G3-PLC chipset for smart grid providing power line networking based on IEEE P1901.2 standard

Maxim's G3-PLC™ chipset significantly reduces infrastructure costs compared to other narrowband approaches with high reliability standards compliance and built-in robust mechanisms

SUNNYVALE, CA—Maxim Integrated Products (NASDAQ: MXIM) today introduced the MAX2992, an OFDM-based powerline communication (PLC) modem that pairs with the MAX2991 analog front end (AFE) to form a complete PLC chipset for smart grid communications. The chipset is compliant with the new IEEE P1901.2 standard for OFDM-based communications over power lines, ensuring interoperability. Compliance with this standard is critical to smart grid deployments, helping utilities protect their large infrastructure investments.

“Smart grid deployments have been impeded until now by the lack of standards-compliant solutions,” said Michael Navid, business unit manager for Maxim’s Power Line Products business unit. “Adding intelligence to existing power grids can cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and utilities need standards-based solutions that protect their investments, enable them to source from multiple vendors, and easily integrate new services and devices.”

Navid also explained that “from the start, G3-PLC was defined as an open standard for global implementation,” adding that “Maxim worked with ERDF [Electricité Réseau Distribution France] and major equipment manufacturers to define the specification and complete field tests, with the aim of moving forward with a pilot introduction into customer service in France this summer.” ERDF plans to use this technology in this project to connect 35 million customers to the smart grid network.

“G3-PLC is now recognized by several international standards bodies, has undergone independent testing by dozens of organizations worldwide, and is being adopted by leading global instrumentation manufacturers. This will allow utilities around the world to move beyond their reservations and confidently begin building smart grid networks,” he said.

Advantages of G3-PLC
Maxim's G3-PLC technology delivers the speed, robustness, and range required for large-scale power line networks.

G3-PLC uses advanced wideband communication technology to achieve speeds of up to 300 kbps in noisy powerline environments. It also uses OFDM technology to transmit data on multiple carriers, allowing designers to avoid interference at specific frequencies. In addition, G3-PLC uses robust operation modes, bandwidth-efficient channel coding, and built-in error correction to ensure reliable transmission even when noise is stronger than the signal.

This robustness significantly reduces deployment costs for utilities. Unlike other protocols, G3-PLC can communicate over transformers, allowing utilities to connect more users to each data concentrator. This reduces the number of concentrators and reduces equipment, installation and maintenance costs. G3-PLC can also communicate over long distances on medium-voltage lines at high speeds. This capability, tested over 10 km, can reduce the cost of multiple repeaters, resulting in significant cost savings over other wired and wireless technologies.

The G3-PLC specification is the only IPv6 Internet protocol