Wkipedia defines a Microgrid as :

"A microgrid is a decentralized group of electricity sources and loads that normally operates, connected to and synchronous with the traditional wide area synchronous grid, but is able to disconnect from the interconnected grid and to function autonomously in "island mode" as technical or economic conditions dictate."

Thus a microgrid is a self-sufficient energy system that serves a discrete geographic footprint, such as a college campus, hospital complex, business center, or residential neighborhood. Within microgrids are one or more kinds of distributed energy (solar panels, wind turbines, combined heat & power, generators) that produce its power. In addition, many newer microgrids contain energy storage, typically from batteries. Some also now have electric vehicle charging stations.

 

SMART CITIES WITH CLEAN TRANSPORT AND DECENTRALISED ENERGY

"The advent of autonomous vehicles will revolutionize our streets.
Once AV's are safe, on demand, and zero-emissions, “cities will be irreversibly
transformed,” Anthony Fieldman


“This is all part of a broader movement of achieving 'net zero' in the green building
 movement with two key strategies: energy reduction and energy creation,”
Rives Taylor


"Public transportation—including better connectivity between modes and hubs—will
also be greatly improved.Also, public transport will be automated,and will be much
more frequent than now.” Gianotten


“Buildings will be large-scale and will be an ecosystem, like a city that will be in
use 24/7,” says OMA's Gianotten.

"They'll act as transit hubs and mixed-use spaces that better incorporate 'live'
and 'play' into the places you 'work,'” says Mark Ejnes, HOK, Los Angeles.


"Enter technology such as rope-less elevators, which can move up, down, and
side to side, enabling unprecedented possibilities in the architecture and design of buildings,” according to Gensler's annual Design Forecast.


“Energy harvesting will be a part of every surface or surface material we use,” says Gianotten. “Sun and movement—wind, water, and humans—will be used to generate electricity that will be used to charge the whole city and the mobility within.”


"Creating open space for commerce, fitness, and relaxation. This radically
pedestrian-centric streetscape would prioritize sidewalks and bike lanes over cars, encourage more outdoor time, and position urban centers at the forefront of
addressing our national health crisis,” says urban designer Uriah Smith.


"Some cities are already working toward these goals. In New York City, for example, where the population is expected to reach 9 million by 2040—walking, biking, and public transit will comprise the vast majority of all trips taken” Jane Meyer,
spokesperson for New York's City Hall.


Development will focus on hundreds of kilometres of high-capacity transit hubs.
To move freight, the city will turn to lower-carbon options, including marine barging
and rail; green trucking will improve last-mile delivery of consumer goods.


Because buildings are one of the biggest consumers of energy worldwide, they will
become their own decentralized, renew-ably generated power plants. Using
high-performance façades, photovoltaic panels, and geothermal and wind energy,
buildings will generate their own energy, while smart technology and the smart grid
will help them share it hyper-efficiently.

SMART CITIES and HOMES Part 2 : Electric Transportation

Electric transportation and drive cycle management is vital for smartness in future cities.

SMART CITIES and HOMES part 1 : Smart homes

Energy and water are wasted by the ton in a badly designed home. In emerging markets this can be a specific challenge , where resources are less plentiful and utility costs are high relative to citizen salaries.

Even in homes that are designed with efficiency in mind, energy and water use can increase beyond the original estimates, counting on behaviour and need of a community. Rising bills can negatively influence a homeowner’s ability to satisfy monthly bond and loan payments.

This is where AI (Artificial Intelligence) can come to the rescue of erratic tendencies in human behavior. Part of this solution is advanced metering instruments (AMI) and smart meters, which should be preinstalled in residences to assist occupants make better daily energy choices. Smart meters could capture utility usage and track indoor temperatures then deploy that information for action, which is where AI steps in. This I where networked communications infrastructure and possibly even the escalation of M2M (machine to machine) and IoT (internet of things) will play a major role. Without these technologies, there is no smartness in a city!

While the concept around such city planning is new, an AI-based framework could collect data from smart meters in an anonymous way then interpret and share it for better decision-making by multiple stakeholders, from residents and builders to utilities and governments. Using smart meters and AI, homes would become the last word example of biomimicry (the design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modelled on biological entities and processes), acting like redwood trees that grow and protect one another through interconnected roots. This “living” city with Ambient Intelligence would emerge as a subset of Artifical Intelligence applications.

While the concept of smart homes has had several false dawns in recent decades, new technologies are now mature enough to vie for a new breed of townplanners and city designers. This will vastly improve the control of energy and water use. These technologies can now become so interconnected and intelligent that human intervention is barely needed.  For thermal comfort in hot climates with the smallest amount amount of energy use, for instance , AI technologies could cool a home by opening a window when outside temperatures are preferable and air quality is suitable, or start a ceiling fan, shade windows to scale back glare, and cycle the air con . the acceptable temperature would be reached counting on who is home and during which room they're located, with a persona-based approach concerning historical preferences.

ICUE CONFERENCE 2020