The ZigBee and SunSpec alliances are collaborating to define standards for renewable energy and microgrid management using the ZigBee Smart Energy version 2.0 standard.

The ZigBee Alliance is a group of companies that came together to create wireless solutions for use in energy management and commercial and consumer applications, and the SunSpec Alliance was formed to accelerate the growth of the renewable energy industry through standardization of monitoring and management interfaces for energy system components.

As use of distributed generation increases with more residences and businesses installing solar power generating systems, those microgrid systems need to integrate with the “smart grid,” both groups contend. The collaboration between the two alliances will attempt to address the existing gap between the growing use of distributed generation via renewable energy resources and the smart grid, in order to take advantage of the energy management efficiencies of the smart grid, they say.
 
“Working with the SunSpec Alliance further broadens the reach and strength of ZigBee Smart Energy by giving renewable energy industries and the utilities a standardized approach to Smart Grid integration,” said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. “As more consumers and businesses install renewable energy systems, they need a way to control not only their energy use, but also how it ties in to their local utility. They will be able to do all of this using ZigBee Smart Energy.”
 
“ZigBee Smart Energy is a key standard to removing barriers and firmly establishing product interoperability that expedites Smart Grid integration of renewable power generating sources,” said Tom Tansy, chairman of the SunSpec Alliance. “The SunSpec Alliance shares the ZigBee Alliance’s vision of helping consumers and businesses realize a new era of energy management and efficiency, and this collaboration adds a focus on the control of renewable energy production.”
 
For more information and a list of ZigBee Certified products, visit www.ZigBee.org/SmartEnergy

For more information, or to find out how to join the SunSpec Alliance, visit www.sunspec.org