Page 300 - From Smart Grid to Internet of Energy

Internet of things for smart grid applications Chapter 7 267

7.2.4 Driving factors of IoT for smart grid
It is clearly seen in Table 7.2 that transformation of conventional grid to smart
grid has been accomplished by contributions of recent ICT systems. The smart
grid infrastructure has brought an improved ecosystem with communication
interfaces at each level of conventional grid starting from generation to con-
sumption. Moreover, each node of this infrastructure has been equipped with
increased intelligence-based technologies and autonomous communication
and control applications. The widespread monitoring and decentralized control
have provided to increase efficiency, resiliency, and flexibility of power net-
work. These improvements have facilitated grid management for transmission
system operator (TSO) and distribution system operators (DSOs) with the
recent advances in low-cost and reliable sensor technologies, wired and wireless
communication systems, data management and control operations and remote
measurement devices. The increased DSM and DR control capabilities of TSO
and DSOs have leveraged grid management operations. On the other hand, reg-
ulations provided by policymakers enables consumers’ transformation to pro-
sumer by integrating microgrid and DER integration to power network. The
increased communication ability of smart grid has found application areas at
the consumption level due to smart meters, HEMS, and remote control of DERs.
As discussed earlier, smart grid provides two-way data flow besides its two-
way power flow substructure in its ecosystem. Such a system equipped with ICT
technologies and generated colossal data should be operated in secure, scalable,
and interoperable ways. The data and system security are one of the most impor-
tant issue to prevent vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks in the context of smart grid.
The IoT is a rapidly emerging technology by integration of wide variety of
CPSs. The widely used internet applications provide increased connectivity
between M2M and H2M communications. Therefore, several advantages of
internet communication are adopted to smart grid infrastructure by improving
IoT-based smart grid applications. Moreover, recent improvements in IoT tech-
nology increases mobility, energy efficiency, security, accessibility, and inter-
operability of M2M and H2M communication interfaces.
The widespread deployment of smart meters, sensors, and actuators generate
large scale and colossal data on the monitoring and control centers. The gener-
ated data should be instantly received, stored and processed in a short while to
detect situation of grid or to act against faults, failures, losses or leakages. These
operations require high-capacity data processing capability, reliable machine
learning and decision-making algorithms for management. Therefore, big data
and cloud computing services facilitate management of smart grid. The smart
grid cycle will become a more robust and reliable CPS with the aid of IoT
technology that provides sophisticated communication technologies with
high-bandwidth and data rates, security protocols, interoperability protocols
and services, data management opportunities, and big data management appli-
cations. Therefore, an increasing interest is seen on IoT-based smart grid