Internet of Things (IoT) for Smart Grids: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

- Internet of Things has made small objects and things to be networked and interconnected, and even connected to the Internet in order to offer advanced control and monitoring services. Smart embedded devices along with intelligent decision-making ability will increase the efficiency of services in different domains including a smart grid. A smart grid is an electrical power system that contains all of the activities of the electrical power system connected together by a smart communication system. It includes main energy generation sources, renewable energy resources, smart meters, and smart appliances. It uses communication technology to improve fault detection, reduce power waste and enhance the self-healing features of the grid. Smart grids employ various devices for the monitoring, analysis, and control of the grid, deployed at power plants, distribution centers and in consumers’ premises in a very large number. Hence, an smart grids requires connectivity, automation and the tracking of such devices. This is achieved with the help of the Internet of Things. Internet of Things helps smart grids systems to support various network functions throughout the generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption of energy by incorporating Internet of Things devices (such as smart meters, sensors and actuators), as well as by providing the connectivity, automation and tracking for such devices. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey on the Internet of Things of smart grids systems. This survey also highlights the open issues, challenges and future research directions for Internet of Things of smart grid systems. wide adoption in information sensing, transmission and processing,