Page 269 - From Smart Grid to Internet of Energy

240 From smart grid to internet of energy

CR technology is considered as a promising technology to improve communi-
cation infrastructure of the DRM system since it is one of the most important
components of the SG systems.

6.6.3 Distribution automation applications

Distribution Automation (DA) is responsible for monitoring, controlling and
managing the power distribution grids in the SG systems. It can present real-
time operational notifications regarding components of the distribution grid
such as voltage regulators, capacitor bank controllers, fault detectors, and
switches. These notifications are also shared with the other intelligent field
devices (i.e., the IEDs), and the DA combines them with customer transactions
and transmission systems. The communication infrastructure needs of the DA
systems may usually change based on the service provider demands. When the
characteristic features of the DA systems are taken into account, the CRNs have
seamless capabilities to meet requirements of the DA systems.

6.6.4 Distributed generation system applications

Electrical power can be produced by using distributed renewable energy
sources (RESs) (i.e., solar, wind, fuel cell etc.) constructed close to the customer
plants to avoid overload problems and to adjust power demand and supply [49].
The integration of the RESs into the SG systems has gained a great importance
depending on the development of clean energy concept. On the other hand, it is
important to note that the distributed power generation is merely possible as
long as the voltage, frequency and power quality parameters of the grids remain
stable. Because of the widespread use of the distributed RESs, the utilization of
advanced control methods are necessary to sustain the robustness and safety of
entire power grid [94]. The agile DR, effective data transmission and intelligent
energy storage can be considered as examples of these control methods. All of
them require the using of secure and efficient communication systems in the SG
systems. Moreover, these energy sources also need the using transmission sys-
tems since they are widely located away from distribution stations. In addition,
remote monitoring systems of the energy sources can be faced several chal-
lenges owing to congestion of the unlicensed frequency bands. Since conven-
tional wired communication systems require high installation costs, easy
deployment and low cost superiorities of wireless communication technologies
make them more feasible for this type of SG applications. Nevertheless, wire-
less communications have to overcome various difficulties such as interference,
multi-path propagation, noise and shadowing. Fortunately, CR enabled SG sys-
tems can deal with these issues and it can opportunistically utilize the spectrum
bands to enhance the performance of remote monitoring systems and the SG
systems [95].