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Grid Interoperability Steps into the Real World By Guest Editorial Aug 14, 2007 - 3:03:00 PM
The attention directed to the smart grid continues to grow. The drivers for change include high fuel costs, dependence on foreign energy sources, and environmental issues associated with fossil fuels. These and other challenges have heightened the interest of policymakers and businesses to look hard at the smart grid concepts as one of the few choices that can address energy sustainability.
Suddenly, people are becoming aware of the importance of getting the automation resources of the smart grid to connect and talk to each other.
But how do we enable resources such as smart buildings, homes, and factories to participate in the operation of a digitally connected electric system? The U. S. Department of Energy formed the GridWise™ Architecture Council(GWAC) to wrestle with this issue; their mission is to enable all elements of the electric system to interact. We call the successful integration of these automation systems “interoperability” and the objective is to make it easy.
With this article, we launch a quarterly update on the progress of interoperability in the electric system. By electric system, we include all the players, from regulators and policymakers, to electric service providers, generators, industrial controls, automated buildings, and connected homes.
So what progress has been made thus far? The GWAC is composed of members from each of these communities and over its three years of existence it has engaged influential stakeholders to define fundamental principles for interoperation, and in April assembled 50 respected system integration technologists in the development of a conceptual frameworkfor addressing interoperability challenges. In addition, GWAC members have engaged policy and business decision-makers with a checklist of considerations for improving interoperability within their businesses and across the economic environment.
The work accomplished thus far is foundational -- it introduces interoperability as THE enabler for the Smart Grid and develops alignment around key concepts. The next step is to build awareness so the community will take action to remove impediments and improve interoperation between the growing number of automation systems throughout the electric energy spectrum.
To this end, the GWAC is sponsoring Grid-Interop™ 2007, November 7-9, 2007, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The objective is to engage business leaders and integration technologists to develop actionable steps that close or reduce the "distance to integrate." We will have a half day of seminars and educational presentations, followed by one and one half days of panel discussions and interactive discussions about impediments and ways to address them. Targeted interest groups will look at integration between the electric system, buildings, and manufacturing systems, as well as business and regulatory concerns.
Closing the distance to integrate must involve many stakeholders coming together around a common cause. Please join us for this important event. This fall, look for future Interoperability Update articles from GWAC to recap the meeting and bring you up-to-date with the progress being made on this essential foundation of the Smart Grid.
GridWise™ Architecture Council (GWAC) home page GWAC interoperability white paper (PDF) GWAC interoperability fundamental principles (PDF) GWAC interoperability conceptual framework (PDF) GWAC interoperability checklist (PDF
Steve Widergren is the Administrator for the GridWise Architecture Council, a group of 13 respected experts with the objective to improve the interoperation of all elements of the electric system. This includes building and factory automation, communications, electric utility automation, as well as the economic and regulatory environment in which they do business. This group is support by the United States Department of Energy through Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Subscribe to our FREE eMail News Alert!
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