Since the energy world started moving towards more distributed generation, the energy network started being used in more diverse ways, transitioning from a mostly ‘one-way street’ into a system of freeways, overpasses and possible traffic jams.

And this is where the ‘smart grid’ comes in. In order to prevent jams from happening, accurate predictions and control are vital. We need to make the best possible use of our resources and infrastructures so that new local sources can be integrated into our system. More directions of flow, renewable yet uncontrollable sources, growing demand, electric vehicles etc. If you look at it, you know that intelligent energy management is the only way forward. By making home appliances more intelligent, by making solar panels smarter, by making heat pumps more considerate and charge our car at the smartest time, we can make ‘smarter grids’.

So ‘smart grids’ is really not just about the grids. It is also about everything connected to it becoming smarter. It is important to realize that there are different levels of grids and therefore also different levels of smart grids. The high tension wires high above the ground move energy across states or even countries. Then there is the so called mid-tension grid within cities or regions and the low-tension grid within neighborhoods.

Where does Qurrent fit in?
All these grid levels will become smarter and smarter but the most relevant change will come in the mid- and low-tension networks. This is where local exchanges will happen and flows will become more bi-directional. Also, this is the area where optimization can really have impact; all those millions of end-users are connected to the low-tension grid. So if they start becoming producers besides being consumers, that’s where the first impact will be and that’s where, for instance, control of appliances can really help.

Needless to say that area is where we have our strategic focus. We are trying to facilitate mass optimization and cooperation within or even between neighborhoods. But we are not approaching it from a technical angle. We believe that the ‘end-participant’ (for lack of a better term; ‘consumer’ or ‘user’ no longer capture the role of customers in this system) is central in changing the behavior of grids. They will set the boundaries for optimization and come up with new ways of looking at the energy market. In other words, while technology is essential, smart grids are very much about empowering the consumer.