Evolution of power to smart energy systems

Abstract

The electrical system is presented as a large “energy transformation engine” that takes different forms of energy to convert it to electrical energy given its wide usage and its increasing demand in the future. As a result of the new technologies the reliability of electricity supply will be increased dramatically, something useful for society that will depend more and more on this source of energy. This paper explores the evolution of the electrical system by considering the example of the Colombian Power system. The current situation is analyzed and a future scenario is formulated, leading to a comparison of the main benefits of its evolution towards the Smart Grid concept. The evolution will bring new interesting perspective to electrical engineering which will need adjustments starting in the form that the engineers of the future are trained.