PLTE Testing of Utility Use Cases in Support of Grid Modernization

ComEd is exploring PLTE as an option for flexibility to advanced network design and deployment. An Ericsson PLTE lab environment was established at ComEd’s Maywood Technical Center facility where an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) was installed along with 1 of 2 Radio Access Network (RAN) sites. Another RAN site was deployed in an outdoor location in Kent, Illinois. For the pilot testing, an experimental license was granted by the FCC for US Band 8 at both locations with an uplink and downlink of 1.4MHz. Test cases for PLTE consisted of peer-to-peer recloser communication using IEC 61850 GOOSE and IntelliTeam (S&C’s proprietary DNP3 protocol), SCADA DNP3 communication, failover from a fiber primary path to a secondary PLTE path, and IP camera video streaming for equipment monitoring and security applications. Results show that PLTE can be integrated with fiber optics as a hybrid solution for utility applications. Overall, use cases were validated successfully, and lessons learned from the testing experience will help to pave the path forward as ComEd begins to adopt PLTE as a hybrid option for building out an advanced communication network.