Communication Architecture for Smart Grid Applications

The need to add intelligence to the existing power grid in order to operate as a cognitive, self-monitoring and selfhealing system has become imminent. The monolithic energy value chain comes with a lot of constraints such as elongated outage, electricity theft and low equipment optimization. The next-generation grid is a data-centric network with heterogeneous hierarchical interconnected layers. Network devices in the emerging grid need a standard platform for proper integration, monitoring and control. In this paper, a holistic smart grid architectural landscape that clearly separates the power and communication domains to enable “evolving smart grid” engineers provide efficient networking solutions is presented. The communication routes and device topologies for the six smart grid applications are described based on the IEEE Guide for Smart Grid Interoperability and National Institute of Standards and Technology frameworks. Also, the deployments of intelligent electronic devices for microgrid control, monitoring and islanding operations are highlighted.