Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) will be installing smart grids for the first time in Bangladesh in the capital’s Dhanmondi, Azimpur, Green Road, Lalmatia and Asad Gate areas.
New substations will accompany the smart grids in these five areas.
Related sources said: “Power lines are spread all over the streets and underground in an entangled mess and it is difficult to determine one from the other in times of power connection issues.
“Sometimes other organizations snip power transmission lines out of the blue while working underground, but the severed line cannot be recovered afterwards.
“With the help of smart grids, we can instantly address issues such as power outage in an area or house as they will use sensors and automatic response mechanism to deliver immediate responses.”
They also said: “Smart grid will prevent loss of power in nearby areas due to power mishaps in some other area as all its functions will be computer-regulated.”
Regarding smart grid, DPDC Executive Director Engineer Md Ramiz Uddin Sarker said: “With the help of this technology one can monitor one’s power consumption. Similarly, it is possible to use technology to ensure a smooth and flawless transmission of electric power.
“Usually a lot of time is wasted on locating transmission failures. But now, using modern technology, we can locate and fix the issue instantly.”
DPDC also said that it will be possible for consumers to choose power “plans” most suitable to them just like internet package plans for mobile phones.
There will be a card in the electric meter boxes of households and organizations, much like a SIM card, which will transmit information on how much electricity has been consumed to a modern central management ward every 15 minutes.
With the installation of these smart grids all over the city, “peak” and “off-peak” cost of electricity can also be determined separately. Consumers can then decide how much to consume based on those prices.
Donor organization France Development Agency (FDA) has agreed to spend $12 million on this venture.
Managing Director of DPDC Bikash Dewan said: “FDA is already providing funds for a tech-smart transmission project. They have also agreed to invest $12 million on the smart grid venture.
“We will begin by setting up the grids in five areas but we aim to do so all over the city eventually. But to do so, we require huge amounts of investment,” he added.
An AFD team had arrived in Dhaka last month and examined DPDC’s substations and their transmission in various areas. At the same time, DPDC had a discussion with the AFD team about smart grids.
Bikash said: “AFD will present the proposal of the smart grid investment in their board meeting and then finalize it by signing with Bangladesh Economic Relations Department (ERD).
“The planning commission has advised for a prompt course of action regarding the matter. So we envision carrying out the plan by the end of this year,” he added.
This article was first published on banglatribune.com
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