PLC for Smart Grid

Power line communication (PLC) is a natural communications technology for smart grids, as it uses the existing power cables. This chapter presents that the medium‐voltage (MV) networks, fibers are rarely included in the power cabling. While at present, MV substations are connected to the communications network mainly via digital subscriber lines, private pilot cables or cellular radio techniques, communications to substations may be realized by PLC. The electric grid is the basic infrastructure supporting the different kinds of PLC. The chapter focuses on the discussion on distribution grids, comprising MV and LV segments. It presents an overview of the more recently developed standards for PLC for smart grid communication. Then, the chapter provides an in‐depth discussion of the use of PLC to support various smart grid applications, which also includes deployment examples. The chapter explains an overview over more recent HDR NB PLC standards developed specifically for smart grid communications.