scholarly journals The smart grid as a security device: Electricity infrastructure and urban governance in Kingston and Rio de Janeiro

Urban Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004209802098571
Author(s):  
Francesca Pilo’

This article aims to contribute to recent debates on the politics of smart grids by exploring their installation in low-income areas in Kingston (Jamaica) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). To date, much of this debate has focused on forms of smart city experiments, mostly in the Global North, while less attention has been given to the implementation of smart grids in cities characterised by high levels of urban insecurity and socio-spatial inequality. This article illustrates how, in both contexts, the installation of smart metering is used as a security device that embeds the promise of protecting infrastructure and revenue and navigating complex relations framed along lines of socio-economic inequalities and urban sovereignty – here linked to configurations of state and non-state (criminal) territorial control and power. By unpacking the political workings of the smart grid within changing urban security contexts, including not only the rationalities that support its use but also the forms of resistance, contestation and socio-technical failure that emerge, the article argues for the importance of examining the conjunction between urban and infrastructural governance, including the reshaping of local power relations and spatial inequalities, through globally circulating devices.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey J. Horowitz

This paper examines a confluence of factors and consequence linked to changing socio-economic and spatial arrangements in the post-industrial globalized city. Neo-liberal urban governance and the influence of evolved capitalist economic and cultural structures have altered the demographic landscape of many cities. Urban neighbourhoods are increasingly exclusive to the middle and upper classes, as state support for low-income populations wanes in favour of revenue growth and a fixation on image. Gentrification has expanded geographically, and is often promoted by policy with little regard for gradual but substantial displacement of the poor. These patterns are epitomized in large 'world cities' such as New York, London, and Toronto that are the financial and cultural centresof their region; the conditions are mergent in a growing number of cities worldwide. If government are to prevent standardization of these processes and commit to measures for social sustainability, they must first demonstrate greater capacity for intervention in market-based inequalities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 107-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Bortz ◽  
Megumi Kano ◽  
Heribert Ramroth ◽  
Christovam Barcellos ◽  
Scott R. Weaver ◽  
...  

Abstract An urban health index (UHI) was used to quantify health inequalities within Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the years 2002-2010. Eight main health indicators were generated at the ward level using mortality data. The indicators were combined to form the index. The distribution of the rank ordered UHI-values provides information on inequality among wards, using the ratio of the extremes and the gradient of the middle values. Over the decade the ratio of extremes in 2010 declined relative to 2002 (1.57 vs. 1.32) as did the slope of the middle values (0.23 vs. 0.16). A spatial division between the affluent south and the deprived north and east is still visible. The UHI correlated on an ecological ward-level with socioeconomic and urban environment indicators like square meter price of apartments (0.54, p < 0.01), low education of mother (-0.61, p < 0.01), low income (-0.62, p < 0.01) and proportion of black ethnicity (-0.55, p < 0.01). The results suggest that population health and equity have improved in Rio de Janeiro in the last decade though some familiar patterns of spatial inequality remain.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey J. Horowitz

This paper examines a confluence of factors and consequence linked to changing socio-economic and spatial arrangements in the post-industrial globalized city. Neo-liberal urban governance and the influence of evolved capitalist economic and cultural structures have altered the demographic landscape of many cities. Urban neighbourhoods are increasingly exclusive to the middle and upper classes, as state support for low-income populations wanes in favour of revenue growth and a fixation on image. Gentrification has expanded geographically, and is often promoted by policy with little regard for gradual but substantial displacement of the poor. These patterns are epitomized in large 'world cities' such as New York, London, and Toronto that are the financial and cultural centresof their region; the conditions are mergent in a growing number of cities worldwide. If government are to prevent standardization of these processes and commit to measures for social sustainability, they must first demonstrate greater capacity for intervention in market-based inequalities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Herrera ◽  
L. Herrera
Keyword(s):  

Las smart grids han sido concebidas como la combinación de la red eléctrica tradicional (generación, transmisión, distribución, y comercialización, incluyendo las energías alternativas) con las redes de comunicaciones electrónicas. Este concepto revoluciona la administración, supervisión, y mantenimiento de la red eléctrica, volviéndola inteligente ante sobrecargas, caídas, apagones, caídas de tensión disminuyendo los tiempos de respuesta ante estos problemas. En este trabajo se analizan las tecnologías de redes de datos y comunicaciones electrónicas implicadas en este nuevo concepto de gestión eficiente de la electricidad. En la primera sección se abordan conceptos introductorios para entender las diferencias entre las redes eléctricas tradicionales y las smart grids, luego se realiza un análisis de las arquitecturas y requerimientos de diseño de una smart grid, para en la siguiente sección elaborar una revisión de las tecnologías de comunicaciones actualmente usadas en smart grids, para finalmente analizar los retos de diseño, líneas de investigación y estandarización actuales en las tecnologías de smart grids. En la última sección se anexan las conclusiones de la realización de este trabajo.


