Performance Evaluation of Communication Technologies and Network Structure for Smart Grid Applications

TL;DR

This paper evaluates various communication technologies and network structures for smart grid applications, demonstrating that existing AMI infrastructure can support multiple functions simultaneously with acceptable latency and throughput.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of communication technologies' capabilities to support multiple smart grid functions on AMI networks.

Findings

Smart grid functions can operate simultaneously on AMI infrastructure.

Selected communication technologies meet latency and throughput requirements.

Piggybacking on existing AMI infrastructure is effective for smart grid applications.

Abstract

Design of an effective and reliable communication network supporting smart grid applications requires a selection of appropriate communication technologies and protocols. The objective of this paper is to study and quantify the capabilities of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to support the simultaneous operation of major smart grid functions. These include smart metering, price-induced controls, distribution automation, demand response and electric vehicle charging/discharging applications in terms of throughput and latency. OPNET is used to simulate the performance of selected communication technologies and protocols. Research findings indicate that smart grid applications can operate simultaneously by piggybacking on an existing AMI infrastructure and still achieve their latency requirements.