Presented By:
Xcel Energy Leverages 4G LTE to Enable Reliable, High Speed
Connectivity to Distribution End Points
Speakers:
David Markland, Senior Manager, Product Management, Sierra Wireless
Dan Lysaker, Senior Grid Modernization Engineer, Xcel Energy
Moderator:
Ben Kellison, Director, Grid Research, GTM Research
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Today’s Speakers
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Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Xcel Energy Communications Experience
3. Case Study: Connecting Community Solar
4. LTE at Utilities
5. Q&A
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Introduction
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The Evolution of Application Requirements Often Compromise Simple Architectures
Throughput
Latency
Demand Response
Wide Area Situational Awareness
5 minutes1 minute1 Second
10 kbps
100 kbps
1000 kbps
Electric Transportation
AMI
DER and Storage
Distribution Grid Management
Source: Department of Energy
High-Level Communications Requirements by Application
Connectivity is Key
• Development of new use cases that improve efficiency
and unlock additional value require connectivity
• Each application has its own requirements for operation
• Requirements will change as the grid evolves
• Distributed energy resources are creating new
requirements that involve various service levels for
the same class of assets
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Communication Architecture Discussions Have Changed as Device and Use Case Variety Increases
*Meter Meter Meter
LAN
WAN
Head-End
DA
Devices
MDM
Streetlights Load Control
EVSolar
Inverter
Storage
Data
RepositorySCADA
IoT Cloud
DA Devices Meter
Streetlights
Load
Control
EVSolar
Inverter
Storage
MDMData
RepositorySCADA
SCADA DRMS
Substation
Devices
Substation
Devices
Load
Control
- Centralized IT Systems - Communications Systems - Utility OT Devices - Smart Meters - DER Devices - Streetlights
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Substation Third-Party/Customer PremiseDistribution Line Devices
Third-PartyWirelessWired
Communications Systems in Practice Are Much More Complex Than in Diagrams
MDM
SCADA
Load Control
PagerEmail /
Phone
DRMS or
DERMS
Reliability
Devices
DMS
Microwave CellularFiber
Power Quality
Devices
Substation
Devices
RF
MeshSatellite
OMS
Head-End
DSCADA/
WAN / AMIAMI
AMI Head-End
Point-to-
Point
Coaxial
CableSerialEthernet Web
HEMS / BEMS
Monitoring
Devices and
Sensors
Head-Ends
DG and
Storage
DG and
StorageDER
- AMI/Customer - Operations - Head-Ends - CommunicationsLegend
Source: GTM Research
Example Utility Communications and IT Architecture
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Utility Communications in Practice is Pragmatic
Source: GTM Research
Example Utility Communications and IT Architecture
Connectivity Requirements are Complicated
• Devices are deployed over decades for different
applications by different stakeholders at the utility
• Utility territories are geographically diverse often making
cost-effective one size fits all communication medium
solutions near impossible
• The value of meeting particular communications service
levels change with time
• Distributed computing and decentralized decision-making
promise enablement with far lower requirements
• Long-term uncertainty due to potential DER reliability
impacts and changing value stacksSubstation Third-Party/Customer PremiseDistribution Line Devices
Third-PartyWirelessWired
MDM
SCADA
Load Control
PagerEmail /
Phone
DRMS or
DERMS
Reliability
Devices
DMS
Microwave CellularFiber
Power
Quality
Devices
Substation
Devices
RF
MeshSatellite
OMS
Head-End
DSCADA/
WAN / AMIAMI
AMI Head-End
Point-to-
Point
Coaxial
CableSerialEthernet Web
HEMS / BEMS
Monitoring
Devices and
Sensors
Head-Ends
DG and
Storage
DG and
StorageDER
- AMI/Customer - Operations - Head-Ends - CommunicationsLegend
Leveraging 4G LTE for Reliable, High Speed Connectivity to Distribution End Points
Dan Lysaker, P.E., Xcel Energy
Dave Markland, Snr Product Mgr, Sierra Wireless
Xcel Energy
Dan Lysaker, P.E., Grid Modernization Engineer
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Xcel Energy - Overview• Vertically Integrated,
Investor-Owned
Utility
• Operates in 8 states
• No. 1 Utility Wind
Energy Provider
• Total capacity of over
18,000 MW
• 19,500 miles of
transmission
• 1,200 substations
Southwestern Public
Service Company
Northern States Power
Company MinnesotaNorthern States Power
Company Wisconsin
Public Service
Company of
Colorado
Gas Customers 2.0 M
Electric Customers 3.5 M
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Xcel Energy – Existing Wireless Communications
• Microwave
• Cell – 3G / 4G LTE
• Proprietary 900MHz mesh
• 3.65 GHz Wi-MAX
• Satellite
• 1-way paging
12
Xcel Energy – Use of Cellular
• Have used cell for many years across the business
• From 1x to 2G and 3G to now, 4G LTE
• Many, many applications
– SCADA
– Remote monitoring
– Remote access (management)
– Fleet
13
Distribution Applications for LTE
• Capacitor Controls
• Remote Fault Indicators
• Recloser and Switch Controls
• Power Sensors
• Meters
• Remote Management of Devices
• Distributed Generation Telemetry
14
Benefits of Deploying a Cellular Solution
• Very fast to deploy new devices
• Relatively fast and easy to set-up initial network
• Low cost
– Modems are inexpensive and have many form factors
– Recurring monthly fees can be quite low and are getting lower
• Enables remote access to devices in hard to reach locations
• Network is highly reliable, fast and flexible
15
Network Design
• Generally leveraging business to business VPN’s with cell carriers.
