Distribution Grid Monitoring Based on Widely Available Smart Plugs

TL;DR

This paper proposes using common smart home devices like smart plugs for distribution grid monitoring to address sparse instrumentation and improve detection of grid bottlenecks caused by renewable energy and new loads.

Contribution

It introduces a method to aggregate and analyze smart plug data for grid monitoring, demonstrating the potential for widespread, low-cost measurement solutions.

Findings

Monitoring error decreases with more smart plug devices installed

Smart plugs can provide valuable, cost-effective grid information

Aggregation improves accuracy of distribution grid monitoring

Abstract

The growing popularity of e-mobility, heat pumps, and renewable generation such as photovoltaics is leading to scenarios which the distribution grid was not originally designed for. Moreover, parts of the distribution grid are only sparsely instrumented, leaving the distribution system operator unaware of possible bottlenecks resulting from the introduction of such loads and renewable generation. To overcome this lack of information, we propose the use of widely available smart home devices, such as smart plugs, for grid monitoring. We detail the aggregation and storage of smart plug measurements for distribution grid monitoring and examine the accuracy of the measurements. A case study shows how the average monitoring error in a distribution grid area decreases the more measurement devices are installed. Hence, simple smart plugs can help with distribution grid monitoring and provide valuable information to the DSO.