Intelligent Monitoring The Internet of Things as a Support for the Power Grid

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Publitek GmbH

Mouser Electronics, Inc.

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

Decentralization and the integration of renewable energies require increasingly complex power grids. Distributor Mouser provides information on how smarter, more resilient power grids can be achieved.

The European Union has announced investments of 584 billion euros in power grids by 2030, with 170 billion euros specifically allocated for intelligent digitalization. [footnoteRef:2] These significant investments highlight the growing importance of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a crucial factor for smarter and more resilient power grids.

IoT-enabled hardware such as communication modules, edge processors with artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced sensors provide actionable insights into network performance, allowing operators to detect and address issues before they escalate into outages. For developers, the challenge lies in designing scalable and secure components that operate in environments with numerous interference signals while ensuring minimal data latency.

The necessity of intelligent monitoring

Modern power grids face numerous challenges, including demand fluctuations, instability, and cybersecurity threats. The increasing proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels and battery storage systems has led to unpredictable dynamics in supply and demand. Voltage and frequency fluctuations can cause disruptions that require real-time adjustments. Additionally, increased connectivity introduces new vulnerabilities, necessitating robust security measures to protect against cyberattacks. The integration of variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar further complicates grid stability, requiring intelligent management systems capable of quickly adapting to fluctuating power generation.

With real-time data collection and analysis, grid operators can improve reliability and efficiency. Intelligent sensors and IoT-enabled communication systems can detect anomalies, predict outages, and develop demand management strategies. By leveraging machine learning and AI-driven algorithms, grid monitoring systems can analyze historical and real-time data to forecast consumption trends and optimize power distribution. The EU's investments in digitalization highlight the importance of intelligent monitoring as a foundation for future energy systems. IoT technology enables energy providers to shift from reactive to proactive grid management, reducing costly downtimes and enhancing overall system stability (Figure 1).

Intelligent monitoring improves efficiency and plays a crucial role in enhancing grid security. Cyber threats to critical infrastructure are a growing concern, and IoT-enabled solutions offer real-time threat detection and defense. By utilizing encrypted communication protocols, anomaly detection, and AI-driven security measures, grid operators can prevent unauthorized access and ensure data security. Additionally, with IoT-powered automation, operators can quickly respond to unexpected disruptions, minimizing the impact of outages and ensuring grid stability.

Design considerations for developers

The development of IoT hardware for power grid monitoring presents several technical challenges that must be carefully addressed. Substations and transmission networks generate significant electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can affect IoT devices. Developers must implement robust shielding techniques, advanced filtering algorithms, and interference-resistant communication protocols to ensure reliable data transmission in these high-interference environments. Hardware solutions must also be resilient to extreme weather conditions, temperature fluctuations, and potential physical tampering, especially in remote and unsecured areas.

In addition to these environmental factors, energy efficiency is a critical consideration. Grid monitoring devices are often deployed in remote locations with limited power supply. Therefore, energy-efficient hardware with ultra-low-power microcontrollers, optimized energy management systems, and energy-harvesting capabilities must be developed to extend operational lifespan. Developers need to plan for the integration of battery-backed power supplies or solar-based energy sources to maintain functionality during extended outages or low-power conditions.

Another key factor in the design of IoT devices is scalability. The grid infrastructure is constantly expanding, and monitoring solutions must account for this development. Open standard protocols and modular architectures facilitate interoperability between existing and future technologies, ensuring seamless integration into diverse grid environments. Developers need to design flexible systems capable of handling increasing data volumes while enabling easy firmware updates, remote diagnostics, and performance optimizations without requiring extensive hardware replacements.

Moreover, interoperability is crucial given the fragmented ecosystem of legacy and modern systems within the power grid. Developers should prioritize industry-standard communication protocols such as MQTT, OPC UA, and IEC 61850 to ensure seamless data exchange between different devices and platforms.

