WiFi offloading for enhanced interaction with the Smart Grid in green mobile networks

Abstract

In this work we investigate the effect of WiFi offloading in improving the interaction of a Mobile Network with the Smart Grid. In order to make demand match supply, so as to prevent grid instabilities and to effectively use the produced power, the smart grid can issue some requests to its users to increase or decrease their consumption; the users that can positively respond to the smart grid requests are awarded through cost reductions. We investigate the case in which, in order to better satisfy the requests from the smart grid, the mobile network uses WiFi offloading that, in its turn, reduces the load and, hence, the consumption of the network. Two cases are considered in the paper: a network with always on base stations and a network in which base stations are activated and deactivated based on the traffic demand. The results show that in both cases WiFi offloading improves the capacity of the mobile network to respond to the smart grid requests. In addition, we consider the possibility that the mobile network is equipped with some photovoltaic panels for generating some additional energy.