Leveraging Wireless Broadband Technologies within the Smart Grid

Kevin F. R. SuitorVP, Corporate Marketing

Redline Communications Inc.

Telephone: (905) 948-2299

ksuitor@redlinecommunications.com

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Agenda

• Introduction

• Situation Audit– Business Challenge &Technology Challenges

• Wireless and WiMAX in the Smart Grid

• Applications

• Case Study: Hydro One Smart Zone

• Conclusion

Why are you at this conference?

• I love spending 5 hours in the middle seat travelling from the east coast eating stale peanuts …

• I love the vibe of LA, I’m ducking out of here in 30 minutes …

• I want to hear from industry experts …

• I want to better understand what’s happening with Smart Grids …

• I want to talk to my peers about what they are doing – or planning to do …

• I want to see what my competition is doing

Who Am I?

• 25+ year internetworking industry veteran• Background in:

– Telecom; Enterprise Networking; Utilities; Municipal Networking; Military Comms; Transportation

– T1/E1, SONET, 3270, 5250, Arcnet, Token Ring, Ethernet, ATM, WiFi, WiMAX, BWA

– Test & Measurement, In-building networking, Metropolitan Area Networking, Wide Area Networking (Wireless, Fiber, Copper, Satellite)

• Where do my biases lie?– I believe in the holy trinity of modern communications networks:

• Ethernet• IP• ‘NIX

– In networking … Use fiber where you can and finish the job with wireless

– WiMAX and BWI do have a place in the network architects toolbox

Situation Audit

Business & Technology Challenges facing Energy Companies and Utilities

Smart Grid in ARRA 2009

Of the $43 billion appropriation set out for the energy sector in the U.S. stimulus package, roughly $4.5 billion is aimed at smart grid projects. That $4.5 billion is in the form of 50-percent matching grants for a series of regional demonstration projects, as well as regular smart grid investments.

Gartner expects more than 150 million smart meters to be installed worldwide in the next five years, with approximately 50% installed in North America.

Electric UtilitiesSmart Grid

US Market for Smart Grid Technologies

Report ID:EGY065A, Published: March 2009, Analyst: Andrew McWilliams

Source: © Senza Fili Consulting LLC

By 2014 there will be over 20 million vertical connections in WiMAX

networks

Utility Systems Impacted

The Smart Grid strategy must effectively leverage existing functionalities from numerous enterprise systems including:– Advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMI);– Outage & Restoration Management System– Meter Data Management Systems;– Control Centre / Energy and Distribution Automation Management

Systems;– Loss Prevention / Theft Prevention Systems– Mobile Workforce / Work Management Systems;– Customer Information and Billing Systems;– Geographic Information Systems (GIS);– Maintenance and Inspection Plan Modeling Applications;– Network and Load Analysis Systems;– Material Management Systems; and – Supply Chain Management Systems.

Requirements for Utilities

Source: © Senza Fili Consulting LLC

First Mile Technology Options

• Wireless Ethernet a safe choice for 1st mile applications

• Up to 1 Gbps over 1km; 100 Mbps over 8 – 10 km

• Obvious choice for self-build networks for non-incumbents

• Copper possible in limited loop lengths• Can achieve up to 500 Mbps over 500m• Opportunity for copper and passive optical

network configurations. • Good option for incumbent operator with well

maintained copper plant

• If fiber is available – use it!• “Virtually unlimited capacity and distances• Cost does not scale with distance; highly

variable in urban, suburban and rural deployments

What do Utilities Need?

• High throughput– GIS‐based applications require

transmission of large files.• Low latency and advanced multimedia

capabilities– Protection & Control, M2M, SCADA &

Monitoring, Mobile workforce• QoS and advanced traffic

management capabilities– E.g. deep packet inspection, virtual

networks• Secure access to protect the utilities’

communications, and, by extension, the safety of their staff and customers.

• IP‐based connectivity to facilitate integration of applications with the core IT functions within the utility.– No need for SIM cards

• Handoffs to support mobility access, mostly for in‐vehicle and mobile workforce applications.

