Performance of LTE for smart grid communications

Abstract

The next generation power grid (the "Smart Grid") aims to minimize environmental impact, enhance markets, improve reliability and service, and reduce costs and improve efficiency of electricity distribution. One of the main protocol frameworks used in Smart Grids is IEC 61850. Together with the Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS) protocol, IEC 61850 ensures interoperability within the Smart Grid by standardizing the data models and services to support Smart Grid communications, most notably, smart metering and remote control. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a fourth-generation (4G) cellular communications standard that provides high-capacity, low-latency, secure and reliable data-packet switching. This paper investigates whether LTE can be used in combination with IEC 61850 and MMS to support smart metering and remote control communications at a desirable quality of service level. Using ns-3 simulation models, it is shown that LTE can indeed satisfy the main IEC 61850 and MMS performance requirements for these two applications. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.