Recent Progress and Current Challenges in Optimization for the Smart Grid Seminar

A smart grid is the combination of a traditional power distribution system with large amounts of renewable energy sources and two-way communication between suppliers and consumers. This combination is expected to deliver energy savings, cost reductions, and increased reliability and security, but smart grids introduce numerous challenges for the management of the resulting system. These include integrating large contributions from wind and solar electricity generation, managing bidirectional flows of power, and incorporating demand-response. We will present examples of how optimization is helping to meet some of these challenges, and discuss directions for future research.