Smart Grid - Communication Technologies

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In smart grids, various advanced communication technologies are used to create a robust infrastructure for reliable data transmission among different smart grid components. An ideal smart grid communication technology must have high data handling capacity, faster transmission speeds, high accuracy and transmission efficiency, etc.

In a smart grid system, the communication technology serves as its nervous system and provides a communication link between different components like smart meters, distribution management system, sensors, energy management systems, substations, etc.

In this chapter, we will explain the communication technologies used in the smart grid communication networks for data transmission. Lets start this chapter with a basic introduction of communication technology.

What is a Communication Technology?

A communication technology can be defined as a tool or mechanism that enables transmission of data from one point to another or between different devices. In the case of smart grid systems, a communication technology is the tool that provides a mean for exchanging information between different components of the grid like utility, users, smart meters, distribution substations, transmission substations, and more.

In smart grids, the communication technologies activate the communication networks and allow transmission of energy related data among different grid components.

Features of Communication Technologies

In smart grids, the communication technologies used must have the following characteristics and features to ensure optimal performance of the smart grid communication networks −

• Smart grid communication technologies must have high reliability.
• Communication technologies used in smart grid should allow easy expansion of communication infrastructure without degradation in performance.
• Smart grid communication technologies must have low-latency so that they can perform data transmission in real-time.
• These communication technologies must have robust security features and protocols against cyber threats and unauthorized accesses.
• Smart grid communication technologies must be capable in handling large volumes of data and information.
• Communication technologies used in smart grids must be compatible with different smart devices and protocols, so there are no interoperability issues when they are integrated.

Lets now discuss different types of communication technologies used in smart grid communication networks.

Types of Communication Technologies

A variety of communication technologies are available to perform different tasks within a smart grid system. The most common communication technologies used in smart grid infrastructure are explained below with their advantages and disadvantages.

Zigbee

Zigbee is a wireless communication technology designed to connect a variety of devices under a single network control. It is based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard. This technology is mainly used in smart grids for short-distance communication like in smart home and industrial settings.

Characteristics of Zigbee

The following some important characteristics of Zigbee −

• It is a low powered and low cost wireless networking technology.
• It can accommodate 64000+ devices in a single communication network.
• It is mainly used in smart grids for building automation, remote monitoring, and remote meter reading.
• It typically supports 20 to 250 kbps data rate over a distance of up to 100 m.
• It is secured by using 128-bit advanced encryption system.

Advantages of Zigbee

Some main advantages of Zigbee technology are listed here −

• It is a low powered communication technology, hence best suited for battery-operated devices.
• It is a low cost communication technology and thus can be used in large-scale developments.
• It can support different types of networking topologies like tree, star, and mesh.

Disadvantages of Zigbee

The following are major downsides of the Zigbee communication technology −

• It can provide a short-distance communication only over up to 100 m.
• It has low data rates, typically 20 to 250 kbps, hence it is not suitable for transmitting large volumes of data.

Applications of Zigbee

In smart grids, Zigbee is used for the following purposes −

• It is used for data communication between utilitys data center and smart meters.
• It is used in home automation systems.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network. It is also a wireless communication technology used in smart grids to establish point to point or point to multipoint communication networks. This technology is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.

Characteristics of WLAN

The following are some important characteristics of the wireless local area network −

• It is a widely accepted and worldwide used communication technology.
• It is a low cost communication technology.
• It is easy to install and reinstall.
• It supports DSSS and FHSS type modulation techniques.
• It can operate on 60 GHz bandwidth.
• It can support data rates up to 7 GBps.

Advantages of WLAN

The following are major advantages of using WLAN in smart grid communication −

• WLAN can provide sufficient data rates and bandwidth for most smart grid operations.
• It is applicable in both residential and commercial applications.
• It is easy to install and configure.

Disadvantages of WLAN

The following are some main disadvantages of WLAN in smart grid communication −

• It can cover a limited communication range up to a few hundred meters.
• It can receive electromagnetic interferences from other wireless devices working in the same frequency range.

Applications of WLAN

In smart grid communication, WLAN is widely used for the following applications −

• It is used for connecting smart home appliances with the energy management system.
• It is used in substation automation and to provide communication between substation components and control centers.

WiMAX

WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It is a wireless communication technology used for high-speed broadband communication over long distances. It is based on IEEE 802.16 standard and includes both fixed and mobile broadband services. It is used as one of best suited communication technologies in smart grids.

Characteristics of WiMAX

The important characteristics of the WiMAX technology are listed below −

• It can support 2 to 11 GHz channels and 10 to 66 GHz transmission units.
• It can provide communication over long distances, typically up to 50 kms.
• It supports high data rates and is suitable for application that require wide bandwidths.
• It also supports outage detection techniques used in the smart grid system.
• It is capable in handling a large number of devices simultaneously.

Advantages of WiMAX

The key advantages of WiMAX technology in smart grid communication are as follows −

• It is suitable to use in wide area networks due to its long-range communication capability.
• It provides high data rates and wide bandwidths.
• It is suitable for large scale networking applications.