Security is also a critical concern in applications for power grids. Implementing end-to-end encryption, secure boot mechanisms, and anomaly detection algorithms can help minimize cybersecurity risks and protect critical infrastructure from potential attacks. Compliance with increasingly stringent cybersecurity regulations and industry best practices is essential for safeguarding the grid infrastructure.

Another important aspect is minimizing data latency. Grid operations require real-time data processing to enable immediate decision-making. By implementing edge AI processing capabilities, dependence on cloud computing is reduced, thereby improving response times. With AI-driven analytics, IoT devices can identify energy consumption patterns, predict outages, and optimize demand-response strategies without the delays associated with remote data centers. Low-latency computing is especially critical for frequency regulation, voltage stabilization, and real-time fault detection, where rapid responses are necessary to maintain grid stability.

Key IoT technologies for grid monitoring

Developers of IoT-enabled solutions for power grid monitoring can leverage various cutting-edge technologies to create robust and reliable systems. Communication modules play a crucial role in ensuring secure and reliable data transmission. LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network) technology enables long-range communication with low power consumption, making it ideal for remote monitoring applications. For scenarios requiring extremely low latency and high data throughput, 5G networks provide significant advantages, such as support for real-time analytics. In some applications, proprietary communication protocols are necessary to meet specific performance and security requirements, offering customized solutions for enhanced system reliability.

A good example of an effective communication solution is the 1SJ LoRaWAN module from Murata (Figure 1). This module offers compact and energy-efficient LPWAN connectivity, making it an excellent choice for grid monitoring applications. It features a high sensitivity of -137 dBm with an output power of up to +22 dBm and supports operation in the ISM bands 868 MHz and 915 MHz, ensuring reliable long-distance communication. The 1SJ module from Murata is designed for energy-efficient applications and enables longer battery life, making it particularly suitable for remote monitoring systems in grids with power constraints.

In addition to communication modules, edge AI processors and control electronics play a crucial role in grid monitoring by enabling real-time analysis and decision-making directly at the source. With their anomaly detection capabilities, these systems can identify grid disturbances and potential equipment failures before they escalate, reducing downtime and avoiding costly damages. Predictive maintenance functions analyze sensor data to anticipate component failures, optimizing maintenance schedules and extending the lifespan of equipment. Furthermore, AI-driven data compression reduces bandwidth requirements by ensuring remote monitoring systems transmit only essential information, conserving resources while maintaining efficiency.

The IoT AI System-on-a-Chip (SoC) Genio 1200 from MediaTek (Figure 2) is an example product in this category, offering powerful AI capabilities for edge computing applications. This technology enhances grid monitoring by enabling intelligent data processing at the source, minimizing latency and improving the overall system's responsiveness. AI-enabled grid monitoring solutions can also integrate advanced machine learning models to improve demand forecasting, optimize load balancing, and support self-healing networks that automatically reroute power during outages.

Another emerging technology in smart grid monitoring is the simulation of digital twins. By leveraging IoT data and AI-powered modeling, energy providers can create virtual replicas of the power grid to simulate various scenarios, test new configurations, and optimize performance before implementing changes in real environments. With digital twin technology, grid operators can identify inefficiencies, predict equipment failures, and assess the impact of renewable energy integration with unprecedented accuracy.

Conclusion

Given the increasing complexity of power grids, intelligent monitoring solutions are required that leverage IoT-enabled hardware to optimize performance, improve reliability, and enhance cybersecurity. Developers play a critical role in creating scalable, secure, and efficient monitoring systems that can withstand extreme conditions and process data with minimal latency. By integrating advanced communication modules, edge AI processors, and secure IoT devices, developers can shape the future of energy management.

As investments in smart grid infrastructure continue to grow, the deployment of cutting-edge IoT technologies will be critical to building a more resilient and intelligent power grid. The associated advancements enhance the efficiency of energy distribution while ensuring the stability and security of critical infrastructure. Through innovation and strategic design, developers can contribute to a smarter, more sustainable power grid, meeting the ever-evolving demands of a modern energy landscape. (mk)

*Mark Patrick is Director of Technical Content at Mouser Electronics.