Virtual IEEE ISPLC 2020 – PRIME Hybrid PLC-RF Solution

For yet another year, the PRIME Alliance was pleased to participate as a Patron in the IEEE ISPLC 2020 (International Symposium on Power Line Communications and its Applications). Due to the currentCOVID-19  situation, the event was held virtually from 11 to 13 May 2020.

Miguel Ángel Sánchez Fornié (General Secretary) and Alfredo Sanz (Board Member representing Microchip) were presenting PRIME’s Hybrid PLC-RF Solution on behalf of the PRIME Alliance. Their industry Speech on 12 May revolved around three main points:

The evolution of PRIME 1.4 Multi PHY:

• Is compatible with all PRIME 1.4 legacy devices
• Includes an independent certification process to assure interoperability

PRIME is oriented to efficiently:

• Connecting PLC islands using the RF channel without all nodes having to be PLC+RF
• Use of various PLC channels available according regional regulation
• The use of the RF channel is a particular case of the efficient use of the various PLC channels
• BN select the best PLC or RF medium to communicate to SN in very point to point connection

PRIME calendar – PRIME 1.4 Multi PHY:

• Q1 2020: the specification draft document is available here
• Q2 2020: the certification draft document will be available
• 2020: the certification tool and independent certification process will be available
• Enlit 2020: the commercial solution will be available
• 2021: the field deployments will begin

Media Contact
communication@prime-alliance.org

About PRIME Alliance

PRIME (PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution) Alliance AISBL was created in 2009 to define an open and future-proofed communications PLC-based infrastructure to support large scale smart metering and other smart grid deployments. The PRIME Alliance has attracted key industry players, including Sponsoring Members El Sewedy, ZIV, Renesas and Corinex. The goal of the Alliance is to provide a framework in which the smart metering and smart grid industry have access to open detailed technical specifications in order to develop fully interoperable solutions, allowing multiple vendors to be operational within the same distribution network in one common system architecture. Detailed technical specs include Physical PHY layer and Medium Access Control MAC layer specifications.

The PRIME Alliance provides a forum for the definition, maintenance and support of an open and comprehensive standard for narrowband power line for Smart Grid products and services. The mission of the Alliance is to accelerate the demand for products and services based on this worldwide standard and promote the broad adoption and use of the specification while certifying multi-vendor interoperability and compatibility with the global standard.  The Alliance is open to all potential partners who agree to actively support and promote an open and public specification for the benefit of the end-user and all industry stakeholders. Visit www.prime-alliance.org for more information or to join the Alliance.

TECNALIA Webinar – Noise problems in PLC Communications: How to prevent them to optimize your PLC Network

On May 12^th, PRIME Member TECNALIA organized a webinar on “Noise problems in PLC Communication: How to prevent them to optimize your PLC Network”. The webinar was a complete success with 56 attendees connected from Europe, Latin America, China and the Middle East.

Power Line Communications (PLC) are used widely all around the world using the electrical network for Power Distribution. The selection of a specific technology and the resolution of problems in field must be based in a broad knowledge of the electrical disturbances that each network can support.

Basic concepts of the PLC communications were explained in addition to the methodologies that can be helpful to minimize the potential PLC communication disruptions (and associated costs) due to electrical noises. This webinar is addressed to professionals related to Smart Metering projects (utilities, manufacturers, consultants,…) and technology selection responsibles, pilot project managers and deployment coordinators in systems with potential use of PLC; manufacturers of electrical devices who want to incorporate noise detection methodologies in their designs.

Content:

• Basic concepts of PLC and electrical disturbances
• Methodology to discover where the noise come from
• Methodology to analyze the PLC technology a utility can use
• Services provided by TECNALIA using the NOISEEK platform

Speakers:

• Ibon Arechalde – Digital Lab Services Director
• Oriol Munne – Internationl Lab Services Director

Don’t miss the recording about the entire webinar:

Getting to grips with smart grid communications – Smart Energy International Webinar

On March 11th, 2020, Miguel Ángel Sánchez Fornié (Secretary General of the PRIME Alliance) participated as a speaker in the webinar organized by Smart Energy International focused on the communication technology in the smart grid.

This webinar highlights the smart grid as “an electric network capable of two way electricity and data flows that can detect, react to changes in the network, that has self-healing capabilities and allows electricity customers to actively participate in the system.”

Mr Sánchez Fornié highlights the importance of the smart grid bearing in mind two global realities of today: climate change and digital transformation. Today’s energy management needs to become more efficient, which smart meters and the smart grid can help achieve with telecommunications.

Register online and watch the full recording here!

Media Contact
communication@prime-alliance.org

About PRIME Alliance

PRIME (PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution) Alliance AISBL was created in 2009 to define an open and future-proofed communications PLC-based infrastructure to support large scale smart metering and other smart grid deployments. The PRIME Alliance has attracted key industry players, including Sponsoring Members El Sewedy, ZIV, Renesas and Corinex. The goal of the Alliance is to provide a framework in which the smart metering and smart grid industry have access to open detailed technical specifications in order to develop fully interoperable solutions, allowing multiple vendors to be operational within the same distribution network in one common system architecture. Detailed technical specs include Physical PHY layer and Medium Access Control MAC layer specifications.

The PRIME Alliance provides a forum for the definition, maintenance and support of an open and comprehensive standard for narrowband power line for Smart Grid products and services. The mission of the Alliance is to accelerate the demand for products and services based on this worldwide standard and promote the broad adoption and use of the specification while certifying multi-vendor interoperability and compatibility with the global standard.  The Alliance is open to all potential partners who agree to actively support and promote an open and public specification for the benefit of the end-user and all industry stakeholders.

Visit www.prime-alliance.org for more information or to join the Alliance.

