The role of smart grids for the renewable energy transition

This chapter focuses on technological innovations in electric power infrastructure and their enabling potential for the integration of variable generation resources, electric vehicles (EVs), and microgrids. Many of the innovations described in this chapter were driven by evolving technical and economic constraints that long predated renewable grids: factors other than clean energy have dominated problem solving and investment in new electric power hardware, software, and design strategies over the past several decades. In the context of the renewable energy transition, however, some of these rather esoteric niche technologies take on a new relevance and interest for a broader community of researchers and practitioners.