2020 ◽  
pp. 28-37
Author(s):  
Oleksandra V. Kubatko ◽  
Diana O. Yaryomenko ◽  
Mykola O. Kharchenko ◽  
Ismail Y. A. Almashaqbeh

Interruptions in electricity supply may have a series of failures that can affect banking, telecommunications, traffic, and safety sectors. Due to the two-way interactive abilities, Smart Grid allows consumers to automatically redirect on failure, or shut down of the equipment. Smart Grid technologies are the costly ones; however, due to the mitigation of possible problems, they are economically sound. Smart grids can't operate without smart meters, which may easily transmit real-time power consumption data to energy data centers, helping the consumer to make effective decisions about how much energy to use and at what time of day. Smart Grid meters do allow the consumer to track and reduce energy consumption bills during peak hours and increase the corresponding consumption during minimum hours. At a higher level of management (e.g., on the level of separate region or country), the Smart Grid distribution system operators have the opportunity to increase the reliability of power supply primarily by detecting or preventing emergencies. Ukraine's energy system is currently outdated and cannot withstand current loads. High levels of wear of the main and auxiliary equipment of the power system and uneven load distribution in the network often lead to emergencies and power outages. The Smart Grid achievements and energy sustainability are also related to the energy trilemma, which consists of key core dimensions– Energy Security, Energy Equity, and Environmental Sustainability. To be competitive in the world energy market, the country has to organize efficiently the cooperation of public/private actors, governments, economic and social agents, environmental issues, and individual consumer behaviors. Ukraine gained 61 positions out of 128 countries in a list in 2019 on the energy trilemma index. In general, Ukraine has a higher than average energy security position and lower than average energy equity, and environmental sustainability positions. Given the fact that the number of renewable energy sources is measured in hundreds and thousands, network management is complicated and requires a Smart Grid rapid response. Keywords: economic development, Smart Grid, electricity supply, economic and environmental efficiency.


Author(s):  
Cherrelle Eid ◽  
Rudi Hakvoort ◽  
Martin de Jong

The global transition towards sustainable, secure, and affordable electricity supply is driving changes in the consumption, production, and transportation of electricity. This chapter provides an overview of three main causes of political–economic tensions with smart grids in the United States, Europe, and China, namely industry structure, regulatory models, and the impact of energy policy. In all cases, the developments are motivated by the possible improvements in reliability and affordability yielded by smart grids, while sustainability of the electricity sector is not a central motivation. A holistic smart grid vision would open up possibilities for better integration of distributed energy resources. The authors recommend that smart grid investments should remain outside of the regulatory framework for utilities and distribution service operators in order to allow for such developments.


Author(s):  
Chethan Parthasarathy ◽  
Hossein Hafezi ◽  
Hannu Laaksonen

AbstractLithium-ion battery energy storage systems (Li-ion BESS), due to their capability in providing both active and reactive power services, act as a bridging technology for efficient implementation of active network management (ANM) schemes for land-based grid applications. Due to higher integration of intermittent renewable energy sources in the distribution system, transient instability may induce power quality issues, mainly in terms of voltage fluctuations. In such situations, ANM schemes in the power network are a possible solution to maintain operation limits defined by grid codes. However, to implement ANM schemes effectively, integration and control of highly flexible Li-ion BESS play an important role, considering their performance characteristics and economics. Hence, in this paper, an energy management system (EMS) has been developed for implementing the ANM scheme, particularly focusing on the integration design of Li-ion BESS and the controllers managing them. Developed ANM scheme has been utilized to mitigate MV network issues (i.e. voltage stability and adherence to reactive power window). The efficiency of Li-ion BESS integration methodology, performance of the EMS controllers to implement ANM scheme and the effect of such ANM schemes on integration of Li-ion BESS, i.e. control of its grid-side converter (considering operation states and characteristics of the Li-ion BESS) and their coordination with the grid side controllers have been validated by means of simulation studies in the Sundom smart grid network, Vaasa, Finland.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 968-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Fox ◽  
Jo Beall

The process of urbanisation has historically been associated with both socioeconomic development and social strain. Although there is little evidence that urbanisation per se increases the likelihood of conflict or violence in a country, in recent decades Africa has experienced exceptional rates of urban population growth in a context of economic stagnation and poor governance, producing conditions conducive to social unrest and violence. In order to improve urban security in the years ahead, the underlying risk factors must be addressed, including urban poverty, inequality, and fragile political institutions. This, in turn, requires improving urban governance in the region by strengthening the capacity of local government institutions, addressing the complex political dynamics that impede effective urban planning and management, and cultivating integrated development strategies that involve cooperation between various tiers and spheres of government and civil society.


Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1153
Author(s):  
Francesco Liberati ◽  
Emanuele Garone ◽  
Alessandro Di Giorgio

This paper presents a review of technical works in the field of cyber-physical attacks on the smart grid. The paper starts by discussing two reference mathematical frameworks proposed in the literature to model a smart grid under attack. Then, a review of cyber-physical attacks on the smart grid is presented, starting from works on false data injection attacks against state estimation. The aim is to present a systematic and quantitative discussion of the basic working principles of the attacks, also in terms of the inner smart grid vulnerabilities and dynamical properties exploited by the attack. The main contribution of the paper is the attempt to provide a unifying view, highlighting the fundamental aspects and the common working principles shared by the attack models, even when targeting different subsystems of the smart grid.


Urban Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004209802110059
Author(s):  
Leslie Quitzow ◽  
Friederike Rohde

Current imaginaries of urban smart grid technologies are painting attractive pictures of the kinds of energy futures that are desirable and attainable in cities. Making claims about the future city, the socio-technical imaginaries related to smart grid developments unfold the power to guide urban energy policymaking and implementation practices. This paper analyses how urban smart grid futures are being imagined and co-produced in the city of Berlin, Germany. It explores these imaginaries to show how the politics of Berlin’s urban energy transition are being driven by techno-optimistic visions of the city’s digital modernisation and its ambitions to become a ‘smart city’. The analysis is based on a discourse analysis of relevant urban policy and other documents, as well as interviews with key stakeholders from Berlin’s energy, ICT and urban development sectors, including key experts from three urban laboratories for smart grid development and implementation in the city. It identifies three dominant imaginaries that depict urban smart grid technologies as (a) environmental solution, (b) economic imperative and (c) exciting experimental challenge. The paper concludes that dominant imaginaries of smart grid technologies in the city are grounded in a techno-optimistic approach to urban development that are foreclosing more subtle alternatives or perhaps more radical change towards low-carbon energy systems.


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