ECRA Workshop on Smart Meters and Smart Grid Strategy

DAY 2: Sunday14th October 2012

Session 7

Communications and data

handling

Communications and Data Handling

Telecommunication architecture for smart metering system
Remote Control Centre

Legacy billing system

VPN network

Data
communication
center

MV/LV
Substation

Concentrator

GPRS

GPRS

Intranet

GPRS

GPRS
Communication
Network

- 19/11/2012

with modem
PLC
AMM

MDM/R

Communications and Data Handling

Choice of communication technologies
PLC
GPRS

How to
choose?

LAN

Radio
Frequency

Local Bus

Technology

Advantages

Disadvantages

PLC

No OPEX costs
No need of GPRS infrastructure

Length of lines, susceptible to

strong noise

GPRS

Reliability, when there is proper

coverage

Hi OPEX costs (traffic),

need of GPRS infrastructure

LAN / Fiber

No OPEX costs

Need of dedicated cabling

Radio Frequency

Low Opex cost, using free

frequencies.

susceptible to strong noise,

sensitive to obstacles
High traffic

Local Bus

No OPEX costs

Need of dedicated cabling,

Applicable only in clustered
installation
- 19/11/2012

Communications and Data Handling

Which type of PLC?

Communication on Power Lines. Avoids need of dedicated infrastructure for

communication.
different frequency bands and modulations.

The modulation techniques have been improved in the last years, towards to main
aspects:
1. better rejection to noise on LV network
2. Higher baud-rate
Modulation techniques are coded according to international normative.

S-FSK

B-PSK

OFDM

2 carriers, narrow band

Baudrate: up to
2.4kBaud
Strong against in-band
noise

Multiple modulation
Baudrate: up to
28.8kBaud
Strong immunity against
noise

Narrowband multicarrier
Baudrate: up to
128kBaud
Strong immunity against
noise, reducing baudrate

- 19/11/2012

Communications and Data Handling

The choice of a standard for Meter. Interoperability

helps the Utility to foster competition among the Manufacturers and to

have always a second choice in case of lack of availability (temporary or
definitive) of the chosen Supplier.

Interoperability recipe:
adopt of a suite of protocols which covers the levels of stack from physical
communication to application level.
choose of a well defined and stable suite of protocols will allow the
interchangeability of meters produced by different Manufacturers.

Different suite of protocols have been created by Associations to create Open

standards.

- 19/11/2012

Communications and Data Handling

Interoperability and protocols
An open standard for communication among different equipments is based
on a suite of protocols
Interoperability at meter level cannot be achieved among devices with
different suites of protocols, even though the protocols adopted for some
layers are common
Meter Type B

Meter Type B

Meter Type A

Meter Type A

Upper layer

Upper layer

Upper layer

Upper layer

(i.e.
DLMS/COSEM)

(i.e.
DLMS/COSEM)

(i.e.
DLMS/COSEM)

(i.e.
DLMS/COSEM)

Lower layer

Lower layer

Lower layer

Lower layer

(i.e. S-FSK)

(i.e. S-FSK)

(i.e. ODFM)

(i.e. ODFM)

Power-line

An example:
Type B can talk only with type B
Type A can talk only with type A
Type A could potentially prevent proper communication for Type B and vice-versa
- 19/11/2012

Communications and Data Handling

Associations and standards on the market
OPENmeter (European Project. www.openmeter.com):
The result of the project will be a set of draft standards, based on already
existing and accepted standards wherever possible. These standards include the
IEC 61334 series PLC standards, the IEC 62056 DLMS/COSEM standards for
electricity metering, the EN 13757 series of standards for utility metering other
than electricity using M-Bus and other media.
NOTE: Includes different standards
Members:
IBERDROLA DISTRIBUCIN
ACTARIS (ITRON),
ADVANCED DIGITAL
DESIGN
CESI RICERCA
CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES
INTERNATIONAL
DLMS USER ASSOCIATION
EDF
ELSTER
ENDESA

ENEL
NETBEHEER NEDERLANDS
KEMA
LANDIS+GYR
RWE
ST MICROELECTRONICS
UNIVERSITY OF KARLSRUHE
USYSCOM
ZIV MEDIDA
CENELEC

- 19/11/2012

Communications and Data Handling

Associations and standards on the market
Prime Alliance www.prime-alliance.org (Powerline Related Intelligent
Metering Evolution).
The end objective of PRIME is to establish a complete set of standards
on an international level that will permit interoperability among
equipment and systems from different manufacturers.
Founders/Members:
ST MICROELECTRONICS, Texas Instrument,
ZIV, FujutzuCurrent, CIRCUITOR,
ITRON,
LANDIS+GYR,
ADD group,
SAGEMCOM,
ISKRAEMECO
IBERDROLA DISTRIBUCIN, CEZ GROUP, EDP
ORBIS, SAC
APATOR
JANZ
Association: Prime is a no-profit association.
Suite of Protocols: OFDM + DLMS/COSEM
- 19/11/2012

Communications and Data Handling

Associations and standards on the market
IDIS (www.idis-association.com)
The IDIS association develops, maintains and promotes publicly available
technical interoperability specifications, known as IDIS specifications, based on
open standards and supports their implementation in interoperable products.
Founders/Members:
Iskraemeco,
Itron,
Landis+Gyr
Association: no profit
Suite of Protocols: S-FSK + DLMS/COSEM

- 19/11/2012

Communications and Data Handling

Associations and standards on the market

G3 (www.g3-plc.com)
G3-PLC enables the high-speed, highly reliable communications on existing power
lines needed to make the "energy Internet" a reality

Founders:
ERDF
Members:
Maxim
Association: consortium
Suite of Protocols: OFDM + DLMS/COSEM
Notes: allow coexistence with S-FSK modulation

