Plugging interoperability into the nation’s electric grid

Building out a “smart” electrical grid is going to take more than just the right gear -- that gear has to interoperate, and so utilities are searching for the right standard. Duke Energy has initiated research projects to build and deploy low-cost controllers in the lab and in the field to better manage the electric grid. Data exchange between assets can only happen if these devices are connected either through wired or wireless technologies. Once connected, the data exchange is facilitated by non-proprietary protocols and open standards.

[Jason Handley is Technology Development Manager at Duke Energy in Charlotte, NC]