An Overview of the Recent Advances in Smart Grid Ecosystem
Author
Ismaheel Oyeyemi Oladejo, Michael Olorunfemi Ayeni, Kolawole Michael Ajala, Sunday Oluwagbenga Oni, Sunday Samuel Ogundipe, Razaaq Adebayo Adetutu
Abstract
The evolution of smart grid technology represents a pivotal shift in modern power systems, integrating advanced communication, control, and automation technologies to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. This comprehensive review examines the smart grid ecosystem's key components, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), demand response systems, and cybersecurity protocols. By analyzing the integration of renewable energy sources, storage solutions, and intelligent communication frameworks, the review highlights the transformative potential of smart grids in facilitating efficient energy management and robust grid operations. Emphasis is placed on the crucial role of IoT and edge computing in enabling real-time data exchange and decision-making, fostering a more resilient and adaptable power infrastructure. Furthermore, the review addresses the challenges posed by cybersecurity threats and the necessity for robust protective measures to safeguard data integrity and system reliability. The dynamic interaction between these technologies underscores the smart grid's capability to support decentralized power generation, enhance grid stability, and meet the evolving demands of energy consumers. This paper provides valuable insights into current advancements and future directions in smart grid technology, emphasizing the need for continuous innovation and strategic implementation to realize the full potential of smart grids in the energy sector.
Keywords
Smart Grid, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), Renewable Energy, IoT, Edge Computing, Cybersecurity, Energy Management, Grid Automation, Communication Networks.
Full Text:
References
Mehmood, M. Y., Oad, A., Abrar, M., Munir, H. M., Hasan, S. F., Muqeet, H. A. U., & Golilarz, N. A. (2021). Edge Computing for IoT‐Enabled Smart Grid. Security and communication networks, 2021(1), 5524025. wiley.com Feng, C., Wang, Y., Chen, Q., Ding, Y., Strbac, G., & Kang, C. (2021). Smart grid encounters edge computing: Opportunities and applications. Advances in Applied Energy, 1, 100006. sciencedirect.com Li, J., Gu, C., Xiang, Y., & Li, F. (2022). Edge-cloud computing systems for smart grid: state-of-the-art, architecture, and applications. Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, 10(4), 805–817. ieee.org Minh, Q. N., Nguyen, V. H., Quy, V. K., Ngoc, L. A., Chehri, A., & Jeon, G. (2022). Edge computing for IoT-enabled smart grid: The future of energy. Energies, 15(17), 6140. mdpi.com Slama, S. B. (2022). Prosumer in smart grids based on intelligent edge computing: A review on Artificial Intelligence Scheduling Techniques. Ain Shams Engineering Journal. sciencedirect.com Adebayo, AV,.Adebayo, HK,. Oladeji, S. Implementing Electrical Energy Storage for Improved Voltage Stability in Power Systems with Substantial Wind Generation International Journal Of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER) 14 (4), 57-66 Mahmood, D., Javaid, N., Ahmed, G., Khan, S., & Monteiro, V. (2021). A review on optimization strategies integrating renewable energy sources focusing uncertainty factor–Paving path to eco-friendly smart cities. Sustainable Computing: Informatics and Systems, 30, 100559. northumbria.ac.uk Khan, H. W., Usman, M., Hafeez, G., Albogamy, F. R., Khan, I., Shafiq, Z.. & Alkhammash, H. I. (2021). Intelligent optimisation framework for efficient demand-side management in renewable energy integrated smart grid. IEEE Access, 9, 124235–124252. ieee.org Taha, M. Q. (2020). Advantages and recent advances of the smart energy grid. Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics. beei.org Khan, R., Islam, N., Das, S. K., Muyeen, S. M., Moyeen, S. I., Ali, M. F., ... & Techato, K. (2021). Energy sustainability–survey on technology and control of micro-grid, smart grid and virtual power plant. IEEE Access, 9, 104663–104694. ieee.org Adebayo, A., Oladipo, O., & Ahmed, M. (2024). Electric vehicle integration and traffic load forecasting for smart grid environments. International Journal of Energy Research, 48(3), 2154–2170. Feng, C., Wen, F., Ledwich, G., & Xue, Y. (2021). Smart grid architecture and key technologies: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 135, 110383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110383 Li, Y., Zhang, Y., & Wang, J. (2022). Traffic flow forecasting for electric vehicle charging demand in smart grids using machine learning techniques. Energy, 239, 121891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121891 Mehmood, Y., Ahmad, F., Yaqoob, I., Adnane, A., Imran, M., & Guizani, S. (2021). Internet-of-Things-based smart grid: Recent developments, challenges, and future prospects. IEEE Access, 9, 19179–19202. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3053445 Minh, Q. H., Nguyen, T. T., & Nguyen, H. N. (2022). Smart cities and smart energy ecosystems: Architecture, enabling technologies, and challenges. Sustainable Cities and Society, 76, 103430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103430 Alharbey, R., Shafiq, S., Daud, A., & Dawood, H. (2024). Digital twin technology for enhanced smart grid performance: Integrating sustainability, security, and efficiency. Frontiers in Energy Research, 12, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2024.1397748 Dorji, S., Stonier, A. A., Peter, G., Kuppusamy, R., & Teekaraman, Y. (2023). An extensive critique on smart grid technologies: Recent advancements, key challenges, and future directions. Technologies, 11(3), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies11030081 Kiasari, M., Ghaffari, M., & Aly, H. H. (2024). A comprehensive review of the current status of smart grid technologies for renewable energy integration and future trends. Energies, 17(16), 4128. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17164128 Ohanu, C. P., Rufai, S. A., & Oluchi, U. C. (2024). A comprehensive review of recent developments in smart grid through renewable energy resources integration. Heliyon, 10(3), e25705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25705 Oladejo, I.O., Ayeni, M.O., Ajala, K.M.,Oni, S.O., Ogundipe, S.S.(2025) Energy management of islanded micro-grid with uncertainties using Nash Bargaining Solution. International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management and Applied Science (IJLTEMAS) Vol.XIV, No IV Tabassum, S., Vijay Babu, A. R., & Dheer, D. K. (2024). A comprehensive exploration of IoT-enabled smart grid systems: Power quality issues, solutions, and challenges. Science and Technology for Energy Transition, 79, 62. https://doi.org/10.2516/stet/2024056 Xu, J. (2024). The application of Internet of Things technology in the smart grid. Applied and Computational Engineering, 48, 1366. https://doi.org/10.54254/2755-2721/48/20241366 Ullah, Z., Asghar, R., Khan, I., Ullah, K., Waseem, A., Wahab, F. & Jan, K. U. (2020, June). Renewable energy resources penetration within smart grid: An overview. In 2020 International Conference on Electrical, Communication, and Computer Engineering (ICECCE) (pp. 1-6). IEEE. [HTML] Moreno Escobar, J. J., Morales Matamoros, O., Tejeida Padilla, R., Lina Reyes, I., & Quintana Espinosa, H. (2021). A comprehensive review on smart grids: Challenges and opportunities. Sensors, 21(21), 6978. mdpi.com Suárez‐Ramón, L., Arboleya, P., Lorenzo‐Álvarez, J., & Carou‐Álvarez, J. M. (2022). Evolution of electrical distribution grids toward the smart grid concept. Technologies for Integrated Energy Systems and Networks, 187-214. [HTML] Rani, P., Parkash, V., & Sharma, N. K. (2024). Technological aspects, utilization and impact on power system for distributed generation: A comprehensive survey. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 192, 114257. [HTML] Pal, R., Chavhan, S., Gupta, D., Khanna, A., Padmanabhan, S., Khan, B., & Rodrigues, J. J. (2021). A comprehensive review of IoT‐based infrastructure for smart grid applications. IET renewable power generation, 15(16), 3761–3776. wiley.com Brenna, M., Foiadelli, F., Zaninelli, D., Graditi, G., & Di Somma, M. (2021). The integration of electric vehicles in systems (pp. 315-345). Elsevier. [HTML] Patil, H., & Kalkhambkar, V. N. (2020). Grid integration of electric vehicles for economic benefits: A review. Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, 9(1), 13-26. ieee.org Strielkowski, W., Veinbender, T., Tvaronavičienė, M., & Lace, N. (2020). Economic efficiency and energy security of smart cities. Economic research-Ekonomska istraživanja, 33(1), 788-803. srce.hr Gellings, C. W. (2020). The smart grid: enabling energy efficiency and demand response. [HTML] Judge, M. A., Khan, A., Manzoor, A., & Khattak, H. A. (2022). Overview of smart grid implementation: Frameworks, impact, performance and challenges. Journal of Energy Storage. [HTML] Jimada-Ojuolape, B. & Teh, J. (2020). Impact of the integration of information and communication technology on power system reliability: A review. IEEE Access. ieee.org Jha, A. V., Appasani, B., Ghazali, A. N., Pattanayak, P., Gurjar, D. S., Kabalci, E., & Mohanta, D. K. (2021). Smart grid cyber-physical systems: Communication technologies, standards and challenges. Wireless Networks, 27(4), 2595-2613. [HTML] Dileep, G. (2020). A survey on smart grid technologies and applications. Renewable energy. fardapaper.ir Al-Badi, A. H., Ahshan, R., Hosseinzadeh, N., Ghorbani, R., & Hossain, E. (2020). Survey of smart grid concepts and technological demonstrations worldwide emphasizing on the Oman perspective. Applied system innovation, 3(1), 5. mdpi.com Mohseni, S. & Brent, A. C. (2023). Cutting through complexity: Coordinated demand response and future directions in global