M2M systems central to smart grid's success

The report explained that M2M solutions have the potential to emerge as major contributors to the broad home automation landscapeby working in conjunction with the smart grid to create major energy efficiency benefits. As a result, M2M communications could prove central to the long-term development of smart grid solutions. If the M2M for home automation ecosystem comes together, it could generate approximately 7.1gigatons of carbon emissions savings by 2020.

Making smart grid and M2M work
While M2M solutions and smart grid technologies can combine to create opportunities for innovation, there are some issues that have to be resolved in the process. In particular, many utility-specific solutions use serial connections to transmit data. Smart grid deployments are heavily dependent on Ethernet. As a result, serial to Ethernet terminal servers are becoming an integral part of the smart grid's success. Furthermore, the serial to Ethernet issue is becoming more important in industrial settings as well, as many manufacturers are using Ethernet is a wider range of systems.

Perle offers a range of cost effective serial-to-Ethernet converters to help meet NERC-CIP compliance for the protection of critical cyberassets in substations. The IOLAN SDS HV/LDC Terminal Server is designed to meet harsh environments associated with Power Substations with attributes such as support for substation AC and DC voltage ranges, extended operating temperatures and meeting emission, immunity and safety approvals associated with substation IT equipment.