The smart grid multi-utility services platform based on power fiber to the home

Energy and information are two important parts of utility services. Smart grid applies the information and communications technology in the energy industry which will bring new methods and techniques for the application of the renewable energy, smart home and other smart services. By using Optical Fiber Composite Low-voltage Cable (OPLC), Power Fiber to the Home (PFTTH) realizes the transmission of energy and information over the same cable which will bring about the multipurpose use of resources. Therefore, PFTTH is the top choice for constructing the smart grid utilization network integrating energy industry and information industry which will not only meet the requirements of electric power supply of smart grid, but also meet the diversity requirements of the users including service providers and residential customers, such as leasing the optical fiber resources to the telecom operator and serving the ‘triple play’ to the residential customers. The PFTTH constructs a multi-utility services platform and the scope of the smart power consumption will be extended that both energy and information services can be provided simultaneously based on this platform. This paper describes the PFTTH's key technologies and its applications in the construction of smart grid, and then introduces the capability and the application scenario of the constructed platform. Finally, further open issues of the future development of PFTTH and the constructed platform are presented.