Evaluation of communication components for monitoring small hydroelectric plants

In Brazil, SHP (Small Hydroelectric Plant) has been used as alternative to generate cleaner and renewable energy. These small power plants are between 1 and 30 MW and are located in rural areas. The SHP should be supervised from an OCC (Operational Control Centre) located, usually, at one substation. For that, several data communication technologies can be used as: Leased Line, Private Line, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), among others. This paper presents the study how the PLC can be used as alternative service for monitoring and control of SHP, describing the functional and nonfunctional requirements to be met to the PLC specification. In addition, the paper focuses attention on the new strategies required for controlling and monitoring at Smart Grids and shows how PLC could have a key role among the technologies that can be applied.