Enabling massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) Applications for Smart Power Grid in the InterSCity Platform

The high penetration of variable and non-programmable distributed micro-generation of energy, smart buildings, smart homes, and smart meters have brought new challenges for the operation of the Power Systems. This new environment needs a smarter network considering the transformation of the simple customer of the power grid in a “Smart Customer”, and many times, in a “Prosumer” (Producer/Consumer). InterSCity, as a multidisciplinary project to develop a platform for smart cities of the future, uses digital technologies to make all services of a city more efficient and reliable, including electric power. Implementing Smart Power Grid (SPG) applications in the scope of the InterSCity platform requires: (1) data analysis algorithms to evaluate data generated by the smart devices and by the smart meters; and (2) performance evaluation of the various possible architectures to interconnect all elements of the SPG at the level of link and physical layers. In order to implement SPG applications using the software resources of the InterSCity platform, we will propose an architecture based on 5G technology to enable the massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) between the elements of the SPG. The architecture will be evaluated via simulations and emulations considering data from real meters and simulators shared by smart grid laboratories at USP and at Politecnico di Torino.