Cisco Adds Distribution Automation to Its Grid Network

Between substation and smart meter lies a distribution grid—one that Cisco has been slow to target.

In the five years since it was his intention,intellectual property was announced the building security for the Smart Grid,Cisco has taken two main routes to this vision.First used switches and routers global network of hardened the speed of the network link partners Alston and Cooper Power Systems.Second its partnership with smart meter vendor Itron began Cisco IPv6 push wireless mesh functions to link the termination points as well.

But between jobs and smart meters is a whole world of network equipment distribution,Cisco was able to slowly change target.That however.On Tuesday a new Cisco router,the IR -500 a direct connection automation the aligned distribution and sensors and controls the variety of protocols used on IP-based networks.At the same Cisco plans to show how some have chosen this feature built into their own devices for wireless mesh networks partners,Cisco has used in a small but growing number of utilities to client window join BC Hydro.

We have a lot of progress came with Itron and AMI implementations and now we are moving,product management for Cisco Field Area Network (FAN ) solutions son,told me in October 1 interview.In BC Hydro began to spend a panel of Itron smart meter RF wireless mesh network routers from Cisco support grid and provides all 1.9 million meters on the Cisco technology race this year.It took a few years to make this mesh network flagship Cisco IPv6 and execution.But how to Itron smart meters.it can also begin to connect to another device in the distribution system.One of the first a sensor mesh is called Linewatch,defense UKbased built better known for his work on combat aircraft,unmanned military robots and cyber military projects for Smart grid.QinetiQ by QinetiQ a technology company,such as Itron,Cisco has integrated Technology in the network technology and is in San Antonio demonstrate the DistribuTECH conference this month.

The IR-500 could significantly list of potential Cisco Mesh can extend partner,but a connection to a gateway to the DA devices to the IPv6 now networks.Right testing the Cisco router with BC Hydro,which has fully deployed a network and National Grid,which began at Worcester,Massachusetts a pilot last year.Cisco hasn’t announced any device vendors using the IR 500 yet,but it does have a long list of partners that could find it useful.For example, last year Itron,Cisco and Alstom were demonstrating how their combined technologies could help manage edge-of-grid challenges.These could include balancing the up-and-down generation profiles of rooftop solar PV with smart inverters or energy storage systems,or coordinating smart meter and grid sensor readings into the capacitor bank controllers,voltage regulators and other devices that manage feeder line voltages.

Cisco is starting now to transport other protocols on the mesh,to allow legacy devices to interact with grid control platforms without conversion into different forms.Cisco and Itron are now deploying with Duke Energy, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Hong Kong’s China Light & Power,Fortis BC and First Energy (PDF),Davis added. The Duke Energy work, which involves about 235,000 meters in North Carolina and South Carolina, will be an interesting one to watch,given that Duke is pushing for a more unified grid network topology that includes distributed intelligence functionality.something that requires a lot of clever integration of many different technologies and communications protocols.Cisco isn’t limited to linking DA devices via its IPv6 wireless mesh,however.While the mesh network can send data in seconds via meters and repeater devices in hops from one to another and back to collection points,if you need sub-second deterministic latencies,which are a must for many grid-control functions.