Cognitive Radio for Smart Grid: Theory

Recently, cognitive radio and smart grid are two areas which have received considerable research impetus. Cognitive radios are intelligent Software Defined Radios (SDRs) that efficiently utilize the unused regions of the spectrum, to achieve higher data rates. The smart grid is an automated electric power system that monitors and controls grid activities. In this paper, the novel concept of incorporating a cognitive radio network as the communications infrastructure for the smart grid is presented. A brief overview of the cognitive radio, IEEE 802.22 standard and smart grid, is provided.