Panel Session: Evolutionary Grid Communication Planning and Applications in 5G Era and Future (slides)

Power Grid is one of the most complex distributed engineering systems, which not only encompasses numerous power system assets for generation, transmission, and distribution, but also requires dynamic, sustainable, reliable, and resilient operation in support of uninterrupted social and economic development. The undergoing generation mix shift to high renewable penetration future and the deepening interdependence between power system and communication networks, calls upon national-wide energy stakeholders to collaboratively explore and integrate advanced communication technology (i.e., 5G in deployment phase and 6G on the research horizon).
The 5G performance is critical to bridge the unparallel volume of data from sensors that are embedded in power system equipment and devices found in our homes, buildings, factories, communities, and high-density urban areas. Through a holistic and coordinated evolutionary grid communication planning and pilot use case development, those advanced grid sensors spanning transmission, distribution, distributed resources, and behind-the-meter assets, could provide accurate yet real-time information for grid asset monitoring and control, and collectively provide the best situational awareness to grid operators. Availability of this diverse data from multiple sources also support more efficient use of non-utility energy resources for homes, buildings, campus, transportation, and other participants in a clean-energy economy.
Presentations and Panelists:
• “Future Communication Technologies for Smart Grid and Control Applications” by W. Saad, Virginia Tech
• “Cyber-Physically Resilient Situational Awareness of Power Grids” by Y. Lin, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• “Coordinated Grid Communication Planning” by J. Ogle, PNNL