• Semi-private networks with Private IP’s
• No Quality of Service (QoS)
• End device can be connected Serial or Ethernet
• Predominately TCP/IP
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A New Use Case
• Minnesota Community Solar Program
• Distributed Solar Generation
– Multiple meters at each site
– Mostly rural sites
• Need for high-speed, low latency connectivity
• Need for secure network to pass SCADA traffic
• Need for QoS if possible
17
Enter a Solution – DMNR and a Private Network
• Dynamic Mobile Network Routing - Enabled through Verizon
• Private, non-internet connected network
• Grants QoS on the wireless network
• Allows for BGP-like routing (Border Gateway Protocol) on a
wireless network
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Enter a Solution – DMNR and a Private Network
• Dynamic Mobile Network Routing - Enabled through Verizon
• Private, non-internet connected network
• Grants QoS on the wireless network
• Allows for BGP-like routing (Border Gateway Protocol) on a
wireless network
Wide Area NetworkLAN 2
LAN 1
Router
2Router
1
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Functionality and Success
• Network design via DMNR and BGP allows for entire LAN to be
broadcast across network to back-end routers
• Simplifies network design, configuration and maintenance
• Fast to deploy new devices – connected and broadcasted in
seconds
• Built in redundancy
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Our Wireless Future – Field Area Network (FAN)
1. Leverage Xcel Energy-Owned Backbone where possible
2. Leverage Xcel Energy-Owned property, towers, and building assets for
radio coverage where possible
3. Design to capitalize equipment where Xcel Energy has full control of use,
operations, and maintenance of the facility and equipment
4. Unify equipment and service across the Operating Companies
5. Follow and embrace industry standards for all tiers of network
– Deploy equipment that interoperates with other 3rd party equipment
6. Carefully integrate network monitoring systems
21
FAN Technology Comparison
WiMAX Point to Multipoint
• Mobile Broadband Standard
• Point-to-Multipoint
• Operates at 3.65 GHz
– Higher Bandwidth (>1.5Mbps)
– Lower Latency (<100ms)
– Line of Sight
• Best used for low-latency or high bandwidth applications
Wi-SUN Mesh
• Emerging Smart Utility Standard
• Multipoint-to-Multipoint
• Operates at 900MHz
– Lower Bandwidth (<300kbps)
– Higher Latency (>1s)
– Omni Directional
• Best used for reporting-only or latency-tolerant applications
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FAN Overview
Xcel Energy Substation
WAN Node
WAN Node
WAN Node
WAN Node
ServiceCenter
Advanced
Apps
Power Plant
Xcel EnergyWide Area Network
WiMAX Base
Station
SensorMeter
Control Device
Wi-SUNAccess Point
Wi -SUNAccess Point
WiMAX Wi-SUN
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Recap and Conclusion
• 4G LTE provides a fast, flexible communications solution for utilities
• Easy to deploy and manage
• Very flexible!
• Will continue to be a ‘tool in the tool belt’ for Xcel Energy
• Future is for company owned-wireless through our Field Area Network
LTE in Utilities
Dave Markland, Senior Product Manager, Sierra Wireless
Mission Critical IoT Applications
CELLULAR
END-TO-END SECURITY
Mission Critical Mobile IoT Applications
MOBILE MULTI-NETWORK SECURITY
27
LTE Evolution
Generation
Equivalent
Technology MIMO Layers Downlink Uplink AirLink Products
2G LTE Cat NB1 1 20 kbps 60 kbps
GPRS 1 85.6 kbps 42.8 kbps
EDGE 1 236 kbps 59.2 kbps Raven
1xRTT 1 300 kbps 150 kbps Raven
3G LTE Cat M1 1 1 Mbps 1 Mbps
EVDO 1 3.1 Mbps 1.8 Mbps LS300
LTE Cat 1 1 10 Mbps 5 Mbps
HSPA 1 14.4 Mbps 5.76 Mbps LS300
HSPA+ 1 21 Mbps 5.76 Mbps GX400
4G LTE Cat 3 2 100 Mbps 50 Mbps ES/GX/RV50
Cat 4 2 150 Mbps 50 Mbps
Cat 6 2 300 Mbps 50 Mbps RV50X/MP70/MG90
Cat 9 2 450 Mbps 50 Mbps
Cat 12 2 600 Mbps 100 Mbps
Thank youDan Lysaker, PE
David Markland