Private LTE Field tests and Results for Smart Grid services

Abstract

Iberdrola is committed to the digitalization of the network business, with the evolution of the electrical grid towards the Smart Grid as the most relevant example. Smart Grid services need to rely on an evolved telecommunications infrastructure, blending both public and private, wireless and wireline access telecommunication technologies. Specifically, Private Wireless access technologies are needed in ambitious and pervasive deployment schedules.Iberdrola owns a private wireless network based on licensed narrowband UHF/VHF Point to multipoint Digital Radio which is reliable and convenient for some data connectivity scenarios. However, it presents constraints in terms of performance derived from its narrowband nature, and the lack of suitable standards. Existing public commercial networks are not ready to cope with the requirements of Smart Grid services.The use of private 4G Long Term Evolution (hereinafter LTE) can probably solve the performance needs of higher demand service aggregation points in Smart Grid deployments. NOTE OF THE AUTHORS: Iberdrola will provide a comprehensive report with the conclusions derived from a project in a real field scenario in Spain. The objective of this pilot project is to assess LTE technology and derive the conditions for it to be applicable in Smart Grid use cases. The scope of the project includes technical, regulatory and business considerations.