European Utility Week – Paris – November 12 to 14, 2019

The European Utility Week hosts the environment for all key players in the smart energy ecosystem to come together and discuss European strategy to achieve a smooth transition towards a low carbon energy supply.

The 3-day event has the aim of exploring four key areas in European energy: Digitalization, Decarbonization, Energy Markets and Innovationoffers a strategic and policy forming environment, by bringing together C-level experts and innovative thinkers within the utility industry and offering the right platform to brainstorm and strategize about the industry’s challenges ahead. The numerous Hub sessions allows the attendees to network in an exclusive topic-led setting, by creating the right environment to help utilities tackle the challenges they face in an ever-changing environment.

PRIME Alliance is a Silver Sponsor and will be hosting a booth (Q120) at the Exhibition. In addition, please join us:

– Celebrating 10 years of PRIME Alliance at Booth Q120 (Tuesday 12/Nov | 17:00 onwards)

– EUW Summit: The Digital Utility Transformation (Wednesday 13/Nov | 11:55-12:30)

Miguel Ángel Sánchez Fornié, Secretary General – PRIME Alliance

– EUW Digitalization Hub: DIGITALISATION 2 Smart Metering (Wednesday 13/Nov | 11:00-11:20)

Bharath Mohenchander, SVP Sales – Corinex Communications

Join PRIME in Paris – Register now!

PRIME UTILITY TO UTILITY USER GROUP CONFERENCE – September 5, 2019

Munich, Germany

The 5th annual PRIME  Utility-to-Utility User Group Conference organized by the PRIME Alliance will take place on September 5^th in Munich. Over 50 participants from more than 25 utility companies based in Europe, Africa and the Middle East will attend the conference to exchange practical experience from smart metering concept design and roll-outs.

The agenda includes Smart Metering and Smart Grid deployment presentations by CEZ, EDP, Iberdrola and Naturgy. These utilities share valuable information on deployment tools, integration of new processes in the company, applications beyond Smart Metering, and lessons learnt during their ongoing commercial deployments based upon the open PRIME standard. Check out the full programme now!

The conference is free of charge to attend and the utilities participating do not need to be PRIME Members. It is an open conference where quality experiences, realities and information will be exchanged in an open, transparent and trusted manner among colleagues. Please kindly R.S.V.P. to the workshop, by filling out this registration form by August 26th. 

AFRICAN UTILITY WEEK – May 14 to 16, 2019

Cape Town, South Africa

The annual African Utility Week is the leading conference and trade exhibition for African power, energy and water professionals. This market leading trade Exhibition is the first port of call for senior decision makers from utilities, governments, large power users, IPPs, consultants, contractors and regulators to source the latest solutions or to meet new clients and suppliers.

The 2019 event brings the addition of POWERGEN Africa, adding an expanded focus on Generation (Including renewables, off grid, fossil fuels and nuclear) while still concentrating on transmission and distribution (including metering), new technologies (including storage, mini grids, micro grids, IOT and ICT systems) and of course water.

The PRIME Alliance is a Silver Sponsor and will participate in two Key Activities:

• Open standardisation advances towards smart metering specification Panel (15/05 at 11:45)
• Utility Lunch Workshop* (15/05 at 12:30)
• Broadband Powerline Hub session (15/05 at 15:00) 

* The workshop is free of charge to attend and the participants do not need to be PRIME Members. It is an open event where utility experiences of implementation of PRIME solutions will be presented followed by lunch. Please kindly RSVP by completing the online registration form.

Detailed information about the AUW 2019 (programme, registration forms, organizational information, contact details) is available on the event’s website.

IEEE International Symposium on Power Line Communications – April 3 to 5, 2019

Prague, Czech Republic

The 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Power Line Communications and its Applications (ISPLC) is the 23^rdsymposium dedicated to scientific and technical advances in the field of communications over power lines. The event is sponsored by IEEE Communications Society (IEEE ComSoc). The conference will be held in Praha, the capital of the Czech Republic, from April 3^rd to 5^th , 2019. The motto of IEEE ISPLC 2019 is “Smarter Applications for Smarter Future”.

The symposium focuses on industrial applications of power line communications, theoretical and practical aspects of communications theory, algorithms, channel and noise measurements, EMC, simulations and real implementations, evaluation and lessons from field trials and related experience, network planning, installation, operation and management, protocols, cybersecurity, standards and regulations pertaining to communications via power lines, and related topics.

Traditionally, one of the main features of ISPLC is strong participation of the industry, bringing together researchers, practitioners and users of PLC technologies. The symposium will include a series of keynote speeches and experts’ panel talks, as well as an industry exhibition focusing on PLC applications (for Smart Grids as well as other areas of application).

On April 5^th, PRIME Alliance will be presenting the “PRIME v1.4: the deployment in Egypt”.

For more information, please visit http://isplc2019.ieee-isplc.org/

UTILITIES TELECOM COUNCIL AMERICA LATINA (UTCAL) – March 27 to 29, 2019

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Utilities Telecom Council is hosting their annual Latin American Summit on the transformation in utility digital, taking place from March 27th to 29th in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This international summit gathers utilities and regulatory authorities, suppliers and consulting companies, debating the future of the telecommunication/IT/OT in this industry.

The PRIME Alliance is a Gold Sponsor and will participate to two sessions:

• Utility Dinner Workshop on 27/03 at 18:30*
• Conference session on 28/03 at 17:00

* The workshop is free of charge to attend and the utilities participating need not be PRIME Members. It is an open event for utilities where utility experiences of implementation of PRIME solutions will be presented by Iberdrola and EDP followed by dinner. Please kindly R.S.V.P. to the workshop, by filling out this registration form.

Detailed information about the UTCAL 2019 (programme, registration forms, organizational information, contact details) is available on the event’s website.