Software Defined Networks based Smart Grid Communication: A Comprehensive Survey

The current power grid is no longer a feasible solution due to ever-increasing user demand of electricity, old infrastructure, and reliability issues and thus require transformation to a better grid a.k.a., smart grid (SG). The key features that distinguish SG from the conventional electrical power grid are its capability to perform two-way communication, demand side management, and real time pricing. Despite all these advantages that SG will bring, there are certain issues which are specific to SG communication system. For instance, network management of current SG systems is complex, time consuming, and done manually. Moreover, SG communication (SGC) system is built on different vendor specific devices and protocols. Therefore, the current SG systems are not protocol independent, thus leading to interoperability issue. Software defined network (SDN) has been proposed to monitor and manage the communication networks globally. This article serves as a comprehensive survey on SDN-based SGC. In this article, we first discuss taxonomy of advantages of SDNbased SGC.We then discuss SDN-based SGC architectures, along with case studies. Our article provides an in-depth discussion on routing schemes for SDN-based SGC. We also provide detailed survey of security and privacy schemes applied to SDN-based SGC. We furthermore present challenges, open issues, and future research directions related to SDN-based SGC.Comment: Accepte

Scenarios for the development of smart grids in the UK: literature review

Smart grids are expected to play a central role in any transition to a low-carbon energy future, and much research is currently underway on practically every area of smart grids. However, it is evident that even basic aspects such as theoretical and operational definitions, are yet to be agreed upon and be clearly defined. Some aspects (efficient management of supply, including intermittent supply, two-way communication between the producer and user of electricity, use of IT technology to respond to and manage demand, and ensuring safe and secure electricity distribution) are more commonly accepted than others (such as smart meters) in defining what comprises a smart grid. It is clear that smart grid developments enjoy political and financial support both at UK and EU levels, and from the majority of related industries. The reasons for this vary and include the hope that smart grids will facilitate the achievement of carbon reduction targets, create new employment opportunities, and reduce costs relevant to energy generation (fewer power stations) and distribution (fewer losses and better stability). However, smart grid development depends on additional factors, beyond the energy industry. These relate to issues of public acceptability of relevant technologies and associated risks (e.g. data safety, privacy, cyber security), pricing, competition, and regulation; implying the involvement of a wide range of players such as the industry, regulators and consumers. The above constitute a complex set of variables and actors, and interactions between them. In order to best explore ways of possible deployment of smart grids, the use of scenarios is most adequate, as they can incorporate several parameters and variables into a coherent storyline. Scenarios have been previously used in the context of smart grids, but have traditionally focused on factors such as economic growth or policy evolution. Important additional socio-technical aspects of smart grids emerge from the literature review in this report and therefore need to be incorporated in our scenarios. These can be grouped into four (interlinked) main categories: supply side aspects, demand side aspects, policy and regulation, and technical aspects.

The PLANET Project: A Tool for Flexibility in the Energy Transition

Renewable energy resources offer immense prospects to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, whilst addressing the growing energy demand. In recent years, owing to falling costs and supportive policies, the integration of renewable energy has expanded significantly. Nevertheless, challenges to its further expansion are raised due to the inherent variability of renewable energy production (‘vRES’) coupled with grid stability considerations, which – if not properly addressed – shall lead to vRES generation curtailment. The latter would cause renewable capacity expansion to decelerate, reductions in the capacity factors of vRES technologies and subsequent economic losses, to name a few. Against this backdrop, PLANET has developed a holistic decision support system for utilities, network operators and policy makers to help them implement optimal grid planning and management solutions compatible with complete decarbonization of the energy system. To that end, the project leverages energy conversion and storage technologies, such as Power-to-Gas, Power-to-Heat, Combined Heat and Power, Thermal storages and Virtual Energy Storage. These technologies have been deemed very promising to address issues related to the integration of renewables in the electricity grid, by enabling coordination of the electricity, heat and gas sectors towards revealing the maximum potential of network flexibility, a vital prerequisite for ensuring security of supply. The PLANET project commenced in November 2017 with the participation of 11 partners from 7 different countries: Italy, Finland, Greece, UK, Germany, France and Belgium including technical universities, research centers and associations, consultancy firms, utilities and information technology companie

Communication in microgrids and virtual power plants

One of the cornerstones of the steady operation of microgrids and virtual power plants as building blocks for smart grid is the communication system, which is the main objective for evaluation and research in this thesis. The given project investigates the most widespread communication protocols along with IEC 61850 standard for substations automation applied in smart grids. Based on the presented analysis for communication technologies and protocols the appropriate communication solution for the laboratory microgrid at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway (Campus Narvik) is suggested and implemente

