The Distributed Network Protocol (DNP) Users Group has just released a new standard for communication with distributed energy resources. The availability of this standard marks an important milestone in enabling distributed renewables and battery storage systems to be integrated with the smart grid. The document, AN2011-001 (DNP3 Profile for Basic Photovoltaic Generation and Storage) defines a standard way to apply the DNP3 protocol to communicate with distributed photovoltaic and battery storage systems, for a range of monitoring and management functions.
The development of this standard is a by-product of an ongoing industry collaborative led by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) that is identifying advanced functions and communication means for smart inverters. EPRI has worked on this effort together with the Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories and the Solar Electric Power Association since mid-2009, engaging inverter manufacturers, communication system providers, and utilities.
Standard Title: DNP3 Profile for Basic Photovoltaic Generation and Storage
