The Impact of Transmission Technologies on the Evolution of the Electrical Grid

The paper describes the use of the communications technologies in the electrical network in the last decades and it provides a quick look at the significant role of these technologies in the development of new functionalities. Hence, the great evolution of the requirements of the electrical networks is summarized, from the first stages of the remote automation to a new scenario where Smart Grids and demand response will generate a different relation between utilities and final users. Then, a compilation of the main network architectures and communication protocols used in the electrical networks is outlined. Moreover, an evaluation of the benefits and drawbacks of the communication technologies, when they are applied to the last mile connectivity in electrical grids, is described. The paper concludes with a selection of the most relevant challenges of the electrical networks where the communication technologies may ne determinant as an enabling technology. In summary, the paper shows the parallel evolution of the communication technologies and the electrical grid, as a basic aspect for the development of new functionalities and services for all the agents involved in the power generation-transmission-distribution system.