Low-Cost and Secure Communication System for SCADA System of Remote Microgrids

Renewable energy-based local microgrids are gaining popularity despite the unavailability of low-cost, power efficient, and secure communication system for its supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. This research has been carried out to address this issue along with the additional features such as data uploading to a server through a gateway, local data logging, and alerting the concerned crew in case of any fault to minimize the outage time. This paper presents the design of a communication system for the SCADA system of microgrid. ESP32 with LoRa has been used for communication between two nodes or a node and central SCADA unit. Communication security has been achieved by implementing AES cryptography. Data authenticity has been achieved by introducing a unique message authentication code (MAC) for each message. A mesh-like network has been implemented to improve the LoRa range. ESP32 and dragino-uno based LoRa gateways have been tried for uploading the data to the server, and local data storage has been achieved using an SD card. The main controller working as the SCADA unit has the feature of sending emails. Detailed system design and test results are presented in this pa

Design and Deployment of a Web SCADA for an Experimental Microgrid Base on Open Source Software

[EN] Microgrids are a group of loads and distributed power generation sources acting as a single entity to provide power to the user or the grid. Since a Microgrid is a system of systems, this leads to an operability problem for local management and an interoperability problem for remote management. Operability and interoperability problems are solved by Data Acquisition and Control Systems (SCADA). There are several commercial platforms for the development of SCADA systems, being most of the time very expensive for the average user and even many universities. Therefore, this paper presents the design and implementation of a SCADA Web based on open-source software for experimental microgrids to allow the management of Microgrids remotely through the web. The Web-based SCADA system was developed for the Renewable Energy Laboratory (LabDER) of the Universitat Politècnica de València. An OMRON CPU CJ2M PLC was linked to a remote MYSQL database. A user interface was programmed using JAVA, and PHP languages perform operations and take data for the web-based SCADA system. The implemented SCADA system allowed monitoring and limited control of the LabdDER microgrid remotely, showing it to be an effective solution for Microgrids remote management.Águila León, J.; Vargas Salgado, CA.; Chiñas Palacios, CD.; Hurtado Pérez, EJ. (2021). Design and Deployment of a Web SCADA for an Experimental Microgrid Base on Open Source Software. En Proceedings INNODOCT/20. International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Education. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 165-173. https://doi.org/10.4995/INN2020.2020.11878OCS16517

Chalmers Campus as a Testbed for Intelligent Grids and Local Energy Systems

This paper presents an overview of a testbed for intelligent distribution grids, local energy systems, and energy flexible buildings, which is being developed at the campus of Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. It describes the test sites, the functionalities, and the planned demonstration activities within the scope of on-going research projects. The proposed demonstrations include a local energy market platform, energy management solutions for microgrids and smart buildings, as well as voltage control in distribution grids. The paper aims to show how the physical energy supply systems of the university are being adapted to integrate the communication and control set-ups that provide the technical requirements for smart grid interoperability. As an example, the on-site implementation of remote battery control is presented, where initial results show the feasibility and potential benefits of the external control. Finally, challenges and lessons learned during the development of the testbed are highlighted

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system applied to a researching purpose microgrid based on Renewable Energy

[EN] Control and data acquisition systems are required in researching facilities to analyze the behaviour of any process. In this paper, the results of the design and implementation of an automation and control system applied to a microgrid based on renewables energy are shown. The microgrid is located in the Laboratory for Distributed energy resources – LabDER at the Institute for Energy Engineering at UPV. The brain of the system is a PLC, programmed to carry out several tasks to guarantee the correct operation of the system. The measuring devices used are power meters, anemometer, temperature sensors and a solar cell to measure irradiance. The communication protocol used is Modbus TCP IP, Modbus RS-485 and Xanbus. All the information is centralized using a SCADA as an HMI. As a result, a robust control, and data acquisition system, able to manage a microgrid for researching purpose was obtained.The authors gratefully acknowledge to the Universitat Politècnica de València and the Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería Energética for their support to accomplish this work.Vargas Salgado, CA.; Águila León, J.; Chiñas Palacios, CD.; Alfonso Solar, D. (2021). Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system applied to a researching purpose microgrid based on Renewable Energy. En Proceedings INNODOCT/20. International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Education. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 233-239. https://doi.org/10.4995/INN2020.2020.11898OCS23323

