The advent of digital technologies and the need for high-speed data transmission has made it necessary for electric utilities to explore advanced communication solutions. Private LTE (PLTE) is a secure, reliable, and efficient technology that can address the communication requirements of the modern electric utility. This article presents some potential benefits and use cases to implement a utility-owned PLTE network.
PLTE is a wireless communication technology that uses licensed radio spectrum to provide secure and reliable communication services to enterprises. It is designed to support high-speed data transmission, low latency, and provide secure and reliable connectivity. The network is designed to securely support multiple applications, including video surveillance, asset management, real-time control & data analytics, and increasing the utility’s capability to quickly implement new technologies. The network can also be integrated with other communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other third-party wireless communications to provide a comprehensive communication solution and network redundancy. It can also be utilized to extend existing and implement new technologies in a cost-effective, equitable manner. Some of the projected benefits of the network include:
- High Data Transmission Rates: The network provides high-speed data transmission rates, which is essential for smart grids. These devices, programs, and scenarios all generate large amounts of data and require reliable, resilient communications.
- Low Latency: It provides low latency, which is important for applications such as DR and grid operations. These applications require the ability to quickly communicate with customers and devices to manage the system and demand.
- Security: A secure network, which is important for the smart grid. The smart grid handles sensitive data, such as customer information and grid operations data. PLTE can provide the security needed to protect this data from unauthorized access.
In addition to these benefits, PLTE is also scalable and flexible. PLTE can be easily scaled to meet the growing needs of the smart grid. It is also flexible enough to support a variety of robust, dynamic smart grid applications.
Electric utilities need a reliable and secure communication system that can support high-speed data transmission, improve grid resilience, and reduce downtime. The current communication infrastructure, used by many utilities, is not designed to handle the growing demand for high-speed data transmission. This is leading to communication challenges, failures, latency, and increased downtime. Utilities need a solution that can address these challenges and provide a reliable, high-speed, and secure communication system.
There are many utilities with service territories, or communities, consisting of a large percentage of rural/remote and disadvantaged communities (DACs) that are not well covered by public wireless carriers. There are many factors for sparse coverage, but some reasons include population density, growth expectations, cost of infrastructure, and terrain. However, electric utilities still need to provide safe, reliable power and a resilient grid to serve our community. Equitably implementing a utility-owned PLTE network will contribute to the resiliency, reliability, and security of the grid, while providing benefits to our DAC and rural/remote communities.
Historically, utilities and customers alike relied on telephone calls to communicate concerns and sustained power and communication outages were tolerable. Devices that provided remote communications and control were primarily limited to generation, transmission, and distribution sites. There were no remote communications, analytics, IoT (internet-of-things) devices, or situational awareness capabilities available.
Over time, utilities adopted a greater and greater quantity of sophisticated, intelligent connected devices, and technology has advanced at a faster pace. With the explosion of IoT devices, it is evident that secure, wireless connectivity (with low latency and high bandwidth) is necessary to continue the integration of these devices. Even with public wireless 5G communications, technical limitations exist, such as limited data rates and the ability to only pull certain data at specific frequencies. The following figure is a high-level depiction of the industry’s current state.
Due to these limitations, utilities and vendors have collaborated to develop innovative solutions to push computing to the edge and implement PLTE.
Currently, the industry is at an inflection point, where utilities have realized the value of grid modernization technologies, customers & utilities have an increased appetite for real-time data, EV adoption have increased at a rapid pace, and distributed generation with two-way power flow are pushing the aging electric infrastructure to new limits, limits that the power system was not designed for. Converging forces will soon overwhelm today’s grid. Centralized systems will quickly become insufficient and real-time distributed AI is an opportunity to optimize the grid.
Subsequently, we envision that every single device placed on the system will require remote connectivity to allow utilities to manage and optimize the system based on multiple factors such as variable renewable generation, extreme weather events, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, dynamic loads, and many other variables.
By implementing a pLTE network, utilities gain the advantage of being capable of addressing a wide range of requirements while implementing new use cases. Real-time grid monitoring and active optimization depend on high data rates, low latency, and a secure network that can support billions of IoT devices. For example, DERs, distribution automation (DA), dynamic line ratings (DLR), SGCs, AMI 2.0, emergency management (EM), workforce mobility, demand response (DR), and future technology integrations. A depiction of the possibilities is shown in the following figure.
With the influx of connected devices and data, the PLTE network will serve as a foundational component for grid innovation.
The network allows a utility to quickly and efficiently deploy new technologies to support the community and grid modernization initiatives. Some of the community and utility benefits include:
- Improved Reliability: Provides a reliable and efficient communication system that can support high-speed data transmission and low latency. This can help reduce downtime and enhance grid resilience.
- Increased Efficiency: Provides a more efficient communication system that can support multiple applications, reduce delays, and provide faster response times.
- Enhanced Security: Uses a secure and encrypted communication system that can protect against cyber threats and ensure data privacy.
- Improved Customer Service: Provides a more efficient communication system that can improve customer service and support advanced grid modernization applications.
Implementing PLTE technology has the potential to transform and revolutionize electric utility operations for the better. With its robust, secure, and dedicated network, PLTE can enable real-time data collection, seamless communication, and enhanced monitoring capabilities across the utility's infrastructure. This enhances the utilities’ ability to optimize energy distribution, detect faults promptly, improve grid resilience, and enhance worker safety and operational efficiency. By embracing PLTE, electric utilities can unlock new levels of productivity, reliability, and innovation, ensuring a sustainable and resilient energy future for the communities they serve. The advent of PLTE marks a pivotal moment in the industry's evolution, promising a brighter and more connected future for electric utilities worldwide.