Smart grid evolution and mobile communications—Scenarios on the Finnish power grid

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2021.107367Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Analysis of the current and potential convergence between power grids and mobile communications in multiple, different power grid evolution scenarios created by using a formal scenario planning process.

  • Power grids and communications can be expected to become more tightly integrated.

  • Mobile communications and cloud computing are key enablers in the most transformative consumer-centric and grid-management-centric power grid scenarios.

  • Beyond-5G features are required both for the evolutionary and the most transformative scenarios.

  • Both the power grid and the communications industries deal with networked infrastructures. Thus, in the future, similarities could also be expected in the business model evolution of these two industries.

Abstract

This paper focuses on the evolution of the Finnish power grid until 2035 and the role of mobile communications networks in this evolution. It outlines alternative futures (i.e. scenarios) and identifies the role of mobile communications networks in these scenarios. The paper uses an established scenario planning process and a group of experts to determine three scenarios for the evolution of services offered to customers in a future electricity system and four scenarios describing the evolution of grid management. Finally, the role of mobile communications (cellular networks) is analyzed in each of the scenarios. Results show that mobile networks can serve as a key enabler in those scenarios where smart grid evolution would be the most transformative.

Keywords

Smart grid
Mobile networks
Cellular networks
Communications
3GPP
Anticipatory action learning
Scenario planning

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