Photo: Tom Harpel
Following the previous trend of Mobile Healthcare, Smart Grids is another area where previously discrete areas are converging. In this case, it is ICT, Telecoms and Energy. Once again, we have a familiar theme of recession driven stimulus funding driving this space. And again, the same question arises – how do we standardise a domain when it is rapidly evolving, spans multiple traditional domain and has a sense of urgency (in this case – global warming and other ecological considerations)?
In the USA, NIST has taken the lead in creating standards in this space and their website says about Interoperability:
Interoperability—the ability of diverse systems and their components to work together—is vitally important to the performance of the Smart Grid at every level. It enables integration, effective cooperation, and two-way communication among the many interconnected elements of the electric power grid.
and
Widely adopted standards also will help utilities to mix and manage varying supplies of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources and better respond to changing demand.
and explains the complexity by comparing to the next generation telecommunications standards. Something I am familiar with…
The task is akin to developing standards for the next-generation telecommunications network. This effort has spanned many years, continues to evolve, and involves dozens of standards development organizations. Also, like the telecom network, the Smart Grid is almost entirely owned and operated by industry. Therefore, Smart Grid interoperability and cybersecurity standards must reflect industry consensus, with active participation, and where required, leadership and coordination by government.
The problem is similar to Plug and Play – but it is more along the lines of ‘Plug and work’; across industries! (read article here) and that includes the entire ecosystem i.e. Vendors, Utilities, Systems Integrators, Regulators, Consumers, Communication systems, software vendors, law enforcement, privacy and data protection etc.
We will be covering the issues and complexities of Smart Grid standards at Talkstandards – but any initial comments welcome. Note that this topic is of personal research interest to me as well – so great to hear any insights.
To recap, How do we standardise a domain when it is rapidly evolving, spans multiple traditional domain and has a sense of urgency (in this case – global warming and other ecological considerations)? And will ‘Plug and work’ work any time soon? or will it get bogged down with endless standards debate and delay?
