Review of Smart Grid and Nascent Energy Policies: Pakistan as a Case Study

Abstract

Smart grid plays a vital role in energy management systems. It helps to mitigate the demand side management of electricity by managing the microgrid. In the modern era, the concept of hybrid microgrids emerged which helps the smart grid management of electricity. Additionally, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology is used to integrate the hybrid microgrid. Thus, various policies and topologies are employed to perform the task meticulously. Pakistan being an energy deficient country has recently introduced some new policies such as Energy Wheeling Policy (EWP), Energy Import Policy (EIP), and Net Metering/Distributed Generation Policy (NMP) to manage the electricity demand effectively. In addition, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) has also been introduced. In this paper, we present the overview and impact of these policies in the context of the local energy market and modern information and communication mechanisms proposed for smart grids. These new policies primarily focus on energy demand–supply for various types of consumers such as the demand for bulk energy for industrial ventures and the distributed production by consumers. The EWP deals with obtaining power from remote areas within the country to ease the energy situation in populated load centers and the EIP highlights energy import guidelines from foreign countries. The NMP deals with the integration of renewable energy resources and EECA is more focused on the measures and standardization for energy efficiency and conservation. The benefits and challenges related to EWP, NMP, and EIP have also been discussed concerning the present energy crisis in Pakistan. The generalized lessons learned and comparison of a few aspects of these policies with some other countries are also presented.

Using Energy Policies to Shape Local Competitive Advantages

“…The literature review showed that the prevalent course of action taken by researchers has been to focus on the micro scale, on enterprises, especially as regards building competitive advantage of companies and the factors that determine it, e.g., [79,80]. In the case of energy efficiency, the reviewed publications focused on the macro scale (energy efficiency of a country), e.g., [81][82][83]. As regards meso-scale studies, those that discussed assessing the impact of urban policies tended to concentrate on environmental issues and aspects of the health of their citizens, e.g., [84,85].…”

Renewable energy sources‐based hybrid microgrid system for off‐grid electricity solution for rural communities

“…It can be used to operate in some off‐grid places. MGs are found to work best in the Nukundi regions of Katibandar, Jamshoro, Bin Qasim, Gharo, Jhimpir, and Swat 23 …”

“…HMGS, hybrid microgrid system. 23 The structure of a solar cell is simple. It is made up of several materials in layers.…”

Possibilities, Challenges, and Future Opportunities of Microgrids: A Review

“…Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, produce negligible air pollutants, resulting in cleaner air and reduced health risks associated with poor air quality. In urban areas, where air pollution is particularly severe, microgrids can significantly alleviate this environmental burden [104]. Microgrids can contribute to preserving and enhancing ecosystem services by minimizing land use change, habitat loss, and other environmental impacts associated with large-scale power plants and transmission infrastructure.…”