HOME AREA NETWORK TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT FOR DEMAND RESPONSE IN SMART GRID ENVIRONMENT Md. Zahurul Huq Prof. Syed Islam Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Curtin University of Technology Curtin University of Technology Perth, Western Australia, Australia Perth, Western Australia, Australia E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Abstract-- Modern electricity network will networks linking computers or consumer electronics increasingly rely upon a set of intelligent devices. However, this does not reflect all consumers. communication and control technologies like home Moreover, even in homes those have data networks; area network. Within the smart grid network, consumers may not have the expertise for Home Area Network (HAN) help develop the configuring a home network or may not want to demand response and demand side management. spend time or money setting up a machine as clothes Renewable Energy opportunities such as Rooftop dryer to communicate through home network. PV systems is also closely linked to the development of HAN and Demand Response. Several communication technologies are available in the market to implement HAN, but it is very important to choose the right one. Simply installing tools for implementing smart grid does nothing to influence customer energy usage behaviour. In this paper, we analyse the opportunities to improve demand management in a home for peak load curtailment and implementing the dynamic pricing policy. Wet also propose the comprehensive assessment of Fig 1 Smart Grid Framework different technologies available for HAN and develop an approach for selecting suitable There are several technologies available or technologies, which contribute to demand currently under development for HAN technologies. management. However not all are suitable for HAN implementation. One of the objective of this paper is Index Terms- Home Area Network, ZigBee, Z- to compare these technologies for HAN. Wave, HomePlug, Wavenis, M-Bus, Wi-Fi The paper is organized as follows: firstly we will look for the opportunities of demand management in I. INTRODUCTION a home, which can help the reader to understand the Smart grid is an auto-balancing, self monitoring technologies role in demand management. Then, we power grid that integrates various generation focus on the opportunity of the more usable tariff concepts and technologies [1]. It allows users to structure introduction. After this, we go through the optimise the use of energy sources and minimize the technologies presently available in the market and negative impact on environment. Home Area finally, we analyse and compare the different Network (HAN) extends smart grid capabilities into technologies, based on some selected characteristics. the home using different networking protocols. HAN technology enables one to remotely connect to and control many automated digital devices throughout II. OPPORTUNITY OF DEMAND MANAGEMENT IN the house. Integration of smart meter with HAN HOME helps to communicate peak energy use times to Load behaviour significantly affects utility digital devices. For example, on a hot day, a smart planning and strategic corporate objectives (improve controller would send a signal that would operate the earnings and cash flow, reduce risks, etc.) [2]. To HVAC system based on preferences. achieve these business objectives, generic load shape One of the differences between residential changes are often necessary, such as clipping, valley environment and commercial/industrial environment filling, load shifting, energy conservation, load is the level of sophistication and customer growth and reliability. So, an investigation of energy participation that can be assumed in configuring consumption, in conjunction with the general shape networks to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid of its load and the variation of this shape during the communications. Many homes have one or more data year [3], is necessary. There are two very distinct load curves – one for III. OPPORTUNITY OF TARIFF STRUCTURE summer and one for winter. In actual fact the load IMPROVEMENT curve for an extremely hot summer day is quite One of the major benefits of smart grid different from a mild summer day (i.e. air environment is that it can enable the opportunity to conditioning), as it is for a very cold and mild introduce time-varying pricing of electricity. In winter’s day (i.e. heating). The graphs below show us Australia, the Time of Use (ToU) tariff policy is how power is used on different days in one of the introduced for the consumers, who uses smart meter. suburban substation in WA. In this policy, different tariff is applied for weekdays and weekends. Three time slots- peak, off-peak and shoulder time for metering are introduced [4]. The following figure shows the smart meter tariff of WA; All other states also uses similar policy but the time of peak, shoulder varies along with prices. (a) (a) (b) (b) (c) Fig 3. Smart Meter Tariff of WA (a) Weekends (b) Summer