Key Technologies and Protocol Comparison in Wired Communication of IoT Gateways in Smart Grids

Connect multiple devices like sensors, meters, control systems across the network and act as building blocks for communication in smart grid networks. In this study, the frequently used communication technologies and protocols including for example Ethernet, Power Line Communication (PLC) or fiber optics in the communication of smart grid and Internet of Things (IoT) gateways are evaluated. All of these technologies are pitched in terms of speed, reliability, cost, scalability, and security. The link can be ethernet and fiber optics links providing high speed communication but is relatively expensive or a PLC link can be less expensive but with lesser speed and reliability owing to electric interference. One can also cite security issues such as the shift from privacy and so forth that are important in safeguarding data away from the grid. Neither is new for IoT gateways (known to have similar future-proofing considerations) and scalability as key design dimensions follow suit as organizations need to prepare themselves for new technologies and higher data flows. Ultimately, this work provides guidelines for selecting the appropriate communication technology once the communication requirements of different smart grid applications are ordered in terms of performance, cost, and security trade-offs.