SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF EUROPEAN POWER NETWORKS were developed in the 1960s and 1970s and are now approaching the end of their expected lifetimes (see Figure 1). Utilities thus have to anticipate the investment waves to come. So-called “smart grid” technologies will hopefully bring opportunities: new tools, the ability to collect information about aging assets, and new communications technologies that will shape the future of networks by incorporating safer and more resilient asset management (AM). At the same time, the smart grid will place networks under greater stress, with increased variability of flow of energy due to renewable energy sources, new loads such as electric vehicles that will increase peak demand, and so on. Care needs to be taken to provide sustainable AM.
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