QualityLogic and UL LLC (Underwriter's Laboratories) have announced an agreement to work together to bring formal testing programs for emerging smart grid standards to the industry. The first program is for the IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) standard and offers the QualityLogic Conformance Test Program to the Smart Grid industry. The Program uses QualityLogic Test Tools that have been approved by the Consortium for Smart Energy Profile 2.0 Interoperability (CSEP) and a QualityLogic-designed testing process to assess the conformance of IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) implementations to the IEEE 2030.5 standard.
All products submitted for testing are required to be on a certified communication protocol layer platform – e.g., Bluetooth, HomePlug, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, or other TCP/IP based protocol. Under the agreement, UL will conduct the formal testing process using the QualityLogic program and test tools, and QualityLogic will publish the results and maintain a web site listing of successfully tested products. The Conformance Test Service is currently available from UL.
The IEEE SA-2030.5-2013 SEP 2 Application Protocol Standard is agnostic as far as how the messages are transported. The IEEE 2030.5 is an application-only layer designed to work with any underlying communication protocol supporting TCP/IP, such as ZigBee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HomePlug. The standard has been adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers as the interface standard between utilities/grid operations and electric vehicle charging systems in order to integrate EVs better into grid operations.
IEEE 2030.5 is also being considered for adoption in California’s Rule 21 as the interface standard between utilities and emerging "smart" inverters that will integrate renewable energy, electric vehicles and other distributed energy resources into grid operations. The IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) has been identified for adoption as an official standard in at least two countries for energy management communications within residential buildings and between such buildings and utility operations.
"We are pleased to be working with QualityLogic to lead the industry in bringing another smart grid standard to a mature, interoperable state," said Lisa Salley, vice president and general manager- Energy and Power Technologies at UL. "This program will jumpstart adoption of IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) and greatly reduce product integration costs and schedules for adopters of the technology."
The program includes a vendor-specified conformance statement; independent testing by UL; a published statement of conformance; and public announcement and listing of conformant IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) products.
"I am very pleased that QualityLogic and UL are working together on a Conformance Test Program for IEEE 2030.5", said Bob Heile, chair of the IEEE 2030.5 Working Group and former CSEP Board Member. "IEEE2030.5 delivers essential capability in today's emerging smart grid. This program, using the QualityLogic certification test harness selected by CSEP, is an important next step in its successful deployment."
The Conformance Test Suite consists of 31 tests for the five Core Function Sets (TLS, CERT, DNS, DCAP, TM) required of all products tested. Another 65 tests are included for eight optional function sets, such as demand response and metering. The combination of the Core and specific Optional function sets is required to implement specific products, such as smart thermostats, in-home displays and load controllers.
"In order to further the maturity and interoperability of the IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) standard, QualityLogic is partnering with UL to independently validate that implementations conform to the CSEP certification standard," said James Mater, general manager, Smart Grid at QualityLogic. "Working with a company with the reputation of UL will provide a great deal of confidence for vendors and users considering adoption of the IEEE 2030.5 (SEP 2) standard."
