Communication

Network
Architecture of a
Smart Grid

By
Manasa Swamireddy and Koushik Puppala
 Parameters Traditional Smart Grid

Introduction Information flow One way Bidirectional

Power Generation Central Distributed

What is a Smart Grid:
A system that dynamically monitors and Monitoring Manual Self
manages electricity flow.
Topology (Grid) Radial Network

Unlike traditional grid it is more sophisticated Healing Manual Self

and optimizes the electricity consumption to
meet the needs of 21st century.
Testing Manual Remote

Efficiency Low High

Table 1 compares the smart grid with the
traditional electricity grid
Environmental No Yes
Friendly

Table 1
Advantages of an autonomous Smart Grid

1. Improved Reliability
2. Increased Efficiency
3. Enhanced Resilience

Applications:

● Advanced Metering Infrastructure

● Home Automation
● Electric Vehicles
● Micro Grids
● Energy Management System
 Architecture of a Communication Network
Based Smart Grid

Smart Grid Infrastructure has three main

communication networks:

WAN

NAN/FAN

HAN/BAN/IAN

Figure 2: Smart Grid Infrastructure

Credits: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Communication-architecture-for-smart-grid_fig1_314249698 [accessed 9 Oct, 2023]
Existing Works and Drawbacks in a Smart
Grid
A Wireless Communication Architecture for a Smart
Grid:

● Multihop Wireless Mesh Networks with a cellular

structure.
● It is QoS aware and used ad-hoc routing protocol.
● It assesses network coverage and capacity
planning based on node density and data rates.

Drawbacks:

● Absence of a security framework.

● Did not consider real environmental situations like
node mobility, varying traffic loads.
● Used only IEEE 802.11a standard.
Figure 3: Architecture of a multi-hop
cellular network
Incorporation of Blockchain Technology for
Different Smart Grid Applications:

● Verifies the legality between two transactions.

● Provides immutable ledger, where data is
recorded in tamper-proof manner.
● Operated on a decentralized network of nodes.

Drawbacks:

● Requires more computational power, not

cost-effective.
● Large amount of data is challenging to manage
in real time.
● Consume significant amount of energy,which
counteracts the energy efficiency gains
achieved by the smart grid.
● Prone to cyber security thefts, due to
complexity.

Figure 4: Architecture of a Blockchain

Based Smart Grid Infrastructure
Self-Healing in Cyber–Physical Systems:

● Faster fault detection

● Reduced outage duration, by automatically
isolating and rerouting power around faults
● Automatically restore the system in case of
cyber security attack.
● This mechanism is cost effective.

Drawbacks:

● These require additional computational

resources, that consume more power which
effects overall performance.
● Its complexity can make system design,
debugging, and maintenance more
challenging.
● There can be some latency issues, in detecting
and mitigating problems.

Figure 4: Working of a Self-Healing

Protocol
Problem Definition:

● Although there are some measures to avoid cyber security attacks, such as
authentication, attack detection, robust antivirus, antimalware solutions, encryption,
blockchain, and security protocols, there is still a risk of unforeseen attacks that could
surpass these measures.

● Blockchain itself is a self healing protocol, but has its drawbacks to successfully
implement it.

● A robust protocol must be implemented, that improves reliability, analyze data without
human intervention, with reduced computational costs.

● It needs to preserve critical services after power outages or defects.

Proposed Methodology:
Implementing Dynamic Self Healing Mechanism (Cloud Based
Resilience and Blockchain) in a Smart Grid
● We intend to propose a hybrid architecture for solving this problem - Combining cloud
based resilience with Blockchain technology.

● This architecture leverages the strengths of both.

● To reduce the cost of integrating the blockchain, critical operational data might be
stored securely on a blockchain, while less sensitive data is stored and processed in
the cloud.

● Cloud services can address scalability challenges associated with blockchain by

providing additional computing resources when needed.
Blockchain and Cloud Comparison

Parameters Blockchain Cloud

Decentralization

Immutability

Resource Scalability

Consensus Mechanisms

Cost Effectiveness

Integration

Cryptographic Security

Data Management

Table 2
Blockchain Theory

● A blockchain is a long chain that is stored in a linked list structure and connected end to end
in chronological order.

● When a block is received, each node verifies whether the block is legal and the information is
correct.

● All the nodes are distributed in a peer to peer network model.

Figure 5: Individual blocks of a blockchain

 Key Protocols

● Longest Chain: The longest blockchain network in the network

is considered to be the legal one, and the remaining forks are
discarded.

● Consensus Mechanism: Methods used to achieve agreement,

trust, and security across a decentralized computer network.

● Hash Algorithm: An encryption algorithm that takes in data of

any length, and outputs a fixed length of data.

● Smart Contract: Programs stored in a blockchain that run

when the terms of the agreement are validated.

