Smart grids: Introduction by Valérie-Anne LENCZNAR

I’m Indeed Valérie-Anne Lencznar, Managing Director of Think SmartGrids, the structure gathering all players in the smart grids sector in France. The worldwide sector of smart grids is estimated to 30 billion euros, and France portion is estimated to 6 billion, with 15,000 people working for that sector. Smart grids becomes one of the most promising market from the energy field, because it answers to

economical, social and environmental stakes: contribution to build the tools of a new economy, based on digital technologies, and answer to low carbon requirements, with the integration of renewables energies and the development of energy efficiency. At the end of this week, you will be able to define what a Smart Grid is and analyse why smart grids are a key element of the future electrical system. You will know how to transform the distribution heritage to a smarter distribution grid. You will understand the link between Smart Grids & electricity storage and discover who are the main actors of the Smart Grids in France and in Europe. And at last share with us the trends and innovation projects in Smart Grids for the future.

Six of our experts have worked on these points.

So you will have the opportunity to meet: - Nouredine HADJSAID, Professor at Grenoble Institute of Technology and chairman of the scientific council of Think Smartgrids; - Michel BENA, smart grids director at RTE, the French Transmission operator; - Matthieu TERENTI, Project Coordinator at ERDF, the French DSO; - Marion PERRIN, Head of a business unit at the CEA, the French government-funded technological research organization; - Laurent JAVAUDIN, researcher and member of the Energy Team at Grenoble Ecole de Management; - Olivier CATEURA, Innovation Manager at Tenerrdis Energy Cluster and Associate professor at Grenoble Ecole de Management. And now, be smart!