Implementation of IEC 61850 in Solar Applications

IEC 61850 has become one of the core technologies in the substation automation due its high-speed reliable operation Ethernet-based communication with a high security. Its reliability and performance makes a significant contribution to a fail-safe substation operation. IEC 61850 also allows both vertical and horizontal communications in the substation automation. Main characteristic of IEC 61850 is the use of GOOSE messages. All communication services run parallel via one LAN connection and the same GOOSE message can be broadcasted to several IEDs in once. This results in less wiring and faster data exchange between applications. Moreover, one of the core features of IEC 61850 is the interoperability between IEDs from different vendors. The separation of communication and data model allows to reliably retaining engineering data for a long time even if when upgrading or changing the system. IEC publishes updated documentations every while and add new parts to the standard due to the rabidly increase of IEC 61850 applications demand. As the market of solar applications has been increasing last few years, hence, the needs of new technologies to be implemented in solar applications is increasing as well. This thesis beside several other current researches nowadays is investigating the implementation of IEC 61850 in solar applications. The thesis outlines the current needs of solar applications by collecting statistical data using two surveys then concludes the implementation requirement. In the end of the research, IEC 61850 Data sets and current used parameters by Vacon were compared, and simulation example of photovoltaic array is given to conclude the benefits of using IEC 61850 in solar systems.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

An Investigation into the testing and commissioning requirements of IEC 61850 Station Bus Substations

The emergence of the new IEC 61850 standard generates a potential to deliver a safe, reliable and effective cost reduction in the way substations are designed and constructed. The IEC 61850 Station Bus systems architecture for a substation protection and automation system is based on a horizontal communication concept replicating what conventional copper wiring performed between Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED’s). The protection and control signals that are traditionally sent and received across a network of copper cables within the substation are now communicated over Ethernet based Local Area Networks (LAN) utilising Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) messages. Implementing a station bus system generates a substantial change to existing design and construction practices. With this significant change, it is critical to develop a methodology for testing and commissioning of protection systems using GOOSE messaging. Analysing current design standards and philosophies established a connection between current conventional practices and future practices using GOOSE messaging at a station bus level. A potential design of the GOOSE messaging protection functions was implemented using the new technology hardware and software. Identification of potential deviations from the design intent, examination of their possible causes and assessment of their consequences was achieved using a Hazard and Operability study (HAZOP). This assessment identified the parts of the intended design that required validating or verifying through the testing and commissioning process. The introduction of a test coverage matrix was developed to identify and optimise the relevant elements, settings, parameters, functions, systems and characteristics that will require validating or verifying through inspection, testing, measurement or simulations during the testing and commissioning process. Research conducted identified hardware and software that would be utilised to validate or verify the IEC 61850 system through inspection, testing, measurement or simulations. The Hazard and Operability study (HAZOP) has been identified as an effective, structured and systematic analysing process that will help identify what hardware, configurations, and functions that require testing and commissioning prior to placing a substation using IEC 61850 Station bus GOOSE messaging into service. This process enables power utilities to understand new challenges and develop testing and commissioning philosophies and quality assurance processes, while providing confidence that the IEC 61850 system will operate in a reliable, effective and secure manner

INTEGRATING ELECTRIC VEHICLES INTO SMART GRID USING IEC 61850 AND ISO/IEC 15118 STANDARDS

The development of Electric Vehicle (EV) technology is evolving quickly due to the worlds growing concerns in environmental protection and energy conservation. The world is struggling to minimize CO2 emissions and fossil fuel dependency in transportation sector. Standardized communication interface is a key factor for the successful integration of electric vehicle into smart grid, interoperability of charging infrastructure and mass-market acceptance of E-Mobility. The deployment of the electric vehicle in large scale would be one of the feasible solutions because of its economical and environmentally friendly features. However, large deployment of the electric vehicle arises challenges at the grid level such as peak load impacts and charging control. Therefore, it is very crucial to investigate how to integrate electric vehicle into smart grid so that to avoid these effects. This thesis describes how the vehicle-to-grid communication interface (V2G CI) currently being developed in ISO/IEC 15118 can be connect to IEC 61850-7-420 standard for Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The client-server application is implemented to simulate EV charging process according to the ISO/IEC 15118 standard. Also the new logical nodes for monitoring and controlling EV and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) are implemented for the simulation of the concept.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format