A Survey on Energy Efficiency in Smart Homes and Smart Grids

Empowered by the emergence of novel information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as sensors and high-performance digital communication systems, Europe has adapted its electricity distribution network into a modern infrastructure known as a smart grid (SG). The benefits of this new infrastructure include precise and real-time capacity for measuring and monitoring the different energy-relevant parameters on the various points of the grid and for the remote operation and optimization of distribution. Furthermore, a new user profile is derived from this novel infrastructure, known as a prosumer (a user that can produce and consume energy to/from the grid), who can benefit from the features derived from applying advanced analytics and semantic technologies in the rich amount of big data generated by the different subsystems. However, this novel, highly interconnected infrastructure also presents some significant drawbacks, like those related to information security (IS). We provide a systematic literature survey of the ICT-empowered environments that comprise SGs and homes, and the application of modern artificial intelligence (AI) related technologies with sensor fusion systems and actuators, ensuring energy efficiency in such systems. Furthermore, we outline the current challenges and outlook for this field. These address new developments on microgrids, and data-driven energy efficiency that leads to better knowledge representation and decision-making for smart homes and SGsThis research was co-funded by Interreg Österreich-Bayern 2014–2020 programme project KI-Net: Bausteine für KI-basierte Optimierungen in der industriellen Fertigung (AB 292). This work is also supported by the ITEA3 OPTIMUM project and ITEA3 SCRATCH project, all of them funded by the Centro Tecnológico de Desarrollo Industrial (CDTI), Spain

Application of Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks to Achieve Intelligent Microgrids: A Promising Approach towards a Global Smart Grid Deployment

Smart Grids (SGs) constitute the evolution of the traditional electrical grid towards a new paradigm, which should increase the reliability, the security and, at the same time, reduce the costs of energy generation, distribution and consumption. Electrical microgrids (MGs) can be considered the first stage of this evolution of the grid, because of the intelligent management techniques that must be applied to assure their correct operation. To accomplish this task, sensors and actuators will be necessary, along with wireless communication technologies to transmit the measured data and the command messages. Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSANs) are therefore a promising solution to achieve an intelligent management of MGs and, by extension, the SG. In this frame, this paper surveys several aspects concerning the application of WSANs to manage MGs and the electrical grid, as well as the communication protocols that could be applied. The main concerns regarding the SG deployment are also presented, including future scenarios where the interoperability of different generation technologies must be assured

Smart Grid Applications for a Practical Implementation of IP over Narrowband Power Line Communications

Abstract Currently, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems have equipped the low voltage section with a communication system that is being used mainly for metering purposes, but it can be further employed for additional applications related to the Smart Grid (SG) concept. This paper explores the potential applications beyond metering of the available channel in a Power Line Communication-based AMI system. To that end, IP has been implemented over Narrow Band-Power Line Communication (NB-PLC) in a real microgrid, which includes an AMI system. A thorough review of potential applications for the SG that might be implemented for this representative case is included in order to provide a realistic analysis of the potentiality of NB-PLC beyond smart metering. The results demonstrate that existing AMI systems based on NB-PLC have the capacity to implement additional applications such as remote commands or status signals, which entails an added value for deployed AMI systems.This work has been partially funded by the Basque Government (IT.683-13 and ELKARTEK KK-2017/00071

Current challenges and future trends in the field of communication architectures for microgrids

