http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 562 editor@iaeme.com International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 10, Issue 06, June 2019, pp. 562-566, Article ID: IJCIET_10_06_054 Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=6 ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316 © IAEME Publication SMART GRIDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITIES Javier E. Sierra Faculty of Engineering, University of Sucre, Carrera 28 No. 5-267. Sincelejo, Colombia Boris Medina Faculty of Engineering, University of Sucre, Carrera 28 No. 5-267. Sincelejo, Colombia Jhon Jairo Feria Díaz* Faculty of Engineering, University of Sucre, Carrera 28 No. 5-267. Sincelejo, Colombia *Corresponding Author ABSTRACT Integration of renewable energy in existing networks in universities poses important challenges, one of these, specially, the consideration of implementation of smart grids. Smart grids must bear in mind environmental conditions, communications system and its characteristics to allow management and automation of energy service to improve energy efficiency. This article puts forward a micro-network for a university considering sources of generation and characteristics of the communications system. Key words: Smart grid, Microgrid, Communications System, Renewable Energies. Cite this Article: Javier E. Sierra, Boris Medina and Jhon Jairo Feria Díaz, Smart Grids for the Development of Sustainable Universities, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology 10(6), 2019, pp. 562-566. http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=6 1. INTRODUCTION Latin America faces a series of challenges in the energy sector and, given the fact that energy consumption goes hand in hand with economic growth, countries in the region need to increase generation, transmission and distribution capacities to ensure energy availability [1], [2]. Countries confront challenges of increasing their energy efficiency (EE) and the share of renewable energy (RE) in their energy matrices [3]. Integration of renewable energy in existing networks poses important challenges, especially the thought of implementing smart grids [4]. An intelligent network involves combination of electrical and telecommunications infrastructures, and most of them have their own characteristics. This network provides an interface between consumer appliances and traditional resources of generation, transmission and distribution of energy. Bidirectional communication allows consumers to have better control of energy consumption of their appliances, also optimizing the assets of the energy system. For example, peak loads will be