North Carolina’s electric utilities are moving to cleaner, lower-carbon energy sources. This clean energy transition is happening while our energy supply and the electric grid that delivers it continue to fulfill their critical roles in our society and economy. This website provides education and guidance on North Carolina’s clean energy transition and the opportunities it offers our state’s utilities, citizens, communities and businesses.

Through the Exploring North Carolina’s Clean Energy Transition program (formerly “Exploring North Carolina Smart Grid”), Advanced Energy has provided educational materials and content on energy topics in North Carolina since 2017. All of the webinars, case studies and articles published to date can be found below. Our expanded focus will include the changing energy supply, behind-the-meter and grid-edge alternatives, and regulatory updates essential to enabling a clean energy transition. Our goal is to share useful and actionable information as the ways we generate and supply electricity evolve.

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What is Smart Grid?

Before we jump into “smart grid,” let’s talk about the “grid.” The grid is a system of wires, switches and other equipment that brings electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed. The term “grid” may bring thoughts of organization and pattern, however the electric grid is a complex system with hundreds of thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines across the United States.

Source: North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

A smart grid integrates new technologies and communication networks with the current power grid to benefit electricity customers, their communities and their power company. Electric companies have already started to install elements of the smart grid across North Carolina. Smart grid can mean many things to many people. For example, new generation, distribution controls, self-optimization, microgrids, communication equipment and smart meters can all be part of a smart grid system. Different utilities may focus on certain technologies first, or address all at once if appropriate.

Source: Duke Energy

Organizing all of the smart grid information and opportunities can be a large challenge. In general, however, most of the smart grid topics fall into three categories: economic impacts, technology and policy. As smart grid changes are made to the current grid, benefits will be seen in customer value, economic growth, municipal readiness and community sustainability.

Upcoming Webinars
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Webinar Recordings
Case Studies
Articles
Resources
North Carolina Utilities

Visit your electric utility’s website to learn more about smart grid services they may offer.