Broadband power line vs WiMAX for smart grids
Broadband networks built using an utility’s own powerlines has been pegged as a challenger to the use of wireless networks, namely LTE and WiMAX, for smart grid applications.
According to this post in IEEE Spectrum, next generation wireless networks are vying for the share of the smart grid market, but utilities have other options, including putting networking equipment at the end of their power lines to facilitate communications.
While the article focuses on the potential of wireless technologies, in particular WiMAX, in the smart grid market, it does have an interesting graphic from consultants, Mind Commerce, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of both WiMAX and power line technologies.
According to the Mind Commerce chart, power line technologies will costs US$1000 per home, while WiMAX can do that for US$440. Power lines however are ‘pervasive’ – available to any home connected to the electricity grid – while WiMAX is only being rolled out now. On the other hand, any power line network will be operated by utilities, who are “inexperienced broadband network operators,” while WiMAX will come from “experienced” wireless carriers.
The chart however neglects to take into account many aspects of smart grids.
First, many utilities are actually building out their own WiMAX networks to support smart grid initiatives – incidentally, I’ve not heard of any smart grid being built using power lines.
Secondly, smart grids involve more than simply the smart meter or controlling home appliances. True smart grids actually connect together different elements of the electricity infrastructure, including the generation stations, transmission equipment and so on, and need to be ultra-reliable, which according to commentators I’ve spoken to, are still beyond the basic capabilities of wireless networks today, especially those operated by wireless network operator supporting consumers.
And to say that wireless operators are experienced in running broadband networks is unverified. Just look at what has happened with AT&T’s wireless network following the launch of the iPhone.
I seriously doubt that any utility would want to rely on a network that is at the mercy of consumer behaviour and/or spontaneous traffic surges as a result of sudden events, such as the death of Michael Jackson.
Related posts:
- Comment: odds stacked against WiMAX bet for smart grids
- Cisco backs Grid Net’s WiMAX smart meter play
- New tech emerges for smart grids – meshed Wi-Fi
- Challenges for 'smart grids', or just plain grids?
- New Motorola WiMAX: 35% less costly to build, 60% more energy efficient
Category: Archive, Broadband, Mobile, Smart grids
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Wimax offer more bandwidth and more services than traditional microwave communications. *`”
Wimax is so great, lots of bandwidth and new services too-~:
Here they get to more or less the same conclusions:
http://www.smartgridelectronics.com/2011/02/broadband-over-power-lines-fiber-optics.html
Let me add one thing, from the point of view of a person that is doing research on smart grid management algorithms (for power losses minimization and optimal operation).
Sometimes communication over powerlines is useful also because it gives you an idea of who is “close” to you on the electrical grid, which is usually unknown. In many algorithms it is important to know who are your “neighbors”, and this can be done quite effectively if electronic devices and customers can communicate over the grid.