A Hybrid Communications Network Approach for Advanced Applications on the Modern Grid Place your chosen image here. The four corners must just cover the arrow tips. For covers, the three pictures should be the same size and in a straight line. 2017 CIGRE Grid of the Future Symposium John-Paul H. Knauss, PE
Private Telecom Network Key Stats Private Network Fiber Route Miles... 1311 T-1 Circuits...400 Protection.250 Radio Circuits.350 EMS Circuits 500 Voice Circuits 400 Total Circuits.... 1,900 Radio Sites. 81 Comm Rooms 74 Alarm Status Systems 125 Batteries & Chargers 125 NE & Upstate NY Leased Circuits T-1's. 500 EMS. 1473 GEMS. 243 Radio. 124 Other. 1311 Total Lines... 3651 % BW Leased vs Private = 53% (approximate) 2
Private Telecom Network More than 1300 route miles of backbone fiber Most backbone fiber is either wholly owned by National Grid or by others with National Grid having Indefeasible Right to Use (IRU) Optical transport is SONET platform with DWDM on backbone Legacy Equipment Alcatel Lucent DMX Platform with some DDM-2000 Approximately 141 optical nodes deployed, mostly at transmission substations and Control Centers GE JMUX in substations for protective relay applications RFL IMUX in substations for protective relay applications Digital cross connect systems Tellabs 532 (1/0) Microwave Sites Approximately 81 radio tower sites Mostly Alcatel MDR and Aviat (Harris) microwave equipment deployed Microwave radios use TDM platform at 155Mbs or 45Mbs 3
Microwave / Radio Tower Sites 4
Electric Substations 5
Typical Transmission Substation Backup SCADA Backup Control Center SONET Ring SUBSTATION B Protective Relay B-A Primary SCADA Protective Relay B-A POTS Control Center SUBSTATION A Protective Relay A-B Protective Relay A-B POTS SUBSTATION C Protective Relay C-A National Grid Fiber SONET Optical Transport All fiber routes separated by 3 feet minimum Protective Relay A-C POTS 6
Transmission Substation Communications Physical Security AMAG card readers and access control system Video cameras Monitoring and Control: Energy Managements System (EMS) - EMS RTU data & Wide Are Network (WAN) Metering Wired and Wireless for Power Control Gas Energy Managements System (GEMS) RTU and Wide Are Network (WAN) Digital Fault Recorders (DFR s) for event analysis System Protection: Bulk power system protection per NPCC Criteria Dispatch Radio Radio communications from Dispatch and Control Centers to field operations mobile radio Telephone Talk lines for NPCC Black Start Procedures E911 7
Distribution & Sub-Transmission Legacy Communications Historically, National Grid has remotely monitored and controlled thousands of intelligent devices on their distribution, sub-transmission, and transmission systems through a combination of both private networks as well as cellular communications platforms that were provided in a hosted, Software as a Service (SaaS), environment. Annual SaaS cost was ~ $400,000 for communication with 1732 reclosers at 70kb/device/month. Analog updates once a week. Binary updates twice a day statically, with unsolicited report-by-exception. SaaS offerings provided to National Grid: Cellular communications AT&T 2G & 3G network, monitoring and maintenance Web portal Visibility to the recloser data, event based actions, group notifications and commissioning aid. DNP Server SCADA interface. The AT&T 2G service was sunset at the end of 2016. To maintain communications beyond 2016, all 1732 recloser locations required a site visit to upgrade the hardware. 8
Recloser Upgrade Sites Across Service Territory Recloser Automation Scheme 3024 distribution line reclosers across the system Approximately 35 sectionalizing reclosers installed on the 34.5kV Sub-Transmission system in UNY. 3059 total reclosers Approximately 1939 reclosers with telemetry to SCADA. 9
New Hybrid Communication Network Architecture Experience gained through Smart Grid, Volt / VAr Optimization (VVO), and new technology demonstration pilots, illustrated that the future of communications technologies deployed across the system would require a flexible model. From a functionality perspective, there is a need to support various types of communications technologies as application requirements can vary greatly, and dictate acceptable solutions. With a varying service territory inclusive of existing pockets of private RF infrastructure, as well as remote locations where further network buildout can be difficult to justify, the concept of a hybrid connectivity model became critical for sustainability. Modern network architectures for system critical operations require low-latency, a high degree of availability, reliability, serviceability, security, and redundancy with varied degrees of cost and complexity. 10
Private IP Network Overview Layer 3 MPLS virtual private network solution facilitates secure connectivity to multiple hub locations, enabling system redundancy, and failover capability. 11
