Design Article
Modern power line communication for the smart grid
Ivan Gatchev, product marketing staff engineer, STMicroelectronics
3/5/2012 11:24 AM EST
Page 3
In the context of the smart grid, the smart meter is the hub between the Home Area Network (HAN), and the outdoor smart grid, connected to the electric utility.
The picture below illustrates this key role of the smart meter:
The new HomePlug wideband PLC arena provides the key advantage of the ‘no-new-wire’ approach to users. High-speed home networks can be created by using the power sockets and wiring infrastructure that already exist in the home.
HomePlug is also an industry-wide alliance (www.homeplug.org) whose sponsors include STMicroelectronics. The Alliance's mission is to enable and promote rapid availability, adoption and implementation of cost effective, interoperable and standards-based home powerline networks and products. The HomePlug technologies are fully compliant to the IEEE1901 standard for broadband-over-powerline networks (Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications) and offer a complete ecosystem of interoperable technologies ensuring the forward migration path to Gigabit-class service.
There are two major variants within HomePlug standard, and they are interoperable:
• HomePlug GP (Green PHY), which targets ‘smart Grid’ and smart-energy applications
• HomePlug AV (Audio/Video), which is the consumer standard, aimed primarily at home networking.
Recently, the HomePlug Alliance received a letter from the Coordination Office Charging Interface, Carmeq GmbH, representing five German automakers stating that these OEMs had selected PLC IEEE1901 Profile Green PHY (HomePlug GP) as the communication technology between plug-in electric cars and charging stations. GM, Ford and Toyota followed by adopting HomeplugGP shortly after, making HomepluGP the de facto standard for EV charging.
Next: Page 4
In the context of the smart grid, the smart meter is the hub between the Home Area Network (HAN), and the outdoor smart grid, connected to the electric utility.
The picture below illustrates this key role of the smart meter:
The new HomePlug wideband PLC arena provides the key advantage of the ‘no-new-wire’ approach to users. High-speed home networks can be created by using the power sockets and wiring infrastructure that already exist in the home.
HomePlug is also an industry-wide alliance (www.homeplug.org) whose sponsors include STMicroelectronics. The Alliance's mission is to enable and promote rapid availability, adoption and implementation of cost effective, interoperable and standards-based home powerline networks and products. The HomePlug technologies are fully compliant to the IEEE1901 standard for broadband-over-powerline networks (Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications) and offer a complete ecosystem of interoperable technologies ensuring the forward migration path to Gigabit-class service.
There are two major variants within HomePlug standard, and they are interoperable:
• HomePlug GP (Green PHY), which targets ‘smart Grid’ and smart-energy applications
• HomePlug AV (Audio/Video), which is the consumer standard, aimed primarily at home networking.
Recently, the HomePlug Alliance received a letter from the Coordination Office Charging Interface, Carmeq GmbH, representing five German automakers stating that these OEMs had selected PLC IEEE1901 Profile Green PHY (HomePlug GP) as the communication technology between plug-in electric cars and charging stations. GM, Ford and Toyota followed by adopting HomeplugGP shortly after, making HomepluGP the de facto standard for EV charging.
Next: Page 4
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SimulinkJocky
3/7/2012 10:38 AM EST
Please don't let this morph back into another broadband over power lines (BPL) mess. Even 500 Khz is getting a bit high for a network of wires that were designed for 60Hz power distribution. The leakage of unintended noise from BPL systems along with the intrusion of signals from real radio transmitters made that other service bad.
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Dr D
3/7/2012 1:44 PM EST
Ditto on the previous comment. There is too much broadband noise in the HF spectrum already. What will this generate when connected to a infinitely large antenna system like the grid.
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anne-francoise.pele
7/30/2012 5:45 PM EDT
Click on the link below to check out the collection of Design Articles, Case Studies, Product How-To articles,... related to Power Line Communication that have been published on Smart Energy Designline.
Check back frequently. The list will be updated as new articles arrive.
http://www.eetimes.com/design/smart-energy-design/4390953/Power-Line-Communication---Design-archive?Ecosystem=smart-energy-design
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sanjaac
10/12/2012 6:29 AM EDT
IFindNickNamesAnnoying and Dr D: You are wrong. NB-PLC is well on its way, and selling a lot. And performing like a breeze. Ask in Spain, if you want.
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