Structured Cabling as a foundation of the All Electric Society

When we think of the All Electric Society (AES), we think of a future in which CO2-neutral electricity is our primary source of energy. If we, as a global community, succeed in drastically reducing global CO2 emissions, while at the same time increasing access to energy, this can promote economic growth and prosperity in all regions. If you ask people as to which areas of technology they associate with this transition to renewable electrical energy sources, many respondents will usually first think of concepts for sustainable energy generation or storage.

What often receives less attention is the no less important task of creating a link between the two – and quite literally. After all, sector coupling is a key concept for the success of the All Electric Society. The aim is to interconnect different sectors of the economy and society in order to increase energy efficiency and balance out fluctuations in the availability of renewable energy. Controllable consumers such as charging stations for electric vehicles, for example, can help to stabilise the entire energy supply.

This is where the concept of structured cabling - and therefore standards – enter the picture. Structured cabling systems make a valuable contribution to sector coupling by providing a flexible, scalable and future-proof infrastructure that is essential for the integration of different energy systems.

The topic of cross-organisational standardization is very important for a technology company such as HARTING, which is also involved in industrial networking. Because standards mean compatibility, plain and simple. And this is essential to ensure reliability, security and interoperability.

If we look at data network technology, for example, including automation protocols in their broadest meaning, then the ability to exchange data is mandatory. Standards such as ISO/IEC 11801, ISO/IEC 14763-2 and TIA-568 defi ne criteria for the installation, performance and testing of cabling systems. Today, almost all of our product standards are already linked to test standards. For example, our customers not only learn about its physical and electrical properties, but also how to correctly test an M12 connector according to CAT 5. Standards simply make good sense wherever, for example, different philosophies, products, manufacturers or protocols come together and interact – as is the case with structured cabling.

The term structured cabling means nothing more than a standardised system of cables, connectors and associated components that enables a flexible and cost-efficient network architecture. This comprises various components: vertical cabling, horizontal cabling, patch panels, sockets and cable trays. Ultimately, the aim is to create a uniform and organised cabling infrastructure.

This generally consists of three hierarchical levels: primary cabling, secondary cabling and tertiary cabling, including passive components such as network cables, junction boxes, patch panels and network cabinets. At the same time, this infrastructure connects active components such as switches, routers or WLAN access points.

Going forward, this type of cabling then increases operational reliability through high-performance and redundant structures, for example. However, it also makes it easier for companies to simply expand or modify networks – without the need for major conversion work. In the long term, this enables companies to save costs and reduce potential downtime.

And this takes us full circle to the All Electric Society. The AES is based on the seamless integration of data through structured cabling. This in turn makes it possible to connect different industrial and technological sectors. However, it would not work without the secret star of this concept: ISO/IEC 11801.

ISO/IEC 11801, originally intended primarily for structured building cabling in the LAN area, was developed around 30 years ago to bring together different communication protocols within buildings.

The standard, however, has continued to evolve and now covers a wide range of applications and fields of use - from office buildings to industrial plants and data centres.

If you look at its influence on the structured cabling, you can compare it to a person building a house. Building a house from scratch means having to design everything independently. At first it may be possible to cope on your own, but at some point more complex requirements are encountered such as statics, wind loads or the efficiency of thermal insulation. You will then need specialised experts and standardized components.

In the past, the cabling system in buildings was often designed individually for each and every application. Each manufacturer had its own protocols, cables and connectors that did not work together. This kind of individualism is comparable to the "house builder" who plans everything alone.

Today, however, standards such as ISO/IEC 11801 are firmly established. These standards ensure that certain parameters and components are specified in advance. This means that prefabricated, standardized parts can be used, similar to modern builders who have access to a variety of proven building components and techniques. This results in a more efficient, compatible and cost-effective implementation – both in construction and in the network infrastructure.

Comparable to the sustainably planned infrastructure of a house, which can last for 20-30 years, structured cabling guarantees a future-proof foundation that supports various applications and technologies.

Structured cabling also promotes sector coupling by enabling the connection of different industrial and technological sectors. This coupling is essential for the target image of the AES. It ensures that energy flows and data streams can be managed efficiently between sectors such as energy, industry and transport.

This data and energy can be transmitted using Power over Ethernet (PoE) in one and the same cable with four wire pairs. Thanks to the development of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE), however, transmission is now even possible by way of just one single twisted pair of wires. This not only reduces material costs and increases the range to up to 1,000 metres, but also enables use in environments where space and weight are at a premium.

We're not just talking about data and signals, but more and more about power in addition. SPE is a prime example of how structured cabling has been further developed to transmit both data and energy efficiently.

And the future of structured cabling lies precisely in its ability to adapt to new application areas and technological advances. The aim is to establish the technology in new areas such as smart cities, where it enables centralised infrastructures and consequently also the AES. Stuctured cabling offers a flexible and future-proof solution for the continuously growing requirements for data and energy transmission in a wide range of sectors.

The actual challenge is to integrate this cabling into new application areas such as smart cities. This is where structured cabling becomes a critical infrastructure that enables data and energy to be managed efficiently and sustainably.