- 19/11/2012

10

Communications and Data Handling

Associations and standards on the market
Meters and more. (www.metersandmore.com)
The main goal of the Association is to provide the industry with a proven
open protocol for smart metering, thus being a tangible answer to the
European Commissions Mandate 441 to achieve standard AMM solutions
across the continent.
Founders:
Enel Distribuzione SpA
Endesa Distribucin SA
Members:
Siemens, ST MICROELECTRONICS,
IBM, CESI,
Sagemcom,
AP Systems, Emeter corporation,
Xian swip, coelce (electric company)
AMPLA energia
Others:
Bitron,Kaifa
Association: no profit
Suite of Protocols: meters and more
- 19/11/2012

11

Communications and Data Handling

Main outcomes from ongoing projects

Case a) ENEL TELEGESTORE project Italy

Communication modulation: FSK

Communication Standard: proprietary

Number of meters installed in Italy: 32.000.000

Key results: System completed and working since 2009

- 19/11/2012

12

Communications and Data Handling

Main outcomes from ongoing projects

Case b) ENEL + ENDESA project

Communication modulation: B-PSK

Open protocol: meters and more

Number of meters installed in Spain: 2.000.000

Key information:

Project completion: 13.000.000 meters

- 19/11/2012

13

Communications and Data Handling

Main outcomes from ongoing projects

Case c) ERDF project

Communication standard: S-FSK

Application Standard: DLMS/COSEM

Number of Manufacturers:
at least three

Number of meters installed:

300.000 (in pilots)

Next steps:
Introduction of Linky G3 after 2013, capable of coexistence with SFSK.
Tests on interoperability are under development; the three main
Manufacturers are working together in order to assure full
interoperability based upon DLMS/COSEM (IDIS).
- 19/11/2012

14

Communications and Data Handling

Main outcomes from ongoing projects

Case d) IBERDROLA project

Communication modulation: OFDM

Application Standard: DLMS/COSEM

Number of Manufacturers:
Seven (ZIV, Landis&GYR, Sagemcom, Sogecam, Orbis, Elster and
G.E.)

Number of meters installed:

100.000 in pilot in Castelln (2010)
March 2012: contracts for total of $395 ML to seven Companies for
7.000.000 meters to be installed in Spain

Key step:

Constitution of PRIME project as a non-profit association for diffusion.

Tests on interoperability are under development.
- 19/11/2012

15

Communications and Data Handling

Associations and standards on the market. Lessons Learnt

The following open standards (or candidate to become) have

currently the greater diffusion in Europe:

Most of the suites have adopted, or are going to apply, a common

standard application protocol, DLMS.
They differentiate for the implementation of the OBIS model used in
the meters, the PLC modulation and, obviously for the intermediate
layers.

- 19/11/2012

16

Communications and Data Handling

Associations and standards on the market.
Unification of different communication technologies within One consistent
framework

Source: DLMS UA

- 19/11/2012

17

Communications and Data Handling

KSA Smart meter communication

PLC
GPRS
LAN

How to
choose?

Radio
Frequency

Local Bus

Communication
It must be verified when The Communications and Information
Technology Commission (CITC) will assign in KSA the frequencies spectrum
for use of PLC as defined in Europe by CENELEC. In KSA pilot installation
using PLC is on-going.

In KSA Pilot using Radio frequency, based on liberalized frequencies, is not

performing well, mainly due to interferences.

- 19/11/2012

18

Communications and Data Handling

Use of PLC in KSA
KSA LV distribution network has the following characteristics:
1. Typical MW-LW transformer range: from 400 to 1500kVA;
2. About 60 PoD (Point of Delivery) are connected to the transformer
3. The LV distribution is almost radial, with capability to connection of lines
from near substation in case of failure.
4. Maximum length of lines from Sub-station to Customer is less than 250m,
to avoid voltage drop along the line.

The above characteristics are fully compatible with the PLC communication
and relatively short lines will help the communication between the data
concentrator (installed in the sub-station) and the meters, which are usually
installed on the border of Customers property.
Perform an assessment in different zones of the LV network before adopting
the PLC technology in extended pilot, especially in rural areas

- 19/11/2012

19

Communications and Data Handling

KSA. Next considerations for Choice of PLC standards

At the moment a real consolidated standard is not present on the market.

There are four main lines of development (associations, consortium, projects):

PRIME, IDIS, Meters & more, G3.

The Manufacturers within each line of development are working in order to achieve
full interoperability, at meter level; many tests are still on going.

The DLMS/COSEM protocol:

Is widely spread among most of the International and local Manufacturers
Most of the on-going international meter pilots are based upon DLMS/COSEM.

DLMS/COSEM can guarantee an adequate answer from the market

- 19/11/2012

20

Flow of information and data handling

Source: e-utile

- 19/11/2012

21

Flow of information and data handling

The smart meters, dealing with sensible data, raise a range of security
data privacy and data privacy requirements.
Data security issues:
Confidentiality of data;
Integrity of the grid in case of
corrupted commands or
information;
Attaches of third parties to
control the grid;
Respond to security threats,
including acts of terrorism and
manipulation of meter data

Data privacy issues:

Consumers could be sensitive to the
sharing of their personal data.
Load profiles with sufficient sampling
period could reveal when Customer is
at home, or if his habits of use of
electricity are changing

Use Telecommunications and financial services

as good case studies for management of data privacy and cyber-security can
be embedded within current systems and processes.
Always have back-up and redundancy of machines with smart meter data
as loosing data provokes inconsistencies, hard to be fixed.

- 19/11/2012

22

Typical set-up of communication network for Smart meters.

Source: e-utile

- 19/11/2012

23