- Sensing Channel Allocation in a Cognitive Radio Network for a Smart
Grid · 2015
In the power grid, demand side management is considered to shape the power load for more stability, that is, during a certain period of time the electricity demand is redistributed for the balance of supply and demand. Some load shaping methods include peak clipping, valley filling, strategic conservation, and load shifting [91]. Usually, these methods can be divided into two categories. One is direct load control implemented by utilities, such as peak clipping. The other is indirect load control by motivating customers to use more electricity when the valley load appears and less electricity when the peak load appears, such as load shifting. Dynamic pricing is con- sidered to be one of the effective motivation strategies for load shaping, especially in a smart grid, which has attracted more and more attentions due to rising energy costs and the urgent need of for reducing global carbon emissions [92]. As presented by the U.S. Department of Energy [93], a smart grid is characterized by a two-way flow of electricity and information, and will incorporate into the grid the benefits of distributed computing and communications to deliver real-time information and en- able the near-instantaneous balance of supply and demand at the device level. Hence, real-time communications plays an important role in a smart grid.