G3-PLC field trials in U.S. distribution grid: Initial results and requirements

In order to address the energy needs of tomorrow, powerline communication as one of the enabling technologies for smart grid is gaining a lot of momentum. In Particular, the U.S. distribution grid in the rural area is a great fit for powerline communication. In this paper we discuss the U.S. distribution grid topology and demonstrate how a PLC network can be deployed. We also show some field trial results along with data showing the noise and interference sources in the grid. The field trial results demonstrate that crossing the transformer is key for smart grid PLC deployment in the U.S. Moreover, it is shown that the channel conditions are often very poor requiring very robust mode of operation. We conclude by showing that a G3-PLC system is capable of handling such severe conditions including crossing transformers due to its robust mode of operation and its adaptive tone mapping capabilities.