Enhancing Smart Grids via Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Fog Computing Fusion

The smart grid is a new generation of the power grid that incorporates advanced features such as distributed energy resources, two-way communication and situation awareness. It is not just energy that is exchanged between consumers and producers but information. An efficient and robust smart grid requires efficient and robust communication and computation infrastructure to carry and process the associated data. We provide an overview of the possibilities that fog computing offer for smart grids. In our investigation, the pillars of fog computing, such as decentralization, resiliency, scalability and mobility, offer a perfect match for the decentralized smart grid. Fog computing nodes, capable of communication and coordination, incorporated in smart meters, will provide distributed control, communication and computation. Thus, enhancing reliability, resiliency and scalability of the smart grid as more and more distributed energy resources (DERs) are added to the grid.