Smart Grid Telecommunications

Module 01 : Introduction Smart Grid System

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Introduction

• Electricity is one of the foundation stone of our Society:

• Its generation, transport, and distribution need to be a fully functional and

efficient.

• All essential services that rely on and impact electricity must evolve efficiently

and collaboratively, while encouraging new technology adoption.

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Electricity at the
core of critical
services

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Building Blocks of Traditional Electric Power Systems
• Electric Grid is composed of a large number of elements.
• It must be controlled to deliver its service in the most reliable and resilient manner.

Distributed Generation/Distributed Energy Resource

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Building Blocks of Traditional Electric Power Systems

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Basic Power Grid

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Basic Power Grid

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Smart and Robust Person

Power Grid + ICT = Smart Grid

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What is Smart Grid?
• Distinguished features of the smart grid are monitoring capability with:

• Data integration

• Advanced analysis to support system control

• Enhanced power security and effective communication to meet the power demand

• Efficient energy consumption and minimum costs

• Smart Grid implementation requires intelligent interaction between the power-

generating, distributing, and consuming devices by installing devices capable of
processing data and communicating it to various grid parts.

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Smart grid: The “Energy Internet”
• Smart Grid

• Add communication capabilities and

converts electrical signals into physical characteristics.
intelligence to traditional grids

• What enables Smart Grids?

• Intelligent Sensors and Actuators

Converts Physical characteristics into electrical signals.
• Extended data management system

• Expanded two-way communications between

power generation, distribution, and customers

• Network security etc

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Definition of Smart grid
Definition by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA:
A modernized grid that enables bidirectional flows of energy and uses two-way
communication and control capabilities that will lead to an array of new
functionalities and applications.
IEEE:
• Smart grid is a large ‘System of Systems’, where each functional domain consists
of three layers: (i) the power and energy layer, (ii) the communication layer,
and (iii) the IT/computer layer.
• Layers (ii) and (iii) above are the enabling infrastructure that makes the existing
power and energy infrastructure ‘smarter’.
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Definition of Smart grid
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE):
“Smart grid” generally refers to a class of technologies that people are using to bring utility
electricity delivery systems into the 21st century, using computer-based remote control and
automation. These systems are made possible by two way digital communications
technologies and computer processing that has been used for decades in other industries.
They are beginning to be used on electricity networks, from the power plants and wind
farms all the way to the consumers of electricity in homes and businesses. They offer many
benefits to utilities and consumers – mostly seen in big improvements in energy efficiency
and reliability on the electricity grid and in energy users’ homes and offices.”

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Traditional Power Grid vs Smart Grid

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Traditional Power Grid vs Smart Grid

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Conventional
Grid

Vs.

Smart Grid

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Conventional
Grid

Vs.

Smart Grid

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Overview of Smart Grid

1 2 3

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So Smart Grid!
Smarter
1. Generation
2. Transmission
3. Distribution
4. Customer participation
5. Operations
6. Markets
7. Service Providers

Overall objective:
Smart/best/optimal
utilization of all the
available resources.

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Smart Grid Domains
and Sub-domains

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Foundational Support Systems
• Foundational Support Systems in the
Smart Grid encompass all digital
components supporting energy industry
processes.
• Information Technology (IT) is essential for
designing solutions and ensuring cyber-
physical security, relying heavily on
Communications Technologies closely tied
to these support systems.

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Customer Domain
• Customers: Residential,
commercial, and industrial
• Role: Influence distribution
via demand response (peak
shaving, valley filling, etc.)
• Smart Solutions: Enable
intelligent monitoring and
control of energy use at
consumer premises

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Customer Domain
• Prosumer: A consumer who
also contributes to
decision-making and energy
production
• Communication Need:
Infrastructure is essential
for prosumers to interact
with operators, distribution
systems, service providers,
and the market
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Market Domain
• Market Domain: Manages
buying/selling of grid assets and
services, including wholesale,
trading, and retail
• Connectivity: Communicates
with all Smart Grid domains
• Importance: Efficient
coordination with energy supply
domains is crucial for matching
production and consumption
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Service Provider domain
• Actors: Support business processes for producers, distributors, and customers
• Functions: Handle utility
services (e.g., billing) and
energy use/generation
management
• Interface: Shares
communication with
Markets, Operations, and
Customer domains
• Key Link: Coordination
with Operations is vital for
control and situational
awareness

