Communications Trends, Needs, Issues

November 18, 2009Grid-Interop 2009

Brian GaucherRSM-Manager – Smarter Energy

(Thanks to Mike Robinson – IBM E&U)

Example Technologies for the Grid

End-User Private

Utility Operated

Public Wireless

Public Wireline

A Actuator

M Meter

C Concentrator

S Substation

D Data Center

Application Layer Presence

Wireless Network Provider

BPL BPL BPL MPLS

MW T1

PMP MW

Metro-Ethernet

DSL

T1-FR

MPLS

MPLS

T1-FRGSM-CDMA Public

GSM-CDMA PrivateWiMAX

VHFVHF

PLC

900 MHz Mesh

2.4 GHz Mesh

Zigbee

6LoWPAN

PLC

A M C S D

Wireline Network Provider

A View of Smart Grid Communications Needs

Public

Private

PSTN

Internet

Vendor

Mobile

Emergency

Ext Grid Op

R

R

RS

S

S

S

C

A MAA

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

M

M

M

M

M

R

R

Home Area Network

Neighborhood Area Network

Access Network

Backhaul Network

Core Network

ExtraNet

R

R

S C

CM

S

S

S

A Actuator M Meter S Sensor C Concentrator R RouterLegend:

Intelligent Distribution Grid Intelligent Transmission GridHome Outside

Example set of network requirements

Application Protocol Latency Bandwidth Reliability Scope Security

ReclosersDNP3,

IEC 60870-510s msec < 56 kbps Medium P2P + HR Medium

Capacitor BankDNP3,

IEC 60870-5100s msec < 56 kbps High HR Medium

“Poletop” RTUDNP3,

IEC 60870-51000s msec 56 kbps High HR Medium

Motor Operated Disconnect

DNP3, IEC 60870-5

1000s msec < 56 kbps High HR Medium

Line RegulatorDNP3,

IEC 60870-5100s msec < 56 kbps High HR Medium

Advanced Metering(Residential)

C12.22,IEC 62056

1000s msec 56 kbps Low HR High

Commercial IDR C12.22, MV90 100s msec < 56 kbps Low HR High

Demand Mgmt Tbd 100s msec < 56 kbps Medium HR High

MWM Voice G.729 & VoIP 100s msec < 56 kbps High HR + P2P NA

MWM Data UDP/IP 100s msec 1000’s kbps Medium HR + P2P High

Aggregate Serial + IP 10s msec 1000’s kbps High P2P High

P2P = peer-to-peer

HR = host-remote

Note: Most of the power performance requirements were summarized from IEEE Std 1646-2004 Table-3. ITU-T specifies VoIP latency standards. Per discussion on 1/17/2008 with Dennis Holstein (considered US Expert to several international standards bodies), IEEE Std 1646-2004 is the latest published work on power communication performance. However, as the IUN matures, these requirements could change.

Network Issues – Home Example

• Order of magnitude – Tens of millions– Externally driven by customer choice

• Ownership – Private or utility– Design, maintenance, troubleshooting, records

• Types of devices – Thermostat, pool pump, water heater, lights…

• Network technologies – Wired – Category 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…– Wireless - paging, cellular, WiMAX, RF-mesh, WiFi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN…– Electrical – X.10, PLC, HomePlug 1.0, HomePlug AV…

• Addressing responsibilities – Link, network, public or private

• Protocol support– IPvX?...

• Security – Joining the network, profiles, protecting the home, protecting the utility,

encryption• Gateway

– Meter, DSL, cablemodem, WiMAX • Control

– Data standard, local control, utility control, state, upgrades

Public

Private

PSTN

Internet

Vendor

Mobile

Emergency

Ext Grid Op

R

R

RS

S

S

S

C

A MAA

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

AA

A

M

M

M

M

M

R

R

Home NeighborhoodAccess

Backhaul CoreExtraNet

R

R

S C

CM

S

S

S

Neighborhood Area Network

Access Network

Backhaul Network

Core Network

Similarly for these networks