[EN] The concept of microgrid has emerged as a feasible answer to cope with the increasing number of distributed renewable energy sources which are being introduced into the electrical grid. The microgrid communication network should guarantee a complete and bidirectional connectivity among the microgrid resources, a high reliability and a feasible interoperability. This is in a contrast to the current electrical grid structure which is characterized by the lack of connectivity, being a centralized-unidirectional system. In this paper a review of the microgrids information and communication technologies (ICT) is shown. In addition, a guideline for the transition from the current communication systems to the future generation of microgrid communications is provided. This paper contains a systematic review of the most suitable communication network topologies, technologies and protocols for smart microgrids. It is concluded that a new generation of peer-to-peer communication systems is required towards a dynamic smart microgrid. Potential future research about communications of the next microgrid generation is also identified.This work is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Grant ENE2015-64087-C2-2. This work is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under grant BES-2013-064539.Marzal-Romeu, S.; Salas-Puente, RA.; González Medina, R.; Garcerá, G.; Figueres Amorós, E. (2018). Current challenges and future trends in the field of communication architectures for microgrids. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 82(2):3610-3622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.10.101S3610362282

Intelligent energy management based on SCADA system in a real Microgrid for smart building applications

Energy management is one of the main challenges in Microgrids (MGs) applied to Smart Buildings (SBs). Hence, more studies are indispensable to consider both modeling and operating aspects to utilize the upcoming results of the system for the different applications. This paper presents a novel energy management architecture model based on complete Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system duties in an educational building with an MG Laboratory (Lab) testbed, which is named LAMBDA at the Electrical and Energy Engineering Department of the Sapienza University of Rome. The LAMBDA MG Lab simulates in a small scale a SB and is connected with the DIAEE electrical network. LAMBDA MG is composed of a Photovoltaic generator (PV), a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a smart switchboard (SW), and different classified loads (critical, essential, and normal) some of which are manageable and controllable (lighting, air conditioning, smart plugs operating into the LAB). The aim of the LAMBDA implementation is making the DIAEE smart for energy saving purposes. In the LAMBDA Lab, the communication architecture consists in a complex of master/slave units and actuators carried out by two main international standards, Modbus (industrial serial standard for electrical and technical monitoring systems) and Konnex (an open standard for commercial and domestic building automation). Making the electrical department smart causes to reduce the required power from the main grid. Hence, to achieve the aims, results have been investigated in two modes. Initially, the real-time mode based on the SCADA system, which reveals real daily power consumption and production of different sources and loads. Next, the simulation part is assigned to shows the behavior of the main grid, loads and BESS charging and discharging based on energy management system. Finally, the proposed model has been examined in different scenarios and evaluated from the economic aspect

Integrating Low Voltage Distribution Systems to Distribution Automation

The aim of this thesis is to define and study the key elements and the main characteris-tics of the integration of the low voltage (LV) distribution systems to distribution auto-mation (DA). The key elements are defined by studying the development of essential systems in LV distribution networks as well as by studying the development of the net-works by way of evolution phases. The key elements and the main characteristics of the integration to DA are illustrated by a certain model of a LV distribution network under its development. For a start DA is reviewed by generally used functions and by technologies. The review includes the data and the information systems and in addition the communication net-works are studied generally. Thereafter the main elements of LV distribution networks are presented and their evolution visions are introduced. The main elements comprises of the distribution network, distributed generation, smart energy metering, electric vehicles and energy storages. The approach to the integration is the evolution of LV distribution networks, so four main evolution phases are introduced; traditional, boom of distributed generation, mi-crogrid and intelligent microgrid. The evolution phases bases on general research publi-cations and visions of Smart Grids. Management architectures for the networks are pre-sented. Also requirements for communication are evaluated by studying the number of nodes, capacity requirements for transferred data types and fault and event frequencies. In order to define a proposal for integrating LV distribution networks to DA, the man-agement architectures and the studied requirements are compared to produce functions for DA. As a result, the proposal is presented based on the studied architectures and re-quirements. In addition considerable issues are introduced relating to the functions in devices or sub-systems, which are needed for DA applications. This thesis indicates the need for further studies, such as: Which are the desired DA functions to be extended to LV distribution networks? Which device or system should offer the desired functions? How well the potential protocols using some media type serves the functions?fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format