Weekdays (c) Winter Weekdays (Data source: Synergy ) (c) The introduction of effective time-varying Fig 2. (a) Summer Load curve (b) Winter and Middle pricing largely depends on the bundling of different summer load curve (c) Hourly variation factor of networks and consumer awareness. In this level, home appliance (Data source: a,b – Western Power ) there is a scope to evaluate more effective time- varying pricing policy[5]. Because, when most of the If we go through the above load curves and consumers are integrated with smart metering, every hourly variation factor we find that the heating and consumer intends to move to off-peak period which cooling system is the maximum contributor to can shift the peak to other time slots (a new peak is develop the peak demand. The appliances that created), and also the critical peak period (which only coincides with the system peak are candidates for happen for a fraction percentage of the whole year) smart equipment implementation. may not be controlled. IV. HOME AREA NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES – 20 kbps in the unlicensed 868 MHz band (Europe) Home Area Network extends smart grid • Distance covered is 10‐100 metres point to point, capabilities into the home using different networking typically 30 metres indoors; unlimited with mesh protocols. HAN is the backbone of the networking. communication between smart meter and home • Low cost allows wide deployment in wireless appliances. control and monitoring applications; • Low power‐usage allows longer life with smaller batteries (up to 10 years) and the mesh Refri geart Free networking provides high reliability and broader or zer range. Wash ing • Provides secure connections between devices mach ine Utility data Smart through 128‐bit AES encryption. acquisition meter point Othe rs HAN technologies Z-wave[8]: - ZigBee • Z‐Wave is a proprietary wireless -Z-Wave Solar PV -Wi-Fi -HomePlug communications standard designed specifically to remote control applications in residential and Fig 4. Typical HAN Structure light commercial environments. • Due to an impressive eco‐system community In a home area network, multiple components Z‐Wave is widely spread although it is not open interact to provide a wide range of capability. The and is available only to Zensys customers. basic components of a home area network are: Zensys is now a division of Sigma Designs. • The Z‐Wave Radio uses the unlicensed 900 MHz 1. The network portal or gateway that connects ISM (Industry, Scientific and Medical) band. one or more outside information services to 900MHz is unlicensed radio frequency band the home area network used in Australia, Israel and North America, 2. The access point or network nodes that form while 2.4Ghz is unlicensed band used worldwide the wired or wireless network itself including Australia. Generally, 900MHz 3. The network operating system and network solutions provide significantly longer range and management software lower power than those operating in 2.4GHz. 4. The end points such as thermostats, meters, • Distance covered is approx 30 metres point to in home display devices, and appliances point open‐air, reduced indoor; unlimited with mesh networking and bandwidth 40kbps. In this paper, we evaluate different technologies • Optimized for low‐overhead commands such as used in HAN technologies like – ZigBee, Wi-Fi, on‐off (as in a light switch or an appliance) and Ethernet, Z-Wave, HomePlug, Wireless M-Bus, raise‐lower (as in a thermostat or volume Wavenis etc. control), with the ability to include device ZigBee[7]: metadata in the communications. • Wireless mesh proprietary networking solution • The freedom from household interference (WiFi, (from Layer 3 to the application layer) built on Microwave, Cordless Phone) allows for a the IEEE 802.15.4 media standard. standardized low bandwidth control medium that • In a mesh network, nodes are interconnected can be reliable alongside common wireless with other nodes so that at least two pathways devices. connect each node. Connections between nodes are dynamically updated and optimised. Mesh HomePlug[9]: networks are decentralised in nature; each node • HomePlug is a power line communication is self‐routing and able to connect to other nodes technology. It uses the existing home electricity as needed. The characteristics of mesh topology wiring to communicate. and ad‐hoc routing provide greater stability in • To create a network, a user connects two or more changing conditions or failure at single nodes. adapters to the power outlets in the home. The • The low power network must exclusively be user can then connect devices to the network via made of devices interconnected by IEEE the adapter. 802.15.4 links. • Alternatively, devices may already have • The raw, over‐the‐air data rates are: HomePlug adapters built in, and therefore it is – 250 kbps per channel in the unlicensed just a manner of connecting the devices to the 2.4 GHz band (Worldwide) home power outlet to enable network – 40 kbps per channel in the unlicensed connectivity.