Smart Grid Communications: Overview of Research Challenges, Solutions, and Standardization Activities

TL;DR

This paper reviews the key research challenges, solutions, and standardization efforts in smart grid communications, emphasizing interoperability, security, privacy, and the application of existing networking technologies for energy management.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of current challenges and standardization activities in smart grid communications, highlighting future research directions and technological solutions.

Findings

Identification of key communication challenges in smart grids

Analysis of existing networking technologies for energy management

Overview of European standardization efforts

Abstract

Optimization of energy consumption in future intelligent energy networks (or Smart Grids) will be based on grid-integrated near-real-time communications between various grid elements in generation, transmission, distribution and loads. This paper discusses some of the challenges and opportunities of communications research in the areas of smart grid and smart metering. In particular, we focus on some of the key communications challenges for realizing interoperable and future-proof smart grid/metering networks, smart grid security and privacy, and how some of the existing networking technologies can be applied to energy management. Finally, we also discuss the coordinated standardization efforts in Europe to harmonize communications standards and protocols.