SDN Based High Availability Communication Network Architecture for Secondary Distribution Electric Power Grid

Abstract

Secondary Distribution Electrical Power Grid (SDEPG) is the last mile that connects end users. Dependency of communication network on the automation of SDEPG has raised the need to have High Availability (HA) communication network. Ensuring availability of communication network is essential for safe automation of SDEPG. Flexibility brought by Software Defined Networking (SDN) has made it possible to efficiently achieve HA communication network. Current literature reveals that SDN has commonly been deployed to achieve communication network resilience in primary distribution power grid which mostly use wired and leverages Internet Protocols (IP) layer only. Considering the nature of SDEPG, a combination of wired and wireless technologies is required, therefore a HA solution which cuts across all technologies and communication layers is required. In this paper a HA solution that considers both communication technologies and layer and leverages capabilities available in SDN is proposed. The solution also considers infrastructure challenges of both rural and urban areas.