Journal of Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA) (2019)

Vol.01/ No. 01
Pages: 12-20
https://www.irojournals.com/iroeea/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36548/jeea.2019.1.002

REVIEW ON IOT BASED SMART GRID ARCHITECTURE

S. R. Mugunthan,
Associate Professor, Department of computer science and engineering,
Sriindu College of engineering and technology, Hyderabad, India.
Email id: srmugunth@gmail.com

Dr. T. Vijayakumar,
Professor,
Department of ECE,
Guru Nanak Institute of Technology,
Hyderabad, India.
Email: vishal_16278@yahoo.co.in

Abstract: There is a rapid development in Internet of Things and Smart Grid technologies in the recent days. In this paper,
an extensive survey of Internet of Things (IoT) based Smart grid environments is done. These technologies, when used in
combination offer energy optimization and user friendliness in terms on monitoring and controlling of electronic devices.
The software solutions, challenges such as stability in connection, communication, cost and information privacy and security
is also discussed broadly. This work exposes new perspectives and knowledge for researchers who work on interdisciplinary
domains.

Keywords: IoT, Smart Grid, Data Security, Smart Buildings, Communication Technologies

1. Introduction

The distribution of digital power is increasing greatly day by day. The existing power grids are converted into
smart grids so as to meet the growing power requirements. Information is accumulated from sensors, smart meters
and several other devices for the sake of analysis and understanding. For the purpose of implementing IoT in
smart grids, mobility support, location awareness, distributed coordination and latency sensitivity are to be
considered. Smart Grid systems in combination with IoT can assist the consumption, distribution, transmission
and generation of energy [3]. IoT allows smart monitoring and control of smart grid [8], [10].

In electronics connected via internet, smart plugs, home gateways and smart meters, application of IoT
facilitates proficient resource management. The consumers can obtain information regarding consumption of
energy and price on a real-time basis thereby moderate the energy consumption. The producer can forecast energy
requirement and moderate distribution. Hence the system serves beneficial to both ends [7]. Millions of users

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Journal of Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA) (2019)
Vol.01/ No. 01
Pages: 12-20
https://www.irojournals.com/iroeea/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36548/jeea.2019.1.002

interact with smart grids and its information flow. It is important to focus on scalability of this system. Cloud
computing serves as an optimal solution for this purpose.

Several architectures such as event processing for load forecasting, lambda, kappa and cyclic architectures
are designed and implemented for processing the data generated by these systems. In IoT based Smart Grid
architectures, the components communicate with each other through the internet. Resource constraint and scarcity
of spectrum are major issues in the wireless nodes of these systems [8]. Pan Wang et al [10] presented a
programming model and fog based architecture that serves the requirements of smart grid. The paper also
demonstrates its operation on a smart electric automobile prototype for the purpose of evaluation.

2. Literature Review
A. Internet of Things

Several elements and objects pertaining to a system are interlinked via IoT with the help of digital
controllers, meters and sensors [4]. This interlinking allows remote control and monitor of the devices [17]. This
system allows generation and accumulation of data via internet with zero human interaction [19]. Applying IoT
in an energy based environment has led to the development of Internet of Energy (IoE). Several attacks occur
while using IoT namely network, software, cryptanalysis, environmental, side-channel and physical attacks [18].

Figure 1: Internet of Things

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Journal of Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA) (2019)
Vol.01/ No. 01
Pages: 12-20
https://www.irojournals.com/iroeea/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36548/jeea.2019.1.002

IoT is dependent on application programming interfaces (APIs) and several other technologies like cloud,
machine learning, AI, predictive analytics, big data management and so on. The challenges and opportunities of
IoT can be explored by enabling technologies, enhancing the connectivity models and realizing the
transformational potentials.

Smart Grid System

The energy efficiency of smart grids helps optimization of buildings and other smart infrastructures. It
allows data transfer along with the flow of current in both directions between grid and the building, hence
providing real time feedback making the system more interactive and flexible [4]. Smart grid is a combination of
digital communication along with electricity supply network. Smart grids are composed of Smart homes and
buildings. Implementation of IoT in buildings increase the cost factor, but are still pursued as the benefits surpass
the drawbacks.

In order to improve the efficiency while maintaining the energy requirements of the building, several
innovative technologies and devices are invented. In traditional buildings, application of IoT leads to
environmental safety, sustainability, comfort and increased efficiency. Smart grids provides the control to the
consumers. It also benefits industries, institutions, retail stores and enterprises in tracking power consumption.
Smart grids also have notable features like self-repair, ensuring leakage proof power supply of good quality,
encouraging consumer to participate in the operations of the grid.

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Journal of Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA) (2019)
Vol.01/ No. 01
Pages: 12-20
https://www.irojournals.com/iroeea/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36548/jeea.2019.1.002

Figure 2: Architecture of Smart Grid

B. IoT based Smart Grid Architectures

Application of IoT in smart grids allows sharing of information between all components in the grid. In
implementing smart cities with smart grids, IoT has a crucial role to play. IoT also enables smart energy
management. Strong sensing capabilities and higher connectivity features of smart meters are exploited by IoT.
The consumption patterns can be understood in large scale environments and can be used for optimization of
energy and billing. Vasos Hadjioannou et al [11] worked on improving the privacy and security factors in the IoT
based smart grids.

