Hybrid PLC/Wireless Communication for Smart Grids and Internet of Things Applications

This paper outlines important characteristics of hybrid power line/wireless data communication system for smart grid (SG) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Moreover, we discuss the hybrid systems advantages in comparison to nonhybrid ones. These advantages are demonstrated not only in the technical point of view, but also in the infrastructural perspective. Also, we highlight a connection between the capillarity of IoT and the communication infrastructure provided by SG. Furthermore, we address the environmental influence on wireless and power line communications. Additionally, we present ergodic achievable data rate expressions for the hybrid power line/wireless channel (HPWC) and hybrid power line/wireless single-relay channel (HSRC) and provide performance analyses by considering four different cases, which are associated with the relative relay position in the single-relay channel model. Based on numerical results, we show that HPWC and HSRC offer a more reliable data transmission path when compared to power line or wireless system working alone.

I. Introduction

Smart grid (SG) and Internet of Things (IoT) are promising technologies for electric power grid management. Many efforts have been made so far in order to demonstrate how complex electric power grids can become intelligent and reliable but, despite all techniques available today, the grid is still not effectively “smart.” It is true that such process is slower than what was initially predicted, but it is also true that this is a way of no return.