Identifying some techno-economic criteria in PLC/BPL applications and commercialization

Abstract

The development of first-pass simplified business models for power line communication (PLC) systems is necessary in order to provide an early focus on the key technical and financial criteria by which investment and the return on investment (ROI) might be considered. For example, PC based spreadsheet modeling provides a useful mathematical tool for identifying sensitivities in the broadband power line (BPL) business cases by enabling rapid comparisons between electrical distribution network (EDN) technical parameters, BPL equipment specifications, system features and customer expectations. It is important for both developers and investors to understand the technical challenges and business opportunities offered by PLC.