Holonic Architecture for IT infrastructure of Smart Electric Power Distribution Grid

Smart grid is a modernized electrical grid that uses new technologies, equipment and controls to respond digitally and immediately to new electrical demand. The smart grid is a combination of power, communication and information infrastructures. Along with developments in power infrastructure, some new challenges will be emerged in IT infrastructure of smart grid. Electric power distribution network is one of the most important and widest domains of the smart grid which allows for two-way communication between the utility and customers. Distribution automation and IT solutions for active network management provide the foundation for the overall target of smart grid. This paper presents a new architectural model based on holonic multi-agent systems for IT infrastructure of smart grid in electric power distribution grid. The proposed architecture provides a new communication model for IT entities according to the communication principles in holonic multi-agent systems. It benefits from holonic structure features such as flexibility, high tolerability and scalability. Data encapsulation and the role of communication interfaces in information exchange in the proposed holonic architecture achieve high level of security for the system.

Keywords:

Smart grid , Electric power distribution grid , IT infrastructure , architecture , holonic multi-agent system