Disadvantages of WiMAX

Apart from the advantages, WiMAX also has some disadvantages which are given below −

• WiMAX is not being used in existing networks. Hence, it requires high investment towards infrastructure development.
• Because it supports long range communication, thus it is prone to interference in densely populated areas.

Applications of WiMAX

The following are the main applications of WiMAX technology in smart grids −

• It is widely used for connecting remote substations with the central control centers.
• It is used for providing broadband services in rural areas.

Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)

Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity. It is a wireless communication networking technology used in indoor wireless local area networks. This communication technology is based on the IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standards. It is one of the most widely used communication technology in smart grids home area networks.

Advantages of Wi-Fi

The following are the main advantages of Wi-Fi in smart grid communication −

• It is a low cost communication technology.
• It supports a large number of devices.
• It is a stable and mature communication technology.
• It can support relatively high data rates.
• It can be easily integrated into the existing infrastructure.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi

Apart from the advantages, Wi-Fi has the following key disadvantages −

• It is suitable for a limited range communication only, typically up to 100 to 300 meters.
• If it is not properly safeguarded, it is easier to hack and get unauthorized access.
• It can have interference from other wireless networks operating in the same location.

Applications of Wi-Fi

In smart grids, Wi-Fi is used for the following purposes −

• It is used for connecting smart home components like smart meters, appliances, and energy management system together.
• It is also used in industrial automation systems to connect machines and their control units.

Long Term Evolution (LTE)

LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. It is also a wireless communication technology mainly developed for mobile device communication. It is mainly used in cellular networks.

Advantages of LTE

LTE offers the following advantages in smart grid communication −

• It has low latency and high capacity.
• It is fully compatible with 3G networking technology.
• It supports carrier preferred protocols.
• It requires low power and best suited for battery power devices.
• It provides wide coverage due to widespread availability of cellular networks.

Disadvantages of LTE

The following are some key disadvantages of LTE technology −

• For large-scale communication, it can be expensive.
• Since utilities do not own the cellular infrastructure and have to pay monthly access fee.
• Equipment required in LTE technology are expensive.

Applications of LTE

In smart grids, the following are major applications of LTE technology −

• It is used to provide communication facility between control centers and field maintenance team.
• It is used for video surveillance.
• It is also used for real-time communication required to implement demand response programs.

Cellular Technology

Cellular is a mobile communication technology which has different generations like 3G, 4G, 5G, etc. This technology is mainly used in wide area wireless communication for voice, video, and data services on mobile devices.

Advantages of Cellular

The following are some major advantages of cellular technology −

• It provides wide area coverage.
• It supports high data rates and allows for high-speed data communication.
• It has low latency and hence suitable for real-time applications.
• It is a stable and mature communication technology.

Disadvantages of Cellular

Cellular technology has the following main disadvantages −

• It is expensive in terms of infrastructure development and data plans for large-scale applications.
• Utility companies have to pay infrastructure access fee to cellular service providers.
• Public cellular networks are not sufficient and secure for utility purposes.

Applications of Cellular

Cellular technology has the following key applications in the field of smart grid technology −

• It is used for remote monitoring and control of the grid operations.
• It is used for real-time communication between control centers and field workers.

Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN)

LoRaWAN stands for Long Range Wide Area Network. It is a wide area communication technology designed for long-distance communication. It utilizes unlicensed radio spectrum and mainly used in IoT applications.

Advantages of LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN offers the following advantages −

• It can provide communication capabilities over long distances, typically up to 15 kms.
• It is a low power technology and suitable for battery powered devices.
• Due to its low development and operation costs, it is a cost-effective communication technology.

Disadvantages of LoRaWAN

The major disadvantages of LoRaWAN are listed here −

• Due to its low data rates, this technology is not suitable for applications that require high bandwidths.
• It can handle only a small volume of data.

Applications of LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN has the following application in smart grid communication −

• It is used for remote meter readings in isolated areas.
• It is used for monitoring the status of grid assets.

Narrowband IoT

It is an enhanced cellular communication technology especially designed for smart grids and IoT based applications.

Advantages of NB-IoT

The following are the main advantages of narrowband IoT technology −

• It is a low power communication technology.
• It can provide a wide coverage and suitable for communication in remote areas.
• It can support a large number of devices.

Disadvantages of NB-IoT

Narrowband IoT has the following disadvantages −

• It provides low data rates.
• It requires infrastructure development cost due to new technology.

Applications of NB-IoT

In smart grids, the narrowband IoT is used for the following purposes −

• It used for smart metering purposes.
• It is used for monitoring environmental conditions across the smart grid components.

Conclusion

Communication technologies are the important parts of the smart grid communication infrastructure, as they enable exchange of data and information among different components and systems of the smart grid.

In this chapter, we highlighted all the commonly used communication technologies in smart grids and their advantages and disadvantages.