Reliability & Resilience PLC Communication - WG 2024-3

HOW TO INCREASE THE RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF PLC COMMUNICATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SMARTGRIDS

 

Background

Smart grids are a cornerstone in the energy transition by revolutionising the traditional energy infrastructure. These intelligent, interconnected systems leverage advanced technologies such as IoT sensors, automation, and real-time data analytics to optimise energy generation, distribution, and consumption. Monitoring and controlling the grid remotely enables better decision-making, reduces energy
waste, and facilitates the integration of diverse energy resources, ultimately fostering a more reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly energy transition.
 
Smart meters serve as essential components within these grids, enabling the collection of real-time data on energy consumption and facilitating two-way communication between utilities and consumers. The reliability of these communications meters is crucial for the success of smart grids, though it ensures an accurate and timely exchange of information. Robust communication with smart meters is fundamental for utilities to make informed decisions, respond promptly to energy demand or supply changes, and enhance grid resilience. Furthermore, a dependable communication infrastructure with smart meters is key to fostering consumer engagement, enabling them to
actively participate in energy conservation efforts and contribute to a more sustainable energy ecosystem.
 
Regarding smart meters, PLC is regarded by many as an important solution to DSO’s telecommunications challenges. So, what are the best practices for dealing with noise problems in PLC communications? How can they be prevented? And how can you optimise your PLC network?
 
Scope
 
Digital:
• Development of advanced algorithms (if necessary, using AI or Machine Learning) to identify anomalies (type of anomaly and place to intervene); determine the most suitable time of day to communicate with each smart meter; detection of network saturation at the data concentrator level.
Analyse how to guarantee the interoperability and intermutability of PLC technologies (hybrid, upgrade compatibility and between different standards).
 
Physical/Material:
• Analysis of equipment that causes electromagnetic interference.
• Identification of measures to protect the CENELEC-A frequency range (from 0 to 500kHz), such as identifying potential requirements from manufacturers to prevent electromagnetic interference from spreading within the PLC frequency Spectrum or the possibility of requiring customers/users to allow its correction and in the most complete cases, create some mechanism that requires them to resolve the situation.
• Analyse the impact of filter usage and consider the possibility of segmenting filters by anomaly type.
• Standardize repeaters, gateways and PLC filters - best practices and installation solutions.
• Analysis of crosstalk issues.

 
Conveners :
Gonçalves José Carlos, E-Redes, Portugal
Leila Ione, E-Redes, Portugal
 

Members :

Barriquello Carlos Henrique, UFSM, Brazil
Cappuccio Francesco, CESI, Italy
Chen Baoren, China Southern Power Grid Power, China
Creuso Alberto, E-Distribuzione, Italy
Dalia Mohamed Mostafa, Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, Egypt
Galić Ivan, HEP-Distribution, Croatia
Hussein Ahmed, Ministry of Electricity and Energy, Egypt
Musil Petr, Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic
Park Myunghye, Korea Electric Power Corporation, South Korea
Rashad Tawfek Yosra Ahmad, South Delta Electricity Distribution Company, Egypt
Smida Oldrich, DSO CEZ Distribuce, Czech Republic