Universal grid edge asset monitoring systems with ubiquitous 5G network access

A grid edge node comprising:

• a power supply comprising a bidirectional power converter;
• wherein:
• the grid edge node is configured to:
• interface with one or more grid assets of a power grid and one or more telecommunication assets of a telecommunications network;
• monitor one or more conditions of one or more of the grid assets;
• and
• provide wireless communication infrastructure to the telecommunications network;
• and
• the bidirectional power converter is configured to at least one of:
• provide electrical power to the power grid comprising an electric utility grid;
• inject active and/or reactive power to the power grid comprising an electric utility grid;
• or
• alter a voltage level output of one or more of the grid assets.

A grid edge node configured to:

• interface with one or more grid assets of a power grid and one or more telecommunication assets of a telecommunications network;
• monitor one or more conditions of one or more of the grid assets;
• provide wireless communication infrastructure to the telecommunications network;
• and
• at least one of:
• communicate with one or more of the grid assets comprising electric utility grid assets via an encrypted communication channel over the telecommunications network comprising a wireless network;
• transmit information received from the grid assets comprising electric utility grid assets to a cloud-based monitoring system;
• or
• function as a gateway for a mesh network of one or more of the telecommunication assets, wherein the grid edge node is further configured as a node in the mesh network.

A system comprising:

• a grid edge node configured to:
• interface with one or more grid assets of an electric power grid and one or more telecommunication assets of a telecommunications utility network;
• monitor one or more conditions of one or more of the grid assets;
• provide wireless communication infrastructure to the telecommunications utility network;
• and
• transmit and receive wireless telecommunications signals to and from one or more of the telecommunication assets comprising remote devices utilizing the telecommunications utility network;
• a utility pole servicing the electric power grid;
• a power supply comprising a bidirectional power converter configured to:
• receive input power from at least one of the one or more grid assets comprising a power transformer mounted to the utility pole;
• and
• provide power to the grid edge node;
• one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more of the conditions of the power transformer;
• a telecommunications radio configured to transmit and receive the wireless telecommunications signals to and from the remote devices;
• and
• a backhaul connection connected to a backhaul providing communication access to the telecommunication utility network, the backhaul connection configured to provide communication between the grid edge node and a cloud-based monitoring system;
• wherein the grid edge node is further configured to transmit data indicative of one or more of the monitored conditions to the cloud-based monitoring system via the backhaul connection.

A system comprising:

• a utility pole servicing an electric utility grid and a telecommunication utility network;
• a power transformer mounted to the utility pole and configured to exchange electrical power between the electric utility grid and one or more electrical assets;
• and
• a grid edge node mounted to the utility pole and configured to:
• monitor one or more conditions of the power transformer;
• and
• transmit and receive wireless telecommunication signals to and from remote devices utilizing the telecommunication utility network;
• wherein the grid edge node comprises a power supply comprising a bidirectional power converter configured to:
• receive input power from the power transformer;
• and
• provide power to the grid edge node.