Figure 6: Working of Hashing

Algorithm
Merkle Tree

● A binary tree containing hash encryption,

used to summarize all transaction data in a
block.

● It further improves the difficulty of hash

forgery.

● In this algorithm, a series of hash values

need to be modified to modify a single
data.

Figure 7: Merkle Tree Representation

 Proposed Architecture

Figure 8: Cloud Resilient Blockchain Architecture of a Smart Grid

Pros of Implementing this Architecture

● Scalability: Cloud environments provide scalable infrastructure that can easily

accommodate the growing demands of a blockchain network.

● Cost - Efficiency: Cloud services follow pay-as-you-go model, thus we reduce the
cost by paying for only the resources that we use.

● High Availability: They can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Can be
operational even after hardware failures or other issues.

● Security, Auto updates and Maintenance: Cloud services have robust security
features, that enhances the security of the blockchain.
 Cons of Implementing this Architecture

● Blockchains consensus may struggle to handle high transaction volume required for
smart grids.

● Blockchain based smart grids will need to be interoperable with the existing grid
infrastructure. This could be a challenge as there is no standard for blockchain based
smart grid communication protocols.

● Implementing this technology in real time requires significant expertise. This could
make it difficult for utilities to adopt blockchain technology.
Technological Concepts in Cloud and Smart
Grid
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): APIs provide a standardized way for smart
grid systems to interact with blockchain platforms, enabling data exchange and transaction
execution.

Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM): MOM can facilitate asynchronous communication

between smart grid devices and blockchain networks, ensuring reliable and scalable data
transfer.

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT): DLT protocols, such as Ethereum and Hyperledger
Fabric, provide a secure and decentralized environment for blockchain-based smart grid
applications.

Edge Computing: Edge computing enables data processing and decision-making closer to
the grid edge, reducing latency and improving communication efficiency.
Communication Protocols in a Smart Grid.

Wireless Wired

● Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) ● Power Line Communications

● Z-wave (proprietary) ● Fiber Optical Communication

● WiFi (IEEE 802.11) ● Ethernet

● 3G cellular

● 4G: LTE/LTE-A
Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4)
● Low-cost, low power, wireless mesh standard
for wireless home area networks (WHANs) or
wireless personal area networks (WPANs)

● Inexpensive consumer devices. Self Organizing,

secure and reliable mesh networks.

● It has very short range. Does not penetrate

structures well and have low data rates.

● Used in HAN’s for energy management and

monitoring. It could be extended to certain NAN
scenarios within a localized area, and not
suitable for WAN’s.
Z-Wave

● Z-Wave is a short-range, low data rate wireless

RF mesh networking standard

● Z-wave provides connectivity for devices such as;

lamps, switches, thermostats, garage doors.

● Z-wave can be employed in the HAN segment

of the smart grid
WiFi (IEEE 802.11)
● Indoor wireless local area networks (WLANs),
uses a star topology.

● It is a low cost, widely used stable network. Helps

in achieving low - cost application development. It
has high data rates with medium to long range
communications.

● It does not penetrate structures. Small coverage

and short distances limit wide spread use. Prone
to security issues with multiple networks
operating in same locations

● Could be used for HAN’s and NAN’s.

3G Cellular
● Wide-area wireless networks for voice, video, and data services in a mobile
environment

● Cellular networks have an established infrastructure with wide area of deployment,

high rates of data transfer, available security algorithms that are already implemented
in the cellular communication.

● The major disadvantage is that cellular networks are shared with other users and are
not fully dedicated to the smart grid communications.

● Used in Field Area Networks.

LTE and LTE-A

● These are enhancements to 3G Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)

mobile networking, providing for enhanced multimedia services.

● It is a carrier preferred protocol and has low power consumption. Full mobility for
enhanced multimedia service

● Utility must rent the infrastructure. High cost of equipment

● Used in demand responses, FAN.

PLC and Broadband PLC (IEEE P1901)
● Power Line Communications (PLC) use the low voltage power lines as the
communication medium.

● PLC’s suffer from noisy channel conditions, poor isolation among units, improper
wiring, and Electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to unshielded power line.

● BPL has high data rates exceeding 100Mbps using frequencies below 100MH.

● It aims to improve the communications over noisy PLC

● As the PLC does not have external cabling cost, it is considered to be convenient for
HANs, NANs and FANs in the smart grid
Fiber Optic Communications

● Used in the power grid to connect utility

head offices and substations.

● Fiber optics is not impacted by

electromagnetic interference. These are
ideal for the high voltage operating
environment.

● Major drawback of fiber is high deployment

cost.
Thank You
Technology HAN/BAN/IAN NAN/FAN WAN

Fiber Optic Yes

PLC

Ethernet

Zigbee

Z Wave

Wifi

Cellular