All across the world, engineers are working to develop what’s being called the “Smart Grid.” It’s a unified approach to adding automation to the electricity grid. The work extends to smart homes and electric vehicles, as well as for the general infrastructure and data communication elements involved in energy management. Of course, this system relies on data moving over the Internet. With so much sensitive data moving through the “cloud” there needs to be protocols for the transfer and security of the data needed for this implementation. The new IEEE 1888.1 and IEEE 1888.3 standards address these issues.
The IEEE 1888 standard itself defines the network that will be used to link sensors and actuators (as well as other components) that provide data to the grid and accept command data when required. This means the use of a gateway to relay the data back and forth. The protocols for these functions are the basis of this set of standards.
To support the overview document, a series of 3 standards has been developed. Both IEEE 1888.1 (Control and Management) and IEEE 1888.3 (Security) have just been published, providing additional guidance for implementation. FYI: IEEE 1888.2 (Heterogeneous Networks Convergence and Scalability (P)) is current in draft format and is an active project at IEEE.
Here’s information on both the new IEEE 1888.1 and IEEE 1888.3:
IEEE 1888.1, 2013 Edition, IEEE Standard for Ubiquitous Green Community Control Network: Control and Management
This part of the series covers the network gateway central access control and management policy. If you’re a service provider, system integrator, or equipment manufacturer, this document will provide you with open and standardized network gateway management interface protocols. You’ll use this to remotely control and monitor the network gateway and other facilities in green communities. What systems can be accessed? Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting systems, energy equipment, etc.
IEEE 1888.3, 2013 Edition, IEEE Standard for Ubiquitous Green Community Control Network: Security
One of the top concerns for the Smart Grid is the issue of security. This part of the series was developed to address that very essential component of the system. Here you’ll find the security requirements, architecture, and procedures and protocols necessary to this effort. The goal of the standard? To ensure that unintended data disclosures and unauthorized access to the network are avoided.
There is no doubt that the Smart Grid technology is having an economic impact on U.S. businesses. As of March 2012, the government reports that a total investment of $2.96 billion has generated at least $6.8 billion in total economic output. The project is essential to modernizing our aging electricity infrastructure. When completed, it will provide a “self-healing” grid that will create a more stable and efficient energy supply.
If you need the standards necessary to participate in the development and implementation of the Smart Grid, Document Center is the source for you! We’ve been a dealer for IEEE since the 1980’s and have a complete set of current standards, as well as many obsolete revisions, available for you. Order at our web store, www.document-center.com. Or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). We’re your Standards Experts!
