Communication Technologies for Smart Grid: A Comprehensive Survey

With the ongoing trends in the energy sector such as vehicular electrification and renewable energy, smart grid is clearly playing a more and more important role in the electric power system industry. One essential feature of the smart grid is the information flow over the high-speed, reliable and secure data communication network in order to manage the complex power systems effectively and intelligently. Smart grids utilize bidirectional communication to function where traditional power grids mainly only use one-way communication. The communication requirements and suitable technique differ depending on the specific environment and scenario. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive and up-to-date survey on the communication technologies used in the smart grid, including the communication requirements, physical layer technologies, network architectures, and research challenges. This survey aims to help the readers identify the potential research problems in the continued research on the topic of smart grid communications

Smart Grid communications in high traffic environments

The establishment of a previously non-existent data class known as the Smart Grid will pose many difficulties on current and future communication infrastructure. It is imperative that the Smart Grid (SG), as the reactionary and monitory arm of the Power Grid (PG), be able to communicate effectively between grid controllers and individual User Equipment (UE). By doing so, the successful implementation of SG applications can occur, including support for higher capacities of Renewable Energy Resources. As the SG matures, the number of UEs required is expected to rise increasing the traffic in an already burdened communications network. This thesis aims to optimally allocate radio resources such that the SG Quality of Service (QoS) requirements are satisfied with minimal effect on pre-existing traffic. To address this resource allocation problem, a Lotka-Volterra (LV) based resource allocation and scheduler was developed due to its ability to easily adapt to the dynamics of a telecommunications environment. Unlike previous resource allocation algorithms, the LV scheme allocated resources to each class as a function of its growth rate. By doing so, the QoS requirements of the SG were satisfied, with minimal effect on pre-existing traffic. Class queue latencies were reduced by intelligent scheduling of periodic traffic and forward allocation of resources. This thesis concludes that the SG will have a large effect on the telecommunications environment if not successfully controlled and monitored. This effect can be minimized by utilizing the proposed LV based resource allocation and scheduler system. Furthermore, it was shown that the allocation of periodic SG radio channels was optimized by continual updates of the LV model. This ensured the QoS requirements of the SG are achieved and provided enhanced performance. Successful integration of SG UEs in a wireless network can pave the way for increased capacity of Renewable and Intermittent Energy Resources operating on the PG

Communication requirements and analysis of distribution networks using WiMAX technology for smart grids

A Smart grid is characterized by two-way flows of power in electrical networks and information in communication networks [1]. The characteristics of communications in a smart grid vary for different applications that exist between control centers and power generating stations, distribution stations and consumer areas. For effective communications, proper communication network design and the selection of technology is essential. In this paper, we analyze the communication requirements of smart grids in electrical power distribution areas and in consumer places. As the communication in a Distribution Area Network (DAN) integrate the AMIs payload from the consumer area, it is necessary to analyze the data flow from the consumer area to control centers through a DAN. Few communication technologies are available to implement the DAN. Among that, WiMAX and LTE are more suitable than other technologies, as they satisfy the communication requirements and the cost. Little research has been conducted on analyzing and simulating the DAN by considering various applications that exist in a DAN. In this paper, we measure the smart metering capacity and the Quality of Service (QoS) performance (packet loss and latency) of DAN using WiMAX technology. From the obtained results, we also suggest that the 4G technologies are (WiMAX and LTE) more suitable candidate than existing cellular and wire line technologies for implementing the DAN in smart grids

A Heterogeneous Communications Network for Smart Grid by Using the Cost Functions

Smart Grids (SG) is an intelligent power grid in which the different SG node types with different communication requirements communicates different types of information with Control Stations (CS). Radio Access Technologies (RATs) due to its advantages are considered as the main access method to be used in order to have bidirectional data transferring between different node types and CS. Besides, spectrum is a rare source and its demand is increasing significantly. Elaborating a heterogeneous in order to fulfill different SG node types communication requirements effectively, is a challenging issue. To find a method to define desirability value of different RAT to support certain node types based on fitness degree between RAT communication characteristics and node type communication requirements is an appropriate solution. This method is implemented by using a comprehensive Cost Function (CF) including a communication CF (CCF) in combination with Energy CF (ECF). The Key Point Indicators which are used in the CCF are SG node type communication requirements. The existing trade of between Eb/N0 and spectral efficiency is considered as ECF. Based on the achieved CCF and ECF and their tradeoffs, SG node types are assigned to different RATs. The proposed assigning method is sensitive to the SG node types densities. The numerical results are achieved by using MATLAB simulation. The other different outcomes of the research output such as cognitive radio in SG and collectors effect number on data aggregation are discussed as well