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Virtual Energy Information Network: a resilience perspective

Virtualisiertes Energieinformationsnetz: Betrachtung der Widerstandsfähigkeit

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Abstract

Increasing demand in energy consumption, missed modernisations, and the increasing difficulties in predicting power production due to volatile renewable energy sources (e.g., based on wind or sun) impose major challenges to the power grid. Power supply and power demand are closely interconnected with the need to maintain the power grid in a stable state with a sufficient quality of power. This requires energy-relevant information to be exchanged through the so called Energy Information Network. Communication, however, is challenging within the Energy Information Network due to privacy, security, resiliency, and quality-of-service requirements. Particularly, the resilience of communication within the Energy Information Network needs to be considered to maintain the power grid in a stable and controlled state. This paper suggests a Virtualised Energy Information Network (VEIN), where the Energy Information Network is divided into multiple virtual networks that run over a common substrate network. Furthermore, this paper discusses benefits of this approach in terms of privacy, security, and resilience and points out open research questions.

Zusammenfassung

Steigender Energieverbrauch, nicht durchgeführte Modernisierungen und steigende Komplexität in der Vorhersage der Produktion von erneuerbaren Energien (durch Sonne oder Wind) stellen große Herausforderungen für das Stromnetz dar. Energienachfrage und Energieversorgung sind stark verbunden mit der Notwendigkeit, das Stromnetz in einem stabilen Zustand mit hoher Stromqualität zu halten. Um das zu erreichen, müssen energiebezogene Informationen im so genannten Energieinformationsnetz ausgetauscht werden. Die Kommunikation im Energieinformationsnetz ist allerdings großen Herausforderungen unterworfen, wie etwa Anforderungen an Privatheit, Sicherheit, Widerstandsfähigkeit und Dienstgüte. Speziell die Widerstandsfähigkeit des Energieinformationsnetzes muss gewährleistet sein, um das Stromnetz in einem stabilen und kontrollierten Zustand zu halten. Dieser Beitrag schlägt ein Virtualisiertes EnergieInformationsNetz (VEIN) vor, in dem das Energieinformationsnetz in mehrere virtuelle Netze geteilt wird, die über ein gemeinsames Substratnetz laufen. Die Vorteile dieses Ansatzes werden in Bezug auf Privatheit, Sicherheit und Widerstandsfähigkeit diskutiert, und offene Forschungsfragen werden aufgezeigt.

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Notes

  1. “The term ’Smart Grid’ refers to a modernization of the electricity delivery system so it monitors, protects and automatically optimizes the operation of its interconnected elements—from the central and distributed generator through the high-voltage transmission network and the distribution system, to industrial users and building automation systems, to energy storage installations and to end-use consumers and their thermostats, electric vehicles, appliances and other household devices. The Smart Grid will be characterized by a two-way flow of electricity and information to create an automated, widely distributed energy delivery network. It incorporates into the grid the benefits of distributed computing and communications to deliver real-time information and enable the near-instantaneous balance of supply and demand at the device level.” [1]

  2. “An electrical grid is an interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers. It consists of generating stations that produce electrical power, high-voltage transmission lines that carry power from distant sources to demand centers, and distribution lines that connect individual customers.” [3]

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Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results was supported by EC’s FP7 Network of Excellence EINS (grant No. 288021)—in particular JRA7 on resilience of critical infrastructures—and by “Regionale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Beschäftigung”, Bayern, 2007–2013 (EFRE) as part of the SECBIT project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Passau, Innstraße 43, 94032, Passau, Germany

    Andreas Berl,  Michael Niedermeier,  Andreas Fischer &  Hermann de Meer

  2. School of Computing and Communication Systems, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4WA, UK

    David Hutchison

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  1. Andreas Berl
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Correspondence to Andreas Berl.

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Berl, A., Niedermeier, M., Fischer, A. et al. Virtual Energy Information Network: a resilience perspective. Elektrotech. Inftech. 130, 121–126 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00502-013-0142-4

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