• Cost Efficiency– Keep network costs while capacity

explodes – reduce $/Mb dramatically– Easy Installation and Maintenance

• Scalability– Support the multiple logical

interfaces required for the co-existence of disparate networks throughout the migration times

– Utilizing already existing assets– Reasonable upgrade costs– Flexibility to adapt to actual traffic

volumes• Transport Quality (BER and QoS)

– Minimal impact on service quality– Maximal efficiency and flexibility

(Adaptive BW)• Transport Reliability (availability)

– Reduce service outages– Keep maintenance costs low

Source: © Senza Fili Consulting LLC

WiMAX in the Smart Grid

Wireless Technologies Extend the Reach of the Smart Grid

• Telecommunications network at the core of the smart grid requires seamless integration of multiple wireline and wireless technologies to transport information between the utility operations center and the network components:– Households and businesses; Vehicles; Staff; Distribution, Transmission,

and generation facilities. •  The smart grid has to support applications with multiple

requirements– Low traffic but extensive coverage needs for smart meters, versus – Very tight latency (<20 msec) for remote control of facilities and assets,

and – more limited coverage requirements that rely on a wide range of

devices • from meters to remotely controlled video cameras with analytics software

• Smart Grids need to operate in all environments – dense urban to the most remote rural areas

Using WiMAX to Connect the Smart Grid

Residential CustomersAMR/AMI, home displays, solar panels, home appliances

EmergenciesLaptops, handheld devices, emergency vehicles,

ad-hoc links to business customers

SU

OperationsCenter

SU

Mobile devices for emergency workers

Cell on wheels (COW)

Disaster recoveryvehicles

SU

Business CustomersMeters, remote sensors, cameras

SUAMI

Aggregator(PLC)

Transmission and distribution infrastructureSurveillance, monitoring and remote control devices

Remote workforceLaptops, handheld devices, vehicles

Installation, maintenance vehicles

SU

Mobile workforceindividual devices

Transmissionsubstation SU

Solar powergeneration SU

Windturbines SU

Distributionsubstation SU

Business site

SU

Business site

SU

Business site

SU

PLC

Wireless link (e.g. 900MHz)

Microwave wireless

backhaul, fiber

In-home network

Zigbee, Wi-Fi

AMI aggregator

High-Level Mobile WiMAX Architecture

Central

Voice Network

SIP

Access Service Network (ASN)

Portal

Policy Control Plane (per subscriber)

Residential

WiFi MeshBackhaul

Mobile user

Core Service Network (CSN)

HA

Aggregation NetworkMPLS, Ethernet, IP

R4 R6

Business

Corporate

Applications for Utilities

8 Ways Wireless Technologies Enable the

Smart Grid?

1. Provide voice and data connectivity to remote workers, their vehicles, and their

handheld devices

2. Reach households and businesses in remote areas that lack wireline connectivity

3. Provide utilities with end-to-end ownership and control over their network

4. Enable more extensive asset management (especially for mobile assets, such as

service vehicles and trucks)

5. Protect the network and enhance safety and security by remote asset monitoring

6. Monitor equipment to prevent failures or to correct problems as they arise

7. Roll out the network rapidly and with minimum reliance on telecoms carriers

8. Deploy temporary mobile base stations during emergencies and disaster recovery

efforts

Applications Supported by WiMAX in the Smart Grid

Residential customers Business customers Generation and distribution

Mobile assets andremote workforce Emergencies

AMR (Automatic Meter ) / AMI (Automatic Meter Infrastructure)

Real-time time-of-day pricing using Demand-Side Management (DSM)

Home displays

In-home energy conservation management

Smart appliances

Fault and outage detection and management

Solar panels management

Optional add-ons:

Home security

Broadband services

AMR/AMI, industrial metering

Remote surveillance and monitoring

Remote load shifting

Real-time time-of-day pricing using DSM

Fault and outage detection and management

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA)

Distributed Control Systems (DCS)

Fault and outage detection and management

Remote surveillance and monitoring

Asset tracking

Remote control

Energy Management Systems (EMSs) with grid optimization applications (self-healing, self-restoration)

Fleet telematics and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), with Location-Based Services (LBS) supported by Global Positioning System (GPS)

