Criteria for the selection of communication infrastructure applied to power distribution automation

The design of smart energy networks - Smart Grids - is based on massively sensing information from devices distributed on power grid and the use of communications solutions that meet critical operational requirements. These requirements are associated with the supervision and control functions involved in all stages of electricity supply, especially in distribution systems. This paper discusses the telecommunications infrastructure applied to power distribution automation processes, related to substation automation, grid automation, metering automation and field maintenance services. The goal is to define criteria for choosing the most appropriate telecommunications infrastructure to support such automation processes. These criteria are based on mapping of technical and operational requirements of automation functions and the characteristics of telecommunications infrastructure in terms of availability, coverage, data transmission capacity, latency and safety.