Field-test based comparison of LTE and PLC communication technologies for smart grid applications

In smart grids different assets and devices need to be able to communicate with each other and preferably with the grid operator as well. There are different technologies available to establish such a communication, with certain advantages and disadvantages over one another. In the research project ‘Smart Grid Demonstrator Sonderbuch’ two different communication technologies are implemented and operated in parallel: wireless broadband LTE and wire-based broadband power line communication (PLC). In this study, an overview of the scope and objectives of the project are presented, from which requirements for the communication infrastructure were derived. Comparisons of the operation of both communication technologies were drawn, regarding their usability and reliability for real-time applications. Overall, broadband PLC shows better performance in terms of network-latency, while LTE proofs to be less susceptible to short-term interruptions resulting in a higher overall reliability.