Emerging Trends of Communications Infrastructure in Future Smart Grid

Dear Colleagues,

The prime objective of a smart grid is to enable existing power systems to be more efficient (cost-effective, eco-friendly, and reliable, etc.) by integrating communication, sensing, controlling, and cloud/edge computing assisted decision-making capability. Unlike the traditional power grid, a smart grid facilitates two-way communication between the electricity consumers and utility companies. It provides the opportunity to integrate distributed energy resources, including renewable energy resources. Different sensors and intelligent electronic devices connected with smart grids can collect various information and send the information through their communication interface for further processing, thereby paving the way for efficiently monitoring and controlling the smart grid. Having communication infrastructure that is reliable in a smart grid contributes not only to ensuring the safe operation of the smart grid but also to improving resource utilization and the power supply quality as well as proliferation of various smart grid applications, including distributed energy trading. Researchers are encouraged to submit original research contributions that explore the emerging trends of various communications aspects of future smart grids. Potential topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Network architecture and communication protocols for future smart grids.
• Cyber security in smart grids (attacks, methods, prospects, and countermeasures).
• Application of blockchain technology for smart grid communications security and resource management.
• Cloud/fog/edge/dew computing assisted reliable smart grid.
• Machine learning and artificial intelligence assisted smart grid network operation and management.
• Machine learning and artificial intelligence assisted communication infrastructure and data processing for demand response, orchestrated operation, and energy trading.

Dr. S. H. Shah Newaz
Dr. Nazmus Shaker Nafi
Dr. Yoon-Sik Yoo
Guest Editors

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