Ahmad UsmanSajjad Haider Shami2013-12-312013-12-312013Usman, A., & Shami, S. H. (2013). Evolution of Communication Technologies for Smart Grid applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 19(0), 191-199. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.002https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/898The ideaofSmartGridhasstartedtoevolvemorerapidlywiththeenhancementinCommunication Technologies.TwowaycommunicationisakeyaspectinrealizingSmartGridsandiseasilypossible with thehelpofmoderndayadvancementsinbothwiredandwirelesscommunicationtechnologies. This paperdiscussessomeofthemajorcommunicationtechnologieswhichincludeIEEEspecified ZigBee,WiMAXandWirelessLAN(Wi-Fi)technologies,GSM3G/4GCellular,DASH7andPLC(Power Line Communications),withspecialfocusontheirapplicationsinSmartGrids.TheSmartGrid environmentsanddomainssuchasHomeAreaAutomation,SubstationAutomation,Automated MeteringInfrastructure,Vehicle-to-GridCommunications,etc.areconsideredaspriorityareasfor developingsmartergrids.Theadvancements,challengesandtheopportunitiespresentinthesepriority areas arediscussedinthispaper.enSmart Grids PowerLineCommunications(PLCs)ZigBeeWi-FiWiMAXGSM/GPRSDASH7Article