Tweakers · Technologie

Alliander's 'Third Network': Telecom's Role in Smart Grids

Alliander highlights the critical telecom network, a 'third network' alongside electricity and gas, essential for reliable communication in smart grids. This layer ensures meters and components function correctly.

A weak telecom layer causes grid visibility issues, delayed fault detection, and unreliable data, impacting smart devices like solar panels and charging stations.

Smart meters are now part of a broader energy infrastructure. Reliable data streams from meters, routers, and stations are vital for grid management.

Alliander manages over 3.2 million smart meters and tens of thousands of routers for remote data retrieval, crucial for grid performance insights.

A challenge is equipment lifespan versus rapid mobile network changes. Alliander aims to reduce dependency on single telecom technologies.

Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) allows remote SIM changes, enhancing flexibility and meter longevity. New meters from 2027 will feature this.

Alliander uses its own 450MHz network for robust communication, especially in difficult environments. LTE-M on 450MHz is suited for reliable, small data packets.

An automated Zabbix system monitors 30,000 routers, providing insights into connectivity and enabling proactive issue resolution for a more dynamic energy system.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.