Cognitive radio based smart grid: The future of the traditional electrical grid

The traditional electrical grid is currently undergoing a range of modernization effort s and becoming a smarter grid [1] . In the traditional electrical grid, energy is distributed from the generation plants to the consumers via large nationwide transmission and distribution networks. Information monitoring and management in these traditional electrical networks is typically limited to the distribution networks that distribute electrical power within a city to the individual consumers. Due to rising demands, aging infrastructure, reliability concerns, and the emergence of renewable energy sources, the smart grid (SG) concept is being introduced [2] . Typically, there are three architectural building blocks of the smart grid. First, Home Area Networks (HANs), which connect the devices within the consumer premises, such as smart meters, distributed renewable energy sources, and Plug-in Electric Vehicles. Second Neighborhood Area Networks (NANs), which interconnect multiple HANs, and communicate the collected information to Wide Area Networks (WANs). Third, WANs, which serve as communication backbone. The smart grid will be equipped with state-of-theart information and communication technologies (ICT) and smart devices, such as smart meters, wireless sensor nodes, and load balancing through real time demand side management, pervasive computing, sensing devices, broadband communication, and intelligent management techniques [3-10] . Additionally, wireless sensor nodes along with actuator networks can be very useful to give access to remote sites and places where human intervention is not possible [11, 12] . Such information and novel communication technologies have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, sustainability, and stability of the electrical grid. The smart grid will adopt several communication technologies to fulfill the wide range of functionalities expected from the modern electricity grid. These communication technologies range from both wired and wireless communication technologies, such as Bluetooth,