Cisco expands smart grid portfolio

Cisco unveiled the GridBlocks Architecture, a blueprint for integrating digital communications and the electric grid, including support for legacy utility communications networks. Cisco as well rolled out field area network equipment and transmission and substation switches and routers. The company is offering services to help utilities plan, design and optimize their new grid infrastructures.

Cisco's GridBlocks Architecture is designed to give utility operators a holistic view of their grid communications infrastructure during also enabling them to focus on particular components of the network that may have in a class by itself requirements. It's intended to be adaptable to these requirements, just as support for legacy infrastructure or regional compliance regulations. 

For transmission and substations, Cisco unveiled modules for its 2000 Series Connected Grid Routers that support wireless 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution, latest standard in the mobile network technology), ISDN WAN and DSL networks.  Cisco as well enhanced security on the 2000 series with intrusion prevention / intrusion detection, and support for SCADA signatures. To boot, the Cisco 2000 supports source-specific multicast for transfer and sharing of data across utility boundaries.   

For implementation, Cisco developed the Connected Grid Visualization and Design tool to allow engineers to visualize in a single interface the energy delivery network CIM diagrams, the IEC 61850 protection schema for intelligent electronic devices, and the communications network.  This helps engineers to design, model, and simulate all three networks, and standardize designs across hundreds or thousands of substations, Cisco says.