communication technologies. The Electricity Journal. sciencedirect.com Piggott, C. E., Caruso, Z., & Nenadic, N. G. (2023). Low-Cost Communication Interface between a Smart Meter and a Smart Inverter. Energies. mdpi.com Aggarwal, D., Kalra, S., & Agrawal, S. (). Making India's Advanced Metering Infrastructure Resilient. ceew.in. ceew.in Tiwari, A. & Pindoriya, N. M. (2022). Automated demand response in smart distribution grid: a review on metering Infrastructure, communication technology and optimization models. Electric Power Systems Research. [HTML] Abdullah, A. A., El-Den, B. M., Abo-Al-Ez, K. M., & Hassan, T. M. (2023). Security management for an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system of smart electrical grids. Applied Sciences. mdpi.com Su, Y.; Jiang, P.; Chen, H.; Deng, X. A QoS-Guaranteed and Congestion-Controlled SDN Routing Strategy for Smart Grid. Appl. Sci. 2022, 12, 7629. Panda, D. K. & Das, S. (2021). Smart grid architecture model for control, optimization and data analytic of future power networks with more renewable energy. Journal of Cleaner Production. exeter.ac.uk Twaisan, K. & Barışçı, N. (2022). Integrated distributed energy resources (DER) and micro-grids: modeling and optimization of DERs. Electronics. mdpi.com Mohammadi, M., & Mohammadi, A. (2024). Empowering distributed solutions in renewable energy systems and grid optimization. In Distributed Machine Learning and Computing: Theory and Applications (pp. 141-155). Cham: Springer International Publishing. [PDF] Stanelyte, D., Radziukyniene, N., & Radziukynas, V. (2022). Overview of demand-response services: A review. Energies. mdpi.com Honarmand, M. E., Hosseinnezhad, V., Hayes, B., Shafie-Khah, M., & Siano, P. (2021). An overview of demand response: From its origins to the smart energy community. IEEE Access, 9, 96851-96876. ieee.org Ibrahim, C., Mougharbel, I., Kanaan, H. Y., Abou Daher, N., Georges, S., & Saad, M. (2022). A review on the deployment of demand response programs with multiple aspects coexistence over smart grid platform. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 162, 112446. [HTML] Reka, S. S., Venugopal, P., Alhelou, H. H., Siano, P., & Golshan, M. E. H. (2021). Real time demand response modeling for residential consumers in smart grid considering renewable energy with deep learning approach. IEEE access, 9, 56551-56562. ieee.org Pallonetto, F., De Rosa, M., D’Ettorre, F., & Finn, D. P. (2020). On the assessment and control optimisation of demand response programs in residential buildings. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 127, 109861. maynoothuniversity.ie Demertzis, K., Tsiknas, K., Taketzis, D., Skoutas, D. N., Skianis, C., Iliadis, L., & Zoiros, K. E. (2021). Communication network standards for smart grid infrastructures. Network, 1(2), 132-145. mdpi.com Ghiasi, M., Niknam, T., Wang, Z., Mehrandezh, M., Dehghani, M., & Ghadimi, N. (2023). A comprehensive review of cyber-attacks and defense mechanisms for improving security in smart grid energy systems: Past, present and future. Electric Power Systems Research, 215, 108975. [HTML] Hasan, M. K., Habib, A. A., Shukur, Z., Ibrahim, F., Islam, S., & Razzaque, M. A. (2023). Review on cyber-physical and cyber-security system in smart grid: Standards, protocols, constraints, and recommendations. Journal of network and computer applications, 209, 103540. [HTML] Boam, K. (). A bibliometric review and future directions in Cloud Architecture and Security in Web of Science from 2008 to 2022. Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems. researchgate.net Austin, G. (2020). National cyber emergencies: The return to civil defence. [HTML] Nolan, B. M., & Scholl, H. J. (2023). A Commercial Cloud-Based Crisis Information Management System: How Fit and Robust Is It in Response to a Catastrophe?. In Disaster Management and Information Technology: Professional Response and Recovery Management in the Age of Disasters (pp. 325-362). Cham: Springer International Publishing. [HTML] Klenik, A. (2022). Measurement-based performance evaluation of distributed ledger technologies. bme.hu Ferrag, M. A., Maglaras, L., Moschoyiannis, S., & Janicke, H. (2023). Deep learning for cyber security intrusion detection in smart grids: Concepts, challenges, and future directions. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 25(1), 297–331. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2022.3211258 Khan, R., Kumar, P., Jayakody, D. N. K., & Liyanage, M. (2024). Cybersecurity and privacy challenges in smart grids: Recent advances and future research directions. IEEE Access, 12, 21345–21363. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3357842 Ahmad, T., Zhang, H., Yan, B., & Zhang, L. (2023). Energy management and vehicle-to-grid integration in smart grids: A comprehensive review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 177, 113205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113205