power consumption. Furthermore, smart grids increase energy efficiency, improve the reliability of the network and reduce costs.
In this session four projects where iMinds is involved are presented to highlight a number of important challenges for smart grids and the role of ICT for solving these problems:
Until recently, Wouter Haerick was coordinating different national smart grid ICT projects on smart charging and smart energy distribution. Since 2011, he is the main contact person for industry to discuss joint smart grid research projects.