Keynote From Smart Grid to Universal Grid – Generation, Storage and Communication in Hybrid Networks

Energy systems are hybrid networks, linking different forms of energy sources and loads. With growing amounts of renewable generation in the energy system, the hierarchical and centralized structure of the energy system gets increasingly transformed to a decentralized and distributed structure. The concept of Smart Grid is driven by these structural changes and provides solutions for the challenges resulting from the integration of distributed renewable energy sources into the system. The Universal Grid takes the concept of Smart Grid one step further as it exploits the fact that the hybrid networks of the future will be more closely interlinked. Communication is key to making these networks and concepts work, as it bridges the gap between different parts of the hybrid system.