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| photo: AFP |
| Vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-charging station communications |
Specs will link communications and electricity networks
Two new standards (ITU–T Recommendations G.9955
and G.9956) that will enable cost-effective smart grid
applications have entered the final stage of approval
at ITU. The two Recommendations form the global
G.hnem standard for low frequency (9–500 Khz) power
line communications for smart meters, energy management
systems, smart appliances, advanced recharging
systems for electric vehicles, and control and home
automation. Both Recommendations are scheduled to
be approved later this year
Commenting on the progress, ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun I.Touré said: “Smart grid is a dynamic
addition to today’s energy networks, which will
be capable of delivering customizable services on a massive
scale. To ensure an efficient global roll-out, global
standards are a must.”
The G.hnem standards address applications such as
distribution automation, advanced metering infrastructure,
demand side management, grid-to-home communications,
home/building energy management, home
automation, and vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-charging
station communications.
In a standard power system, generation, delivery
and consumption of electricity all take place at the
same time. This makes the control of supply and demand
uniquely challenging. The new standards provide
the crucial link between electricity and communications
networks, enabling utilities to exercise a higher level of
monitoring and control of the grid.
G.hnem is an ideal platform for smart grid applications
because it supports power lines as a communications
medium — under the direct and complete control
of power utilities. Since power line communications
exploit the existing wired infrastructure, the cost of deploying
a communications channel is greatly reduced. In
addition, because G.hnem supports popular protocols
such as Ethernet, IPv4 and IPv6, G.hnem-based smart
grid networks can easily be integrated with IP-based
networks.
Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication
Standardization Bureau, says: “Many national
stimulus plans have given smart grid significant backing,
with the need for standards also cited as key to the
fast roll-out of the technology. The G.hnem standards
now entering the final stages of approval can be applied
globally today, and are ready to give a much-needed
boost to power line communications technology, making
electricity distribution cleaner, leaner and greener.”
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