Disclaimer: In future versions of the Technology Radar, Task Force 6 will consider the creation of separate factsheets for different advanced communication technologies to reflect the differences in their application, impact and timelines.
Advanced communication refers to the use of emerging data communication technologies to enhance the efficient, reliable, and secure exchange of information between devices, systems, and users connected to the electricity grid. Beyond 5G and Internet of Things (IoT), which are separately tracked on this Technology Radar, advanced communication includes technologies such as:
- 6G, which will potentially provide ultra-low latency and massive connectivity for real-time grid
management. 6G will succeed 5G and is expected to become available around 2030, offering 10 times faster connectivity, better reliability and lower latency compared to 5G. - (Low Earth orbit) satellite communication, which ensures wide coverage and communication
resilience, especially in remote areas or during disasters. - Low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN), such as LoRa, NB-IoT or LTE-M over 450Mhz, providing long-range IoT connectivity for applications that require low bandwidth and long battery life.
- Power Line Communication (PLC), divided into narrowband and broadband PLC, which uses
existing electrical power conductors as physical communication media. PLC does not require the deployment of new infrastructure, is highly reliable and enables DSOs to have full control over their communications. - Quantum communication/networking, which leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to transmit information in an ultra-secure and efficient way.
Highlights
As more distributed energy resources (DERs) are integrated into the grid and as climate change causes more frequent severe weather events, maintaining a resilient and reliable energy infrastructure will require robust secure data communication systems designed to meet performance requirements. Today, DSOs depend upon a wide variety of communication technologies to support existing operations (including metering substation monitoring/automation, protection systems, and generation dispatch) each with its unique communication system needs. Advancing grid operations and service paradigms, such as generation and demand coordination of large number of DERs with different ownership, will challenge and alter existing operational processes as more data will be exchanged. This will drive the deployment of new communication technologies with different performance and security characteristics (source: US Department of Energy, Office of Electricity).
Challenges and opportunities for DSOs
- Advancements in communication technologies can significantly enhance the efficiency, security, and reliability of electricity distribution systems, paving the way for smarter and more resilient grids.
- Some solutions will be relatively straightforward and can be achieved by using standard products from a third-party communications provider. However, if more control by the DSO is desired, or the products being offered do not meet their requirements, the implementation of new solutions will become more complex.
- Several communication technologies, such as low-orbit earth satellite communications, are mainly
provided by non-EU parties. This might result in an increasing dependence on foreign parties for the operation of critical infrastructure. The potential sovereignty risk is that DSOs lose control and
autonomy over their data, operations and technology.
E.DSO considerations
- As many of these emerging communication technologies are not yet available, DSOs must follow technological and regulatory developments in the field.
- No single “silver bullet” exists for communications technology for grid operations. It is recommended to apply the appropriate communication technology to support grid requirements by (source: US Department of Energy, Office of Electricity):
- Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different communication technologies. This will be increasingly important as the grid evolves to support and rely upon distributed generation
- Identifying the grid services or processes (e.g. SCADA, protection, metering) that need
communication support and determining associated communication requirements (such as latency, throughput, bandwidth, availability, and security) - Determining the current state of communication technologies at the DSO
Pontential use cases
- Real-Time Monitoring: Provide high-speed, secure, low-latency communication for real-time monitoring and control of grid operations. (e.g. 6G, quantum communication, broadband power line communication).
- DER Management: Support the integration and management of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels, battery storage systems and electric vehicles (e.g. with 6Gand broadband PLC).
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI): Enhance the capabilities of AMI with faster collection and processing of data from smart meters and sensors. (e.g. with 6G, broadband PLC, LPWAN).
Cybersecurity: Protect sensitive data from cyber-attacks (e.g., with quantum communication/networking). - Remote Monitoring and Control: Satellite communication provides reliable connectivity for remote substations and power generation plants, enabling real-time monitoring and control. This is crucial for areas where terrestrial communication infrastructure is lacking.
- Disaster Recovery and Resilience: In the event of natural disasters or other emergencies, satellite communication can serve as a backup to terrestrial networks, ensuring continuous operation and quick recovery of the grid.
Ongoing projects
- Enedis is testing the use of 5G to replace wired technologies and ensure low-latency connectivity with decentralized generation for anti-islanding systems.
Last update: 28 September 2023