Introduction to Smart Grid Architecture

Abstract

The smart grid that is a new concept introduced at the beginning of the 2000s intends to include bidirectional communication infrastructure to conventional grids in order to enable information and communication technologies (ICTs) at any stage of generation, transmission, distribution, and even consumption sections of utility grids. This chapter introduces essential components and novel technologies of smart grids such as sensor networks, smart metering and monitoring systems, smart management systems, wired and wireless communication technologies, security requirements, and standards and regulations for this concept. First of all, this chapter focuses on the main components of smart grids such as smart sensors and sensor networks, phasor measurement unit (PMU), smart meters (SMs), and wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Then, smart grid applications and main requirements are explained on the basis of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), demand response (DR), station and substation automation, and demand-side management (DSM). Later, communication systems of smart grid are presented in which the communication systems are classified into two groups as wired and wireless communication systems, and they are comprehensively analyzed. Furthermore, the area networks related to smart grid concept such as home area network (HAN), building area network (BAN), industrial area network (IAN), neighborhood area network (NAN), field area network (FAN), and wide-area network (WAN) are presented in a logical way beginning from generation systems to the user side.