Embracing Tech-Agnostic Strategies for a Resilient Power Grid

Have you noticed how many technologies utilities use and depend on daily to keep the lights on? These applications manage assets, support operations, and assist in a wide variety of tasks that were once busy-work eating up resources. It’s an ever-changing world of technology and innovative approaches that keeps pushing the envelope as well as us. There’s an approach that’s been getting mixed reviews for some time now, but that’s been changing lately. Are you familiar with the term “technology agnosticism” or tech-agnostic for short?

There’s been an uptick in interest when it comes to interoperability and the open-source aspect of the digital technologies, which has been good for the proponents of tech-agnostic applications. So what is tech-agnostic anyway? It’s biggest selling point is it blends numerous systems, platforms, and elements without needing to modify any of them. Tech-agnostic, if you will, is a strategy that’s not tied to any single technology, platform or vendor. In other words, it’s users are not locked into a vendor or technology.

That may sound a little like interoperability, but it’s not. Interoperability is the ability for systems and/or applications from multiple vendors to communicate, share data, and work together effectively. Tech-agnostic is an approach that’s neutral to the specific technology, platform or vendor being used. Interoperability works by complying with shared standards and using common data formats. Tech-agnostic, however, use open standards and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for flexibility and adaptability.

It's All About Standards 

Instead of continuing to discuss tech-agnostic in generalized terms, let’s look specifically at a segment of the power grid like distributed energy resource (DER) technologies. DER applications are ideal for the integration of tech-agnostic standards. Authorities have said DERs are non-wire alternatives for addressing the growing demand for electricity we are witnessing lately, which also adds timeliness to this discussion. There are, however, a great deal of DERs already installed on the grid that for the most part, are not tech-agnostic, but can be included in our discussion.

Our discussion emphasizes DERs that are part of this tech-agnostic movement. One of the keys for DERs to join the tech-agnostic category is standards. That brings us to standards produced by IEC and IEEE. They focus on the technical specifications developed for the interconnection itself rather than the specific DER technology. IEC TS 62786-1, for example, addresses general requirements, performance and testing of a variety of DERs. IEEE 1547 series cover tech-agnostic standards outlining mandatory performance criteria for how DERs are interconnected with the power grid. Both organizations have comprehensive websites for more detailed information.

One final standard, IEEE 2030 series contain communication protocols for enabling communications between DERs and distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS). DERMS platforms are an important part of structuring DERs into utility-scale power assets. Open protocols like the IEEE 2030 series standardize the communication language that allow all manufactures’ DERs to communicate and interoperate smoothly through management systems. The emphasis is shifted to utility methodologies that focus on ancillary services. The tech-agnostic approach also makes compatibility a non-issue within the technologies.

It's Getting Complicated 

Envision the impact these DER technologies will have once they no longer have the traditional restrictions related to combining them into older vintage technologies. That’s a win for utilities, grid operators and the owners of the DERs. It also provides yet another approach for adding more power and ancillary services to the grid. AI (artificial intelligence) is being integrated into tech-agnostic DER and DERMS platforms. That’s leading to some unconventional approaches. It’s proving worthwhile for utilizing the best technological approaches rather than accepting what’s the easiest way, but it’s a subject for later.

Getting figures concerning the amount of power being provided to the grid by DERs is complicated due to the decentralized nature of this technology. A quick “AI Overview” query revealed that the DERs capacity in the U.S. was estimated at being over 100 gigawatts in early 2025. Still, the power grid is a mixture of tech-agnostic and technology-specific DERs with the majority being the former, but it has to start somewhere. And don’t forget, the technology-specific assets are capable of being aggregated. It’s just that they have a plethora of criteria and conditions.

With the grid facing load growth of over 2% annually for the next 25 years, we can’t be picky. Regrettably, there’s also steadily increasing pressure from governmental sources for the power delivery system to utilize expensive coal and gas generation over efficient renewables. Adding to the complexity is the fact that both coal and gas facilities are not exactly trouble free.