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Operations Domain
• This domain is responsible for
the operations of the grid,
including:
• monitoring, control,
• fault detection and
management,
• grid maintenance,
• and customer support.
• Communication infrastructure
needs to be in place between the
generating facilities and the
system operator, the electricity
market, and the transmission
system.
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Generation Domain
• Focuses on power generation
to meet consumer demand,
connecting with transmission
and distribution via electrical
and communication networks.
• Communication enables
monitoring of generator
performance and service
quality.

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Transmission Domain
Energy-efficient
transmission networks
deliver power from
generation to distribution,
requiring real-time
monitoring, disturbance
protection, and control of
power flow and voltage for
system stability.

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Distribution Domain
• Substation and distribution
automation will enable
smart distribution systems,
with increased DER
integration as a key
feature.
• Distribution system
operator coordinates DERs
to maintain system
stability and power quality,
relying on information
exchange with customers
for efficient operation.

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Smart Grid
Conceptual
Reference
Diagram

Source: NIST
Interoperability
Framework 1.0
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Smart Grid Domains and Interconnections

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Distributed Generation
• Distributed Generation uses technologies like solar panels and combined heat and

power to produce electricity near where it's used.

• It can serve individual buildings or be part of a microgrid connected to the larger grid,

such as at industrial sites, military bases, or campuses.

• When linked to low-voltage utility lines, it supports clean, reliable power delivery and

reduces transmission losses.

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Distributed Generation (DG)

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Microgrid
• Microgrid (MG) is an entity that coordinates distributed energy resources (DERs) in
an autonomous and decentralized way.
• Microgrid is a localized group of electricity sources and loads, including energy
storage systems (ESS).
• Penetration level of intermittent renewable DER in a microgrid is high.
• It can help relieve the burden on the bulk power grid and enhance grid reliability
and resiliency.
• Microgrid covers a small area as compared to the main grid.

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Microgrid

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Anticipated Smart Grid Benefits

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Anticipated Smart Grid Benefits
• Improving Power Reliability and Quality

• Better monitoring using sensor networks and communications

• Better and faster balancing of supply and demand

• Minimizing the Need to Construct Back-up (Peak Load) Power Plants

• Better demand side management

• The use of advanced metering infrastructures

According to the National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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Anticipated Smart Grid Benefits
Enhancing the capacity and efficiency of existing electric grid
• Better monitoring using sensor networks and communication

• Consequently, better control and resource management in real-time

• Improving Resilience to Disruption and Being Self-Healing

• Better monitoring using sensor networks and communications

• Distributed grid management and control

According to the National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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Anticipated Smart Grid Benefits
Expanding Deployment of Renewable and Distributed Energy Sources
• Better monitoring using sensor networks and communications

• Consequently, better control and resource management in real-time

• Better demand side Management

• Better renewable energy forecasting models

• Providing the infrastructure / incentives.

• Automating maintenance and operation

• Better monitoring using sensor networks and communications

• Distributed grid management and control.

4/21/2025 According to the National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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Anticipated Smart Grid Benefits
According to the National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Enabling transition to plug-in electric vehicles
• Can also provide new storage opportunities

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• Supporting / encouraging the use of electric vehicles.
• Renewable power generation with low carbon footprint .

• Reducing oil consumption

• Supporting / encouraging the use of electric vehicles
• Renewable power generation with low carbon footprint
• Better demand side Management (Q: Why?)

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According to the National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST)
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Anticipated Smart Grid Benefits
Increasing consumer choice
• The use of advanced metering infrastructures

• Home automation

• Energy smart appliances

• Better demand side Management

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Telecommunications are Instrumental for the Smart Grid

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