High-Level MPLS VRF Topology A network architecture was developed that would allow data from field devices to integrate to both primary back-office systems (e.g., data concentrators, SCADA, management portal, etc.) as well as secondary (backup) facilities should they be warranted. Cyber security was a primary focus during the entire network design and was embedded from inception to implementation, complete with PEN testing and validation. New virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) solutions were identified to establish desired connectivity to all required facilities, including both primary and backup System Control Centers, and Data Centers 12
High-Level MPLS VRF Topology High Level MPLS VRF Topology National Grid CNI Site #1 Site #2 Site #3 Data Center Existing VRF New VRF for Access from VSTIGs to Site #1 and Site #2 for New York Reclosers Only New VRF for Access from VSTIGs to Site #2 and Site #3 for New England Reclosers Only Existing VRF Primary Path VSTIGS #1 VSTIGS #2 Secondary Path New VRF for New York VzW Access New VRF for New England VzW Access Each VzW VRF will have a Separate IP Address Pool 13
Single Facility Physical Technology Model Example Verizon MPLS Network 2 NEW VRFs (New for NY Reclosers) 2 NEW VRFs (New for NE Reclosers) Router #1 Router #2 Loopback Loopback Supported by Verizon NOC Interface Gi 0/0/3 1 - VLAN A 0.0.0.0 /27 1 - VLAN B 0.0.0.0 /27 2 - VLAN C 0.0.0.0 /27 3 - VLAN D 0.0.0.0 /27 4 - VLAN E 0.0.0.0 /26 5 - VLAN F 0.0.0.0 /26 5 - VLAN G 0.0.0.0 /26 CE Router HSRP 1 - VLAN A 0.0.0.0 /27 1 - VLAN B 0.0.0.0 /27 2 - VLAN C 0.0.0.0 /27 3 - VLAN D 0.0.0.0 /27 4 - VLAN E 0.0.0.0 /26 5 - VLAN F 0.0.0.0 /26 5 - VLAN G 0.0.0.0 /26 Interface Gi 0/0/3 1 - VLAN A 0.0.0.0 /27 1 - VLAN B 0.0.0.0 /27 2 - VLAN C 0.0.0.0 /27 3 - VLAN D 0.0.0.0 /27 4 - VLAN E 0.0.0.0 /26 5 - VLAN F 0.0.0.0 /26 5 - VLAN G 0.0.0.0 /26 Supported by National Grid New Switch (Managed by National Grid) 2 Port Ether-channel New LAN Switch New Switch (Managed by National Grid) New England Recloser Server x 12 CNI Network CNI firewall QA Firewall Production Firewall IP Address Pool Size 30 IP address for Grid Device Servers Note: Connections to the CNI network does not show all details due to security concerns. 14
Device Connectivity Example 15
Device Connectivity Given the varying nature of both legacy and modern control equipment deployed across the service territory, both serial and Ethernet connectivity was required. In most cases, Verizon 4G / LTE Cellular based multi-service connected routers were used to replace the legacy cellular based modems. The router s port forwarding functionality, on-board terminal server, and firewall, was leveraged to simultaneously accommodate both serial and Ethernet communications in a single, secure, package. This approach results in a truly plug and play, IP addressable, solution for any device on the network. These new edge routers communicate through the Verizon Cloud (routed via MPLS) to National Grid owned RTUs / data concentrators located at System Control Centers. Currently integrating satellite links to the wireless gateways / PIP network for additional flexibility. Pilot demonstrations have taken place and currently integrating Enterprise solutions. The PI Data Historian system is being used to archive operational data for analytics. 16
Private RF Network Integration Worcester Smart Energy Solutions Demonstration ~200 Grid Devices on 3.65GHz. Point-to-Multipoint Private WiMAX Network ~15,000 electric meters on Private 900MHz. mesh network / cellular backhaul RI VVO Trilliant Private 5.8GHz. Radio System - ~35 devices 4RF Private Licensed 900MHz. Point-to-Multipoint Radio Areas in MECO / NECO regions Upgrades to older GE MAS systems w/ ~60 remote units New IP based 4RF units currently considered where network availability is reasonable to achieve 4RF Private Licensed 700 MHz. Point-to-Multipoint Radio System Nantucket Island GE MDS Private (Unlicensed) 900MHz. Point-to-Multipoint Radio System Western New York, ~ 200 Devices Upstate NY DA Schemes with Private Point-to-Point 900MHz. Radio Systems UtiliNET Radios S&C SpeedNet Radios 17
Implementation Challenges Strict risk management policies resulted in extensive time required to implement and test individual network changes. 90+ required network changes Each network change was implemented individually and required a subsequent 48hr window for testing and validation. Development of new processes was required to ensure a fluid deployment and cutover to the new system. Training and Documentation New technology (i.e., hardware) required training for all impacted Engineering and Operations personnel. New processes rolled out to all impacted stakeholders. Extensive reference documentation required for sustainability. 18
Functional Network Benefits Remote management of field devices through a secure Corporate portal: Device configuration Device security Remote Record Retrieval 2-way file transfer (remote firmware, settings, etc.) Network and security management embedded in the design of the network architecture allowing for real-time monitoring and proactive action should anomalies be detected or when general maintenance is required (e.g., Syslog, SNMP, etc.) SCADA Near Real-Time Data Remote Record Retrieval FUNCTIONALITY Remote Configuration Remote Device Troubleshooting Advanced Applications Support Data Historian Legacy Telemetry Solution YES NO NO NO NO NO LIMITED New Network Architecture YES YES YES YES YES YES YES 19
Questions John-Paul H. Knauss (John-Paul.Knauss@nationalgrid.com) 20