Smart grid is a generic term for active electricity management. In a dumb grid, everything is connected all the time. Every building and factory is constantly plugged in. With smart grids, you add in things like batteries and smaller power plants that can be turned on and off by people. What these allows you to do it store electricity when people aren’t using as much, then release it when people are using more.
This is great for things like wind and solar power. You charge batteries while the sun is out, then use those batteries when it’s cloudy. It’s also helpful for nuclear power. A nuclear plant produces the same level of power 24/7, but people use more electricity during certain times of the day. By charging batteries, the nuclear plant can always run at its most efficient power setting, while the batteries provide a boost to power during the day and charge when everyone is asleep.
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