Broadband connectivity to in-vehicle modules, laptops, and handheld devices to support and monitor the remote workforce. Applications include mobile dispatching, reporting, remote video or VoIP consultations, data sharing within the utility’s Virtual Private Network (VPN), and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications

Broadband connectivity to affected area during disaster recovery or in response to faults. Cell On Wheels (COW) connects staff, vehicles, and, in some cases, selected customers

Coordination of emergency response, data sharing, remote consultation with off-site staff, and communication and coordination with safety agencies

Case Study:

BB for SmartZONEHydro One Application

Case Study:

BB for SmartZONEHydro One Application

Electric UtilitiesSmart Grid

Hydro One’s AMI solution architecture iscomprised of a two-way self-healing mesh radio network based on the global 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The solution provides the flexibility to accommodate cellular, broadband wireless, or fiber WAN backhaul capability.

Somewhat unique to AMI deployments, the province has established a centralized Meter Data Management Repository (MDMR) to efficiently serve the needs of all local distribution companies across the province.

Smart Network Applications

• Distribution station and security monitoring;

• Mobile work dispatch and accomplishment reporting;

• Automated vehicle locate safety monitoring;

• Emergency management vehicle communications;

• Time-of-use rate pilot in combination• with real-time energy monitors;• Automated two-way communicating• home thermostats; and• In-home two-way real-time energy• monitors.

Follow on applications include: distribution system automation, outage management, theft detection, remote disconnect, and additional in-home energy management consumer tools

Advanced Metering Infrastructure

• Smart Meters/Advanced Metering Infrastructure– Intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) can leverage

on AMI’s communication backbone.– Leverage AMI and ODS for outage and asset

management

• Distribution Transformer Monitoring (DTM)– Install load monitors at distribution transformers,

communicate back to data collector through broadband access network;

– Enables the monitoring of transformer losses, theft of power, condition monitoring, etc.

Smart Zone Project Partners

• Responsible for new systems integration, field services, legacy systems management, integrated process design and operational services

• AMI vendor partner, is providing the 2.4 GHz RF mesh intelligent communications infrastructure, head-end software applications and 1.3 million smart meters to be installed by Hydro One

• GE Energy is supplying smart meters for Hydro One’s smart network project.

• WiMAX Technology Partner and broadband wireless Ethernet technologies for Hydro One

Conclusions

Why Use WiMAX in the Smart Grid?

• Versatility— support, in any environment, fixed, portable, and remote connectivity to a wide range of devices, from video cameras to handheld devices. – Redline’s Base stations and SUs can be customized to operate in any licensed or license-

exempt band from 450 MHz to 11 GHz, with any channelization up to 10 MHz, allowing utilities to benefit from RedMAX in any market in which they operate and leveraging any spectrum available to them.

• Carrier-grade performance and reliability— combine high throughput levels (up to 35 Mbps in a 7 MHz channel) with extremely low latency (below 15 msec) and jitter.

• Security — Data transmission security is provided by over-the-air encryption with the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Why Use WiMAX in the Smart Grid?

• Applications support — enable full support for smart grid applications, including those that require Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video (uplink and downlink), Virtual Private Network (VPN), and dynamic Quality of Service (QoS). – Utilities can optimize the network to host multiple concurrent applications with different

requirements to ensure that mission-critical and emergency communications have priority over other traffic, and to establish fine-grained policies for different applications and terminal devices.

• Standards-based approach— WiMAX is a standards-based approach to technologies that give electric utilities the flexibility to expand their network through time and according to their changing needs. – With its adoption of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), WiMAX is

the most advanced wireless broadband technology commercially available. – Entirely based on IP to allow utilities to benefit from a flatter, less complex network core

structure and to facilitate integration with the rest of the smart grid network.

• Range— Use Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology to extend the base station range. – For PMP links, some base stations have a range of up to 12 miles (20 km) in Line Of Sight

(LOS) conditions and of up to 2 miles (3 km) in non-LOS conditions. – For a Point-To-Point (PTP) link in LOS, the range can extend to 28 miles (40 km).