Coal-fired generation can be extremely finicky as witnessed at Sandy Creek a single unit 932-megawatt powerplant. It’s the newest large coal-fired powerplant in the U.S. and it’s already had two major failures since going online. The latest happening was this year, and it’s not expected to be in-service until sometime in 2027. Gas turbines are said to be a fast-fix for generation shortages, but delivery timelines for new gas turbines are five years or more. In addition, permitting and development are also becoming issues at state and local levels.

Streamling Aggregation 

Getting back to the DER conversation, both the tech-agnostic and technology-specific DER applications are benefiting from the growth and advancement of DERMS platforms. As more tech-agnostic DERs come online, DERMS will streamline the process of managing their growing numbers. These small-scale energy sources are available, but it’s challenging turning them into utility-scale assets, which is where DERMS platforms come to play. They can aggregate both the DER assets and the real-time data they produce. That gives the utility’s grid operators the ability to see real-time demand and apply the energy resources where they’re needed the most.

This trending technology is necessary for the energy landscape as it becomes more the dynamic and requires faster reaction times. Some authorities are calling these DERMS platforms the central nervous system the modern electric utility. Others see them as the digital brain connecting the utility with its diverse resources. It may be a combination of both, but it’s needed for ensuring grid stability in an unstable world. Whichever it is, it’s starting to trend and that’s what we’re interested in.

A press release from the Business Research Company reported that “the DERMS market size has grown rapidly in recent years.” They are expecting that market to reach US$1.1 billion in 2025. They are also expecting it will grow to US$1.95 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate of 15.4%. They attribute rising energy demand and the need for energy efficiency as major reasons for this expansion.

A Tech Neutral Framework

Last June, NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) published a narrative titled “FAST-DERMS: An Architecture to Control the Grid of the Future.” Summarizing, NREL said their FAST-DERMS program is a lab tested architecture using a tech-agnostic DERMS solution. It’s a federated approach to grid management for higher levels of customer-owned energy sources. NREL said, “It does not rely on direct utility control over all DERs; rather, they can be managed either directly by the distribution utility, or indirectly through aggregators or a transactive market.”

Recently, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched their FLEXIT initiative to standardize and simplify the integration of aggregated DER technologies into utility operations. According to their press release, FLEXIT is designed to increase grid flexibility as electricity demand increases. EPRI said the initiative has more than two dozen utility members representing about 45% of the U.S. electricity customers. EPRI also has more than 40 technology providers including DER aggregators, manufacturers, and DERMS providers.

This tech-agnostic approach is focusing on a standardized, interoperable framework that offers scalability, enhanced resilience, and a greater market participation. The release continued saying, “Under FLEXIT, EPRI is facilitating a working group to understand all perspectives and develop consensus in support of its workstreams. By harmonizing existing standard services, communication protocols, and cybersecurity requirements, findings can enable stakeholders to leverage and integrate reliable, accurate, timely, and actionable DER services into grid operations without compromising safety or security.”

It's Challenging

If all the studies, surveys, and analyses are correct, the benefits of tech-agnostic applications far outweigh the effort associated with applying them. Tech-agnostic DERs and DERMS applications were picked as discussion topics because they’re important to the power grid, but other technology branches face similar challenges. They have aging infrastructures with a mixture of technological systems too. Everyone can benefit from tech-agnostic approaches.

Tech-agnostic acceptance is challenged with outdated regulatory frameworks, regulatory understanding, security issues, data privacy, and there is always the reluctance to try newfangled technologies. Diversity also introduces significant challenges. Some see tech-agnostic as being unpredictable and uncomfortable. On the flip side, they offer cost savings, greater flexibility, and more resilience to users. They also defer infrastructure upgrades and in most cases they’re already on the power grid. Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and those using them will have a huge advantage over non-users at keeping the lights on!