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Achieving The Smart Grid is Challenging. 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
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Achieving The Smart Grid is Challenging • 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 2
The majority of endpoints require a secure, highly reliable robust wireless network for lower data rate applications Overview of Smart Grid Endpoints 1 billion monitoring points in the U.S.. • Electric AMI • Home and commercial energy management • Higher data rate • Latency intolerant • High reliability • Powered • Lower data rate per node • Highly distributed • High reliability • Battery operation • Distribution Grid Sensing • Smart Transformers • Sub-station monitoring • Distributed generation monitoring • Streetlights Hundreds of thousands of endpoints in U.S. • Transmission line monitoring • Latency Intolerant Distribution Automation • Higher data rate • Latency intolerant • High reliability • Powered Hundreds of thousands of endpoints in U.S. A multi-radio solution is needed to address both classes of devices and applications
Sample Utility Network Requirements Thermostat Control Distribution Grid Sensor Gas/Water Meter Electric AMI 5Kb +Alarms 200 bytes +Alarms 1Kb 200bytes + Alarms Daily UplinkPayload Data Network acknowledgment, reset Rate tables, control messages Daily Downlink Payload Data Network acknowledgment, shut off Network acknowledgement, shut off, rate tables Seconds for alarms; Minutes for payload Seconds for alarms; Hours for payload Seconds for alarms; Minutes for payload Seconds for control messages Latency Tolerance 200kb 200kb 700kb 100Kb Firmware Upgrade 10 -15 years N/A 15-20 years n/a for meter; months to years for HAN devices Battery Requirements
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