Computerize Management of Grid Elements

SCADA, short for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, is a Smart Grid distribution application providing the process control systems that enable computerized management of distribution grid elements. Distribution SCADA systems have been around for years; however, not all distribution substations have communications for SCADA and many that do have SCADA use leased lines or phone/POTS lines for communications, which are typically low bandwidth and expensive.

A Smart Grid WAN deployment can extend private communications to all substations to enable SCADA without the on-going expense of leased circuits. The WAN can provide the two-way communicates required for centralized control systems:

• Centrally monitor and control remote terminal units (RTUs)
• Centrally monitor and control programmable logic controllers (PLCs)

Distribution SCADA systems typically do not require much bandwidth and are latency tolerant but do require always-on connectivity in order to operate effectively.

The SecureMesh WAN products provide an optimal solution for distribution SCADA. The SecureMesh WAN provides a cost-effective outdoor wireless system with either a direct Ethernet connection or a serial (RS-232, RS-485) connection (via a Ethernet-to-serial adapter) to RTUs and PLCs. The SecureMesh WAN also enables communication via legacy SCADA protocols such as IEC 61850, DNP3, and Modbus as well as enabling SCADA-over-IP. Each SecureMesh WAN mesh node provides long-range links (up to 7.5 miles apart) to connect remote substations with always-on wireless communications. In addition, every link is encrypted for security and communications can be partitioned into virtual private networks (VPNs) for additional security and traffic guarantees.

With the SecureMesh WAN providing distribution networking, the Smart Grid deployment can provide cost-effective SCADA and integrate into distribution management systems (DMS) to improve grid reliability (i.e. lower SAIDI, MAIFI, CAIDI, SAIFI metrics) and distribution operations.