• Data trapped in billions of devices
• Devices often in hard-to-reach locations - basements. below ground, pad mounts
• Interference is increasing and poses major reliability concern
• Many devices require long battery life
• Result - network infrastructure is complex and costly
• AMI and Distribution Automation projects ROI already under scrutiny
Achieving The Smart Grid is Challenging
2
Utility Network Must Effectively Cover – All Customers
• Lower data rate per node• Highly distributed• High reliability• Battery operation
• Electric AMI• Home and
commercial energy management
• Transmission line monitoring
• Latency Intolerant Distribution Automation
• Higher data rate• Latency intolerant• High reliability• Powered
• Higher data rate• Latency intolerant• High reliability• Powered
1 billion monitoring points in the U.S..
Hundreds of thousands of endpoints in U.S.
Hundreds of thousands of endpoints in U.S.
The majority of endpoints require a secure, highly reliable robust wireless network for lower data rate applications
Overview of Smart Grid Endpoints
A multi-radio solution is needed to address both classes of devices and applications
• Distribution Grid Sensing• Smart
Transformers• Sub-station
monitoring• Distributed
generation monitoring• Streetlights
Electric AMI
5Kb+Alarms
Sample Utility Network Requirements
Network acknowledgement, shut
off, rate tables
Daily UplinkPayload Data
Daily Downlink Payload Data
Seconds for alarms; Minutes for payload
Latency Tolerance
Gas/Water Meter
Thermostat Control
Distribution Grid Sensor
700kbFirmware Upgrade
n/a for meter;months to years for
HAN devices
Battery Requirements
200bytes+ Alarms
Network acknowledgment, shut
off
Seconds for alarms; Hours for payload
200kb
15-20 years
1Kb
Rate tables, control messages
Seconds for control messages
200kb
N/A
200 bytes+Alarms
Network acknowledgment, reset
Seconds for alarms; Minutes for payload
100Kb
10 -15 years
The Physical Layer - Foundation for Application Performance
Suggestions to Avoid Surprises & Obsolescence
• Conduct system field trials across all geographies• Test the full application if that is a key part of the
ROI model • Interference, reliability and spectral efficiency
need to be elevated to the level of interoperability at utilities & NIST
• Standards are important to create industry coalitions and investment however can cause false hope that the problem is solved and slow innovation
Summary• Many challenges remain at the communications &
application layer to enable a cost effective high performance Smart Grid
• A layered multi-radio communications solution is needed to address varying applications and coverage requirements
• We are in the first inning of a 20 year new technology cycle
• Technology is moving quickly to address challenges but financing, policy and ROI need to be aligned