A Layered Communication Architecture for Power Routing in the Smart Grid

One of the main benefits of the smart grid will be the introduction of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) into the electricity grid at large scale. These DERs will be able to supply areas with electricity when isolated from the main power grid due to system or equipment failures. Although the integration of DER into the power grid makes the energy supply more reliable and reduces its cost, it creates new issues for distributed network operators (DNOs). While in traditional power grid the electricity usually flows from the central power stations to the consumers, in a modern power grid incremented with DER, the electricity follows in two directions as these new sources of energy are introduced at lower voltages. To introduce DER technology, DNOs will be faced with the challenge of making their distribution power networks more flexible and dynamic. Power routing is an emerging concept that aims at making distribution networks more flexible and dynamic by addressing the technical challenges related to DER. Power routing is predicated on the information availability and coordination which requires a robust and scalable communication. In this paper the authors propose layered communication architecture that facilitates the implementation of power routing in distribution power networks.