DER Research Updates

Emerging Technologies Studies

The DER space is rapidly changing as more and more distributed resources become primed to connect to the grid. Many of which have the capabilities to support grid operation. Each year EPRI selects 2-3 topics to evaluate. These studies often spur discussions at our Task Force meetings, new supplemental projects, and even EPRI initiatives.
Examples of technologies evaluated include:

• Interop Language for Utility TIIRs
• Wi-Fi Connectivity in Meters
• The Interoperability of IEEE 2030.5 Certificate Management
• EEBus
• Third-Party Aggregators
• OpenFMB
• Web Services for DER Operational Technologies
• DER Gateways
• LoRaWAN for DERs
• Customer Internet for DERs
• UL1741SC for EV Management
  
  
  

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Guidebooks

Guidebooks are the keystone of EPRI’s DER Communication and Data Integration research. We have three. Each contains an ever-growing set of knowledge about DER Communication and Data Integration. Guidebook content is available to active members and contains past research that remains relevant and useful over time.

DER Protocol Reference Guidebook

EPRI’s DER Protocol Reference Guidebook is focused on protocols that facilitate communication and information exchange between ERs and DER-related management systems.

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EPRI conducts an annual assessment of 20+ DER interface and protocol standards. The result are a series of 2-3 page briefs, each covering a different protocol. These briefs answer questions such as:

• What types of industry drivers are causing DER protocols to be adopted?
• What data models are used that could be leveraged in an abstraction layer?
• What certifications are available for different protocols to ensure conformity?
• What are the strengths of and opportunities for each protocol in the DER domain?
• What projects is EPRI working on in relation to each DER protocol?
  
  To answer these questions, each brief covers five key areas: maturity models, architecture applicability, key recent developments, key event timelines, and supporting information.
  
  The methodology was created with the help of American Electric Power (AEP), Duke Energy, and SRP. EPRI, AEP, Duke, and SRP developed a list of common questions that industry stakeholders have about communications protocols and a framework to answer them.
  
  Each brief is designed to help you quickly come up to speed with new standards related to solar, energy storage, V2G, EV charge management, and demand flexibility. We’ve heard from members that the briefs are a terrific way to get your colleagues on the same page about protocols before you have internal planning or strategy meetings or just brush up on what happened the past year in the rapidly evolving DER standards domain.
  
  

Public Version Member Version

Distributed Energy Resources Interoperability Guidebook

The EPRI Distributed Energy Resources Interoperability Guidebook is designed to support the industry in achieving interoperability in practice. Each chapter pulls from utility demonstrations & pilots, laboratory studies, and results from EPRI initiatives. Each year EPRI and utility-advisors choose a new chapter to incorporate into the guidebook to capture it for future generations.

The result is 16+ stand-alone chapters covering topics including:

• ICT Requirements for Interoperability
• DER Architectures
• DERMS Architectures
• Cloud-based Systems
• Solutions to Common Interop Failures
• Network Technologies
• FERC O222 and ICT Systems
• IEEE 1547 Implementation Guidance
• Interoperability DER Data and Information
• Protocols To Support ADMS-DERMS & Utility-Aggregator

The full guidebook can be found here.

IoT Technologies for Distributed Energy Resources Guidebook

IoT and behind the meter DERs are a focus area for many utilities as they seek more flexibility from existing resources it is introducing a ton of behind the meter technologies new to utilities. This guidebook focuses on the newer IoT technologies customers are using and how utilities can leverage these technologies to achieve more flexibility on the grid. The guidebook covers topics such as:

• What is “IoT for DER”?
  • End-to-End Solutions
  • Connectivity
  • Messaging Middleware
• Benefits of IoT Solutions
• Existing IoT Applications
• Applying IoT Solutions to DER
  • Exchanging OpenADR Messages over LoRaWAN
  • DERs Applications for Amazon Sidewalk
  • Integrating DERs over AMI Networks
• And more!

The full guidebook can be found here.

Task Forces

EPRI facilitates discussions. Throughout the year we hold a number of webcast discussions on key topics in the industry. The DER space is changing rapidly, and this is EPRI’s way of facilitating industry discussions while they are relevant to the industry. These calls typically have between 50-150 people in attendance depending on the topic. Examples of previous task force calls:

• IEEE 1547 Revision: The Latest on Interoperability and Cyber Security
• Utility Integration with DER Aggregators: State of the Art
• EcoPort Demand Response Standard: From Utility Pilot to State Requirement
• Coming Soon to a Customer Near You: Overview of the Mandates for ICT Standards and What to Expect
• What’s Up with the MATTER Protocol?: The Tech Giants’ Solution to Cross-Platform Interoperability
• Understanding the Difference in DER Gateways and Plant Controllers
• Developing a Secure Format to Convey DER Settings
• Integrating DERs over AMI Networks: Key Considerations from Grid Edge to Utility IT Enterprise
• Balancing Cyber Security’s Need for Evolution with Interoperability’s Need for Stability
• How to Integrate V2G Electric Vehicles: Key Trends, Standards, and Certifications

Don’t miss out, join the discussion!

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