Redline: the ideal BBW platform

Technology Ingredients of Next Generation Broadband Wireless:– OFDM / OFDMA– MIMO, BF– All IP Architecture– Wide Channel Bandwidth– New Spectrum

• Redline has core technology DNA and proven platform implementations of this DNA – AN-80i, RedMAX, RedMAX 4C

• Engineering team capable of development versus integration

From “Mastering the Hype Cycle”

Source: Gartner Group

Q&A

Redline’s Product Suite

AN-100UAN-100UXSU-O / SU-I

PORTABLE & MOBILE SERVICES

RedMAX 4C™

Wireless Infrastructure3.3 – 3.8 / 4.9 – 5.85 GHz

Fixed and Nomadic WiMAX3.3 – 3.8 GHz

Mobile WiMAX1.8 / 2.3 / 2.5 – 2.7 / 3.3 – 3.8 GHz

RedMAX™

AN-80iMAX+ AN-80i

BWI

Redline Management Suite (RMS) & Service Enablement Engine

SC-1000

SU-O

SU-I

SU-PCRPM

REM

RRH

SC-100e

Redline’s Provides ‘Green’ Solutions

• Highest Output Power with Lowest Input Power– SC-1000 with RRH uses less power per Active Radio than a 100W lightbulb yet

covers up to 12 mile cell radius depending on topography and capacity limits– AN-80i family of hardware is 802.3af compliant – draws less than 12W per

system• Metal enclosures and support brackets are made from Aluminum and Steel

and can be easily recycled.• The plastic materials used for enclosures are indentified for recycling.• Form follows function and all materials are used as sparingly as possible. • We only use RoHS compliant powder coat finishes.• The powder coat process is controlled so that VOC’s (Volatile Organic

Compounds) and particulates are not released into the atmosphere. • All hardware is RoHS compliant.• All packaging materials are recyclable and are not bonded to allow

recycling.

Our Vertical Markets

CarriersLEC / CLEC / WISP

GovernmentMilitary / HLS / MUSH

TransportationTrains / ITS / Light Rail

EnergySmartGrid / Oil & Gas

Military

• Increase in bandwidth hungry applications like video, internet browsing, and voice over IP strain backhaul infrastructure in Iraq and on domestic bases

• Need for scalable solutions to link satellite WAN connectivity at headquarters with remote companies

Homeland Security & Public Safety

• Increased demand for video surveillance systems in remote locations such as water storage reservoirs, nuclear power plants, airport perimeters, and military bases.

• Efficient delivery of traffic video monitoring and security; video arraignments; ambulance, police and fire departments

• Integrated communications to support Automatic Meter Reading (AMR), Advanced metering Infrastructure (AMI) and traditional Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA ) applications

• Wireless networks provide a cost-effective alternative to leased lines in rural areas while improving connectivity

Electric UtilitiesSmart Grid

• Increased demand for video surveillance, real time geophysical data, remote monitoring and control, voice connectivity and portability in remote, environmentally challenging areas

• Applications including data gathering, video surveillance, and campus connectivity for control systems drive operational efficiencies

Oil & Gas

• Applications including remote maintenance, asset tracking, and on-board ticketing drive operational efficiencies

• improve traffic conditions and increase mobility

Transportation / Rail / ITS

Carriers

• Between what DSL/CABLE and Fiber can offer

• Unique Value proposition

• Little to no competition from Incumbent

• Overlay to DSL “white space” or competition to DSL

• .5 - 40 Mb/s service

• E-1/2/5/10, LAN extensions, TLS, Ethernet private line, Internet service

• VoIP, BoD, wireless backup, Video

• Target is Residential, SMB & B2B• Offering targeted where the incumbent has

an offering gap

• Mid-Sized Cities and Rural areas

• Application• Primary connection at aggressive price

• Service Switch and increase from Incumbent offering

• Additional throughput or secondary link for inexpensive backup

• Efficient delivery of traffic video monitoring and security; video arraignments; ambulance, police and fire departments

Our Vertical Market Customers

CarriersLEC / CLEC / WISP

GovernmentMilitary / HLS / MUSH

TransportationTrains / ITS / Light Rail

EnergySmartGrid / Oil & Gas

Military

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Electric UtilitiesSmart Grid

Oil & Gas

Transportation / Rail / ITS

Carriers