The National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers have created an advanced testbed to study the compatibility of 5G with microgrids and distributed energy systems, using a real-world military microgrid as a model.
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5G technology, supported by the US Department of Defense, has the potential to revolutionise industries, reports the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL researchers have created a 5G testbed to study its compatibility with microgrids and distributed energy systems, using a real-world military microgrid as a model.
The researchers tested various scenarios using the 5G network, finding that it can support distributed controls and enhance the security and resilience of power systems. 5G is designed to address the rapid growth in data and connectivity, offering faster speeds, lower latency, and better coverage compared to 4G.
The DOD funded NREL’s research on 5G and microgrids as part of its FutureG programme. This initiative aims to research and develop future generations of wireless network technologies that will succeed in 5G.
From the DOD perspective, these new technologies are critical to providing long-term economic, military and security advantages. The DOD is investigating how 5G could support expeditionary air base operations, agile combat employment and other rapid deployment scenarios.
NREL researchers found that combining 5G, distributed controls, and a renewables-based microgrid could benefit more than just the military. Utilities could also leverage these technologies to enhance distributed controls, improve network security, and boost the resilience of their power systems. The report states that the 5G wireless communication in the implemented microgrid maintained system resiliency to cyber-attacks through the distributed controller, even when nodes were taken down. As a result, the system not only recovered successfully but also continued to function as expected "at the edge between the primary and local controller."
