Smart Grid Communication Architecture

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A smart grid is nothing but an electric grid equipped with two-way communication technologies. The main objective of integrating communication with the electric grid is to improve efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of the energy system.

Smart grids have a well-defined communication architecture that ensures end-to-end communication from power generation to consumers premises. It also allows different components of the smart grid to exchange information seamlessly.

In this chapter, we will explain the basics, components, and advantages of the smart grid communication architecture.

What is Smart Grid Communication Architecture?

The smart grid communication architecture is a system of components that provides a mean of exchanging information between different grid components like power plants, substations, transmission and distribution systems, and consumers devices.

This communication architecture is very important for real-time monitoring, remote controlling, and optimization of power generation to distribution operations. Therefore, the smart grid communication architecture plays a significant role in improving grid resiliency and minimizing operational costs.

Apart from all these, this system also enables both utilities and consumers to better manage the distributed energy resource and generation.

Building Blocks of Smart Grid Communication Architecture

The main building blocks of the smart grid communication architecture are described below −

Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN (Wide Area Network) is the core backbone of the smart grid communication architecture. It is implemented to provide communication across a very large geographical area and it provides communication between major service providers along the high-power transmission lines and substations.

WAN provides communication between most power generating stations, transmission control centers, and transmission substations. The WAN can be either a utility owned network or a public service provider network.

Neighborhood Area Network (NAN)

NAN (Neighborhood Area Network) is a communication link between the wide area network (WAN) and home area networks (HANs). It covers relatively smaller geographical area as compared to the WAN. NAN provides facility to exchange data between the WAN and HANs.

NAN performs various crucial functions such as collecting data from smart meters in the HANs and transmitting to utilitys control center. It also helps in managing distributed energy generation.

Home Area Network (HAN)

It is the local area network within the residential building. This network provides communication between consumer devices like smart appliances, in-home displays, plug-in hybrid vehicles, local solar energy resources, storage devices, and smart meters. HANs also provides a communication bridge between end-users smart meters and NAN.

This component of the smart grid communication architecture enables consumers to monitor their energy consumption in real-time and allows smart appliances to communicate with each other and optimize the energy utilization.

These are the three basic building blocks of the smart grid communication architecture.

Smart Grid Communication Technologies

The smart grid communication involves the exchange of grid data without any physical intervention. This is done by means of different communication technologies. The most common communication technologies employed in smart grid communication architecture are described as follows −

Broadband Over Power Line

Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) is a communication technology used in smart grids for data communication. It uses existing power lines for this purpose. In the BPL technology, the high-frequency radio waves are modulated with the digital signals from the internet.

Then, the modulated high-frequency radio waves are fed into the grid at a specific point in the medium voltage circuits and reach to the consumers home or business and vice-versa. For using BPL technology, it is important to interconnect all the substations.

BPL technology is primarily used in smart grids for establishing a communication between smart meters and control center for real-time monitoring and data collection.

Power Line Communication Carrier

PLCC is another communication technology used in smart grid communication architecture to transmit data through power lines using low-frequency signals. It is a mature communication technology for data exchange in electric grids. PLCC is very common in rural and suburban areas. In smart grids, it is used for providing communication links between smart meters and smart appliances, and connecting HANs with NANs.

Fixed Radio Frequency (RF) System

Fixed RF system is a communication technology that works by using radio frequency signals and allows each meter to connect using a private network to a data collector or repeater. The data collectors store the meter readings withing the range and then transmit the recorded data to the central system using an available best communication channel.

In smart grids, this communication technology is mainly used for wireless metering and connect field devices and sensors with the field area networks.

Public Networks

These are the communication technologies that use telecommunication networks like cellular, satellite, etc. These networks can be deployed in a wide area network for smart grid communication.

The integration of these technologies into the smart grid communication architecture does not need private infrastructure. These communication technologies are mainly used to provide communication between central control centers and remote substations or distributed energy sources like solar, wind, etc. and they also provide a backup communication channel when grids primary communication fails on in emergencies.

Advantages of Smart Grid Communication Architecture

The deployment of smart grid communication architecture into the electric grid results in the following major advantages −

• Smart grid communication architecture improves reliability of the grid through real-time communication and automation. It helps in achieving rapid fault detection, quick isolation, and rerouting of power in unaffected areas. All these practices significantly reduce the down time.
• Smart grid communication architecture also enhances the efficiency of the grid and optimizes the operations of generation, transmission, and distribution systems. This further helps in reducing the operational costs of the energy system.
• Smart grid communication architecture also allows consumers for seamless integration of renewable energy resources into the grid. It provides utilities with detailed data about generation of energy through these distributed energy resources.
• Smart grid communication architecture provides real-time data about energy consumption to the consumers. This helps them to change their behavior and reduce the energy consumption during peak hours, and actively participate in demand response programs.
• By incorporating advanced communication protocols and cybersecurity measures, smart grid communication architecture protects the system and sensitive data from cyber threats and unauthorized access.

Challenges with Smart Grid Communication Architecture

Apart from the advantages, the implementation of smart grid communication architecture faces several challenges. Some of major are listed below −

• Different manufactures design and produce different devices used in this communication architecture. Due to non-standardization, they may have some compatibility issues.
• Smart grid communication architecture uses digital communication technologies which are vulnerable to cyber threats and privacy breaches. Therefore, they require development of robust protocols and cyber security measures.
• Smart grid communication architecture requires regular development and improvements for security enhancement, scalability, integration of new technologies, etc.

Conclusion

The smart grid communication architecture is a crucial component of the modern electric grid because it enables the integration of all the advanced technologies into the grid. It is very important for management of the huge electrical power system more effectively.

The communication architecture provides two-way communication capabilities, and remote monitoring of the overall electric grid that results in enhanced efficiency and reliability. It also enables consumers to integrate renewable energy resources into the grid and provides its energy generation data to utilities and helps them to better manage the grid operations.