Cognitive Radio for Smart Grids: Survey of Architectures, Spectrum Sensing Mechanisms, and Networking Protocols

TLDR

Smart grids transform traditional power grids by enabling multi‑way communication among generation, transmission, distribution, and usage facilities, requiring high‑speed, reliable, secure data and communication technology, but limited spectral resources pose challenges, making cognitive radio networks a promising solution to fully utilize available spectrum. This paper surveys the CRN communication paradigm in smart grids, covering system architecture, network compositions, applications, and CR‑based communication technologies. The survey examines CR‑based smart grid applications, classifies spectrum sensing methods, reviews routing and MAC protocols, and discusses interference mitigation schemes. The authors identify open issues and research challenges for CR‑based smart grid networks and outline future research directions.

Abstract

Traditional power grids are currently being transformed into smart grids (SGs). SGs feature multi-way communication among energy generation, transmission, distribution, and usage facilities. The reliable, efficient, and intelligent management of complex power systems requires integration of high-speed, reliable, and secure data information and communication technology into the SGs to monitor and regulate power generation and usage. Despite several challenges, such as trade-offs between wireless coverage and capacity as well as limited spectral resources in SGs, wireless communication is a promising SG communications technology. Cognitive radio networks (CRNs) in particular are highly promising for providing timely SG wireless communications by utilizing all available spectrum resources. We provide in this paper a comprehensive survey on the CRN communication paradigm in SGs, including the system architecture, communication network compositions, applications, and CR-based communication technologies. We highlight potential applications of CR-based SG systems. We survey CR-based spectrum sensing approaches with their major classifications. We also provide a survey on CR-based routing and MAC protocols, and describe interference mitigation schemes. We furthermore present open issues and research challenges faced by CR-based SG networks along with future directions.