This paper outlines the testing plan and the field measurement results employed in the development and implementation of Smart5Grid’s UC#4 – Real-Time Wide Area Monitoring (WAM) of interconnected systems. As the integration of 5G infrastructure gains prominence in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) domain, Smart5Grid leverages the capabilities of 5G Networks to enhance smart grid functionalities. The testing plan encompasses rigorous assessment procedures to evaluate the network performance in terms of Delay, Reliability and Availability of Smart5Grid in diverse operational scenarios between the two neighbouring countries of Greece and Bulgaria. Through detailed field measurements gathered by the Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), this study aims to validate the system's capability in seamlessly integrating distributed energy resources, optimizing grid performance, ensuring reliability and facilitating dynamic response to evolving demands and conditions. The findings from these field measurements provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and viability of integrating 5G technologies into Smart5Grid, contributing to advancements in the development of next-generation smart grid solutions.

The integration of renewable energy sources in the electrical grid imposes several operational issues for the energy markets and the transmission system operators, in particular. It is of great importance not only to detect events, but also to react in time to prevent faults in the transmission system that could lead to outages for the consumers or even to permanent damage to the energy equipment. Towards this scope, the criticality of the role of the Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) which provide readings of voltage, frequency and current, is explained in this paper. It is also discussed how the 5G network may assist in the transfer of the measurements with its low latency capabilities and high availability criteria. Based on a Smart5Grid project’s dedicated use case, the concept of 5G enhanced wide area monitoring is presented along with the associated field platform implementations both in Greece and Bulgaria. A complete list of defined Field Platform Validation Metrics is also elaborated with the equivalent targeted values.

This article presents the latency minimisation potential provided by the Smart5Grid Open Experimentation Platform (OEP) developed by the Horizon 2020 Smart5Grid Research and Innovation (R&I) project. It discusses the OEP performance and provides experimental data to substantiate its contribution to improving observability and manageability of distributed renewable generation in power grids. That experimental proof is delivered by two pilots running on the OEP: Demo 1 Millisecond Level Precise Distribution Generation Control, and Demo 2 Real-time Wide Area Monitoring (WAM) pilot of 5G virtual Phasor Data Concentrator v(PDC) capabilities for WAM of end-to-end electricity grids. This work reports two Network Applications (NetApps) created to support both demos and provides experimental evidence that the OEP offers latency of comparable measure to well-established wire-bound communications in addition to availability and reliability on top of by-design flexibility, scalability and modularity, which are especially relevant to power systems with high shares of Distributed Renewable Energy Recourses (DRERs). The software and methods used for the OEP development and experimental testbeds applied to measure its latency performance in both tailored pilot demos are explained at length. The test results are presented and interpreted with a view to discussing potential contributions of the presented 5G-enabled solutions for power grid smartification in conditions of high rollout of distributed renewable generation. All pilot demos generate openly accessible data, except where specific security restrictions are applicable.

This article presents the latency minimisation potential provided by the Smart5Grid Open Experimentation Platform (OEP) developed by the Horizon 2020 Smart5Grid Research and Innovation (R&I) project. It discusses the OEP performance and provides experimental data to substantiate its contribution to improving observability and manageability of distributed renewable generation in power grids. That experimental proof is delivered by two pilots running on the OEP: Demo 1 Millisecond Level Precise Distribution Generation Control, and Demo 2 Real-time Wide Area Monitoring (WAM) pilot of 5G virtual Phasor Data Concentrator v(PDC) capabilities for WAM of end-to-end electricity grids. This work reports two Network Applications (NetApps) created to support both demos and provides experimental evidence that the OEP offers latency of comparable measure to well-established wire-bound communications in addition to availability and reliability on top of by-design flexibility, scalability and modularity, which are especially relevant to power systems with high shares of Distributed Renewable Energy Recourses (DRERs). The software and methods used for the OEP development and experimental testbeds applied to measure its latency performance in both tailored pilot demos are explained at length. The test results are presented and interpreted with a view to discussing potential contributions of the presented 5G-enabled solutions for power grid smartification in conditions of high rollout of distributed renewable generation. All pilot demos generate openly accessible data, except where specific security restrictions are applicable.

Based on the original framework of the Smart5Grid EU-funded project, the present paper examines some fundamental features of the related platform that can be able to affect 5G implementation as well as the intended NetApps. Thus we examine: (i) the specific context of smart energy grids, enhanced by the inclusion of ICT and also supported by 5G connectivity; (ii) the cloud native context, together with the example of the cloud native VNF modelling, and; (iii) the MEC context as a 5G enabler for integrating management, control and orchestration processes. Each one is assessed compared to the state of the design and the implementation of the Smart5Grid platform. As a step further, we propose a preliminary framework for the definition of the NetApps, following to the way how the previous essential features are specifically incorporated within the project processes.

Smart grid deployment can strongly be supported and enhanced by the expansion of 5G infrastructures as the latter can offer immense opportunities to enable better efficiency, observability and controllability of the power systems, especially at the distribution side where the numbers of monitoring devices and automation equipment exponentially increase. Among the fundamental context of the original Smart5Grid EU-funded project, we focus upon two selected use cases of significant interest for the corresponding energy vertical sector. These are the millisecond level precise distributed generation monitoring and the real-time wide area monitoring. Both use cases are described, conceptually assessed and evaluated as of their proposed services, their main business goals and their benefits in various sections, with specific emphasis given on the need for the inclusion of 5G facilities.