The success of widely adopted technologies is often tied to standardization. From video formats to the internet, the establishment of standards reduces the cost and complexity of systems and enables broad adoption at a global scale. When it comes to DER/grid integration, the benefits of standardization go beyond economies of scale. Adoption of a standard networking protocol could help ensure grid managers maintain safe, efficient control over an increasingly complex power network.

This Guidehouse Insights white paper provides an overview of numerous networking protocols in use for DER integration and discusses the pros and cons of each. It also highlights the features necessary for an effective, futureproof protocol to become standard in the industry.