There are several challenges in implementing these systems. The major challenge is safety and privacy.
It is essential to enforce safety in data collection, control messages, monitoring of equipment and notification
transmission. Other factors to be considered include confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication,
nonrepudiation and access control. Several passive attacks like release of message contents and traffic analysis
and active attacks like denial of service, jamming, False Data Injection (FDI) and masquerade are to be addressed.
For this purpose, firewalls and encryption techniques are considered. Flocking-based model, warning systems,
Jamming Attack Detection Based on Estimation (JADE), Cryptographic Keys, Real-Time Detection of False Data
Injection, Minimizing Message Delay under Jamming Conditions, Aggregated Key Encryption, Intrusion
Detection and such solutions are explored by several researchers.

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Journal of Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA) (2019)
Vol.01/ No. 01
Pages: 12-20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.36548/jeea.2019.1.002

Figure 3: Smart Grid Architecture based on IoT [8]

3. Challenges in Implementation of IoT based Smart Grids

The system response in smart grids reallocates the surplus power to the area where there is shortage in power
locally. This improves the efficiency of the system. Similarly, it can work efficiently in several scenarios. It is
essential to establish communication between systems. For proper communication, IoT needs fast internet
connectivity. Low connectivity leads to reduction in optimality of redistribution of power. Small latency and quick
response is a major requirement for smooth communication among the components in smart grid. Collection of
scalable data is a major challenge due to the lack of tools for live analysis.

Also, during severe disasters, it is difficult to collect data and enable event logging hardware. It is also
essential to implement cloud storage as the data will be streamed in large quantities while implementing the system
in smart cities.

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Journal of Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA) (2019)
Vol.01/ No. 01
Pages: 12-20
https://www.irojournals.com/iroeea/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36548/jeea.2019.1.002

B. Cost

It is simpler to establish a wireless network whereas, implementation of wired network involves proper
planning and installation. While implementing smart grids, power failure are intolerable. This factor may lead to
increased cost of implementation [13]. Despite the huge implementation costs, smart grids and IoT save large
amounts of energy by rerouting power instantly on detection of power failure. Installation of smart meters are
implemented in real time in France, USA and several countries along with the connection of several devices to
IoT.

In certain application of IoT in smart grid, power distribution, transmission and distribution causes severe
electromagnetic interference. To avoid this, the chips and equipment are to be made to withstand low and high
temperature variations, with anti-vibration and anti-electromagnetic capabilities, enabled with water and dust-
proof systems and new technologies so as to improve the lifetime of the module.

C. Information Security

Smart grids and IoT are vulnerable to several security issues. Internet based security issues, cyber threats,
resource constraints, data privacy, trust management, authorization and authentication, data integrity, cyber-
attacks, scalability, confidentiality and identity spoofing are some of the commonly faced issues. Security tools
such as deep packet inspection and information management tools can provide security to a certain extent in IoT
based smart grids. These techniques can address specific vulnerabilities and secure data threads. Wired networks
are prone to physical damage and interruption. In case of wireless networks, despite strong encryption techniques,
the data packets tend to be seized and decrypted in certain cases.

Cameras and sensors in smart environment can capture every movement and attract cybercriminals.
Hence it is essential to create a secure environment and avoid leakage and misuse of data. Block chain and similar
platforms can be used to ensure this security [1]. Poor design in the system may lead to vulnerabilities and bugs.
It is difficult to integrate reliable and complex security methods due to the power constraints in IoT and smart
meters [6]. The most frequent threats to information security includes remote controlling of smart meters, violation
of confidentiality of consumers, alteration of energy transaction and grid destabilization, data monitoring for
falsified reasons.

4. Conclusion

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Journal of Electrical Engineering and Automation (EEA) (2019)
Vol.01/ No. 01
Pages: 12-20
https://www.irojournals.com/iroeea/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36548/jeea.2019.1.002

The combination of smart grid and IoT are discussed thoroughly with its components and software
solutions. Smart city and home management with smart energy savings is also discussed. The challenges of the
system such as privacy and security, connection stability, communication and cost are deliberated along with the
prescription of some solutions to overcome the issues. The existing systems that integrate smart grids and internet
of things are reviewed. The applications, architecture and vision of the systems are described. The network
functions are improved at power utilization, distribution, transmission and generation.

The applications of the system includes power equipment installation surveillance, application of
dynamic scheduling for adjustment of home consumption, parking and charging of electric vehicles, management
of supply and demand of power, power supply equipment maintenance, detection of failure and faults and so on.
Future work is focussed on addressing the challenges in each layer of architecture for factors like energy
acquisition, communication, congestion, handling huge data, standardization, trust management, identity
spoofing, scalability and so on.

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