DLC-VIT4IP: Distribution Line Carrier - Verification, Integration and Test of PLC Technologies and IP Communication for Utilities

The future electricity grid, just like the internet, will be interactive for both power generation sources and power consumption sinks (loads). In 2020, energy service companies will allow everyone to have access to the provision of electricity supply services such as the demand management capabilities. Enabled by smart metering, electronic control technologies, modern communication means and the increased awareness of customers, local electricity supply management will play a key part in establishing new services that will create value for the parties involved. In this context, metering services will represent the gateway for access to the grid of the future and will have a critical consequence on power demand evolution. For this reason, electronic meters, automated meter management systems and telecommunications – together with other communications systems that use electricity supply networks as their delivery infrastructure (DLC communication) – will serve as enabling technologies.

The DLC+VIT4IP project focuses on high speed narrow band DLC communication over the distribution grid.

Practically three network use cases can be distinguished:

DLC communication only in the MV distribution network as shown. The DLC communication is used as the main or redundant communication channel for applications like SCADA, video surveillance, metering and others. In case the DLC communication is applied in coexistence with other telecommunication technologies network it will increase the overall reliability of the communications network.
DLC communication only in the LV distribution network. In cases where the MV and LV networks are owned by different utilities or where the MV network is already highly automated, utilities may choose to rollout DLC communication only in the LV distribution network. This means that each LV network will have a DLC Access Point which has to be connected to the service centre. Therefore other telecommunication networks (public or private) and technologies like DSL, GSM/GPRES, TETRA, and so on can be used. A DLC communications network in the LV network will enable services like automated meter reading (AMR), automated meter management (AMM), Demand Side Management, Active Demand, and even the LV network and its equipment will be more and more monitored and automated.
DLC communication in the MV and LV distribution network. The combination of both above mentioned use cases as shown.

DLC-VIT4IP: Distribution Line Carrier - Verification, Integration and Test of PLC Technologies and IP Communication for Utilities

Home Partners Workpackages Technical Interest Group Member Login Downloads Project Overview The Power Network DLC Infrastructure DLC Equipment DLC-VIT4IP Protocol Stack wsplc2011 Search: The research leading to this results has recieved funding from the European Communitiy's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no 247750.	The future electricity grid, just like the internet, will be interactive for both power generation sources and power consumption sinks (loads). In 2020, energy service companies will allow everyone to have access to the provision of electricity supply services such as the demand management capabilities. Enabled by smart metering, electronic control technologies, modern communication means and the increased awareness of customers, local electricity supply management will play a key part in establishing new services that will create value for the parties involved. In this context, metering services will represent the gateway for access to the grid of the future and will have a critical consequence on power demand evolution. For this reason, electronic meters, automated meter management systems and telecommunications – together with other communications systems that use electricity supply networks as their delivery infrastructure (DLC communication) – will serve as enabling technologies. The DLC+VIT4IP project focuses on high speed narrow band DLC communication over the distribution grid. Practically three network use cases can be distinguished: DLC communication only in the MV distribution network as shown. The DLC communication is used as the main or redundant communication channel for applications like SCADA, video surveillance, metering and others. In case the DLC communication is applied in coexistence with other telecommunication technologies network it will increase the overall reliability of the communications network. DLC communication only in the LV distribution network. In cases where the MV and LV networks are owned by different utilities or where the MV network is already highly automated, utilities may choose to rollout DLC communication only in the LV distribution network. This means that each LV network will have a DLC Access Point which has to be connected to the service centre. Therefore other telecommunication networks (public or private) and technologies like DSL, GSM/GPRES, TETRA, and so on can be used. A DLC communications network in the LV network will enable services like automated meter reading (AMR), automated meter management (AMM), Demand Side Management, Active Demand, and even the LV network and its equipment will be more and more monitored and automated. DLC communication in the MV and LV distribution network. The combination of both above mentioned use cases as shown.