Communication challenges in Smart Grid

Abstract

Smart grid is not a system, application, network, or single device. It is no surprise that there is no unique definition of the Smart Grid (SG): ABB says is an evolved grid system that manages electricity demand in a sustainable, reliable and economic manner, built on advanced infrastructure and tuned to facilitate the integration of all involved elements. However, the definitions from authoritative organizations follow a common theme: Smart grids utilize information and communication technologies to manage the energy distribution and optimize the transmission from suppliers to consumers and vice versa. Capacitor banks and reclosersneed the intelligent control to appropriately adapt the supply to the demand. In this paper, we discuss communication systems and the requirements they have to fulfill in the smart grid applications.