Evaluation of an efficient Smart Grid communication system at the neighbor area level

The successful implementation of Smart Grid (SG) requires an efficient communication infrastructure that is cost-effective, scalable and fault-tolerant. This paper aims to study and develop relevant networking techniques for an efficient and reliable SG Communication Network (SGCN). In particular, we propose a viable communication architecture for the interconnection of different radio access technologies along the separate segments of the SGCN. Specifically, WiFi mesh network at the Neighbor Area Network (NAN) level with LTE at the Wide Area Network (WAN) level. Based on this architecture, the performance, transmission latency and Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), of geographic routing in the NAN segment is considered. Specifically, the scaling of system performance when per-smart-meter data rate, channel shadowing level and the number of smart meters per collector increases is investigated. The results presented in this study can then serve as important guidelines for the design and development of relevant communication infrastructures for SGs.