NRG-5: Realising decentralised, secure & trusted plug and play

Benefits for the Energy Sector

The emerging neighbourhood market of energy and energy services, in the context of a local microgrid, aims at maximising microgrid self-consumption and reducing energy exchange to the higher-level grid.  

Possible approaches include a low voltage (LV) network with high Renewable Energy Source (RES) penetration, supplied by a medium voltage / low voltage (MV/LV) transformer (microgrids usually have only one point of connection with the main grid, which is the MV/LV transformer) or an MV grid with high RES penetration, supplied by a high voltage / medium voltage (HV/LV) transformer (as the connection point with the main grid). 

In this context, prosumers may have excess energy e.g. produced by photo-voltaic (PV) resources as well as storage space, giving them the flexibility to meet the demand of other consumers. The driver is therefore to leverage the opportunities emerging from prosumers interested in selling their energy or offering flexibility / balancing services inside the local microgrid. 

In the context of a high penetration of Distributed Generation in urban and suburban areas, Distribution System Operators (DSOs) are looking at technologies that enable real-time observability of electrical parameters to quickly discover abnormal conditions, outages and perform a prompt big data analysis. This scenario aims at evaluating real-time data availability, bringing new advantages to DSOs as smart grid actors. New roles like data managers, intermediating between third parties and final customers could thereby merge, such as peer-to-peer energy exchange and interaction with an aggregator. 

In the context of 5G, such a scenario gives new inputs for transforming energy network monitoring in terms of operational and financial impacts. 

NRG-5 Advances

Targeting the Smart Energy vertical domain, NRG-5 defines use cases covering all three groups of Machine Type Communications (MTC)  while also investigating how already defined 5G radio features could be used in Energy use cases. 

One of the main objectives of NRG5 project is to achieve a truly decentralised, secure and trusted plug ‘n’ play by combining MTC VNFs and inherited physical functions of low-end devices with a focus on smart meters. Using distributed key management mechanisms enables easy and real-time identification of a huge number of automated devices (e.g. smart meters, PMUs, smart grid sensors, UAVs/drones), so that network auto-configuration can be achieved automatically. 

Self-organisation and unified AAA will be achieved in a homogeneous manner to address multi-tenancy under geographically unbound mobility scenarios. What’s more, secure communications will be achieved irrespective of the network service provided and the physical entity initiating the connection.

In terms of ITU 5G functionalities, NRG-5 investigates:

• mMTC via vast number of smart meters. 

• uMTC as most VNFs require real-time control of smart energy services (e.g. drones, PMUs). 

• Inclusion of xMEC VNF extensions for Terminals Self-Discovery (vTSD), Self-Organising Networks (vSON), Mobility Management Entity (vMME), Blockchains Processing (vBCP) and Authentication, Authorisation, and Accounting (vAAA)

About this demonstration 

Testbed locations: Paris (France); Aachen (Germany)

Pilot Site: Terni (Italy)

Date: Q4-2018

Vertical Partners involved: ASM Terni SpA, eMOTION Srl

Also involved: Engineering - Ingegneria Informatica SpA (Coordinator), BT, Optimum, Power Ops Ltd, Singular Logic, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Sterea Ellada (TEISTE), Thales,  Wind Tre SpA, UPMC Sorbonne University, Romanian Energy Centre(CRE), Energy Research Centre at RWTH Aachen University Jozef Stefan Institute, Keysight Technologies, Málaga University. 

Other Partners: Engie Ineo, E.ON Energy Research Centre at RWTH Aachen University, Hispasat - Satellite Communications SA, ROMGAZ SA,  Visiona SA, Optimum

NRG-5 Website | @5GPPP_NRG5