Certification: a key requirement for any DSO

This article takes a look at the importance of certification from the perspective of a Distribution System Operator (DSO) aiming at rolling out a large-scale smart metering program.

Many smart meter suppliers have developed their own, proprietary solutions, from the meter to the information system, resulting in a complete Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI). Such a standalone solution often is the easiest way to deploy a smart metering solution ‘out of the box’, for example for a pilot installation.

Though, it introduces a risk at a larger scale, as the DSO may be locked into a single supplier, and has no backup in case of malfunction, except waiting for the analysis and fix from his supplier. Or even worse, the supplier may no longer support a particular solution at some point.

Arguably the best way to reduce this risk is to rely on multiple suppliers by making their supply share dependent on the quality and performance of the devices which they supply. This strategy does, however, add complexity and introduces the risk of having implementation gaps, and interoperability issues between different vendors.

Certification program

In a multiple supplier environment, a key question that arises here is: How can a DSO ensure the deployment of interoperable products? The answer to this question is a proven certification program, which provides interoperability and an important first level of conformance: adherence to the standard.

A certification program sets the minimum level of quality and conformity for a supplier which can afterward be presented to the DSO. In other words, having a certification program as a requirement for the metering rollout strongly contributes to the success of the DSO in a large-scale smart metering program. The G3-PLC Alliance is providing such a proven and highly credible seal of conformity, interoperability, and performance suitable to secure multivendor investments.

Suppliers should, therefore, seek certification by the G3-PLC Alliance as early as possible, in order to be retained by the qualification process of the DSO. A good example is that requesting IDIS-certified meters offers the best and easiest risk mitigation for a DSO as it covers the complete stack up to use case level. G3-PLC Alliance certification is a prerequisite for achieving IDIS certification for PLC meters.

Last year, the G3-PLC Alliance marked a major milestone in extending the certification program to include the G3-PLC Hybrid PLC&RF solution.

The G3-PLC Hybrid is the first industry hybrid standard offering extended capabilities for smart grid and IoT applications in one seamlessly managed network over both wired and wireless media.

The G3-PLC hybrid protocol stack is built using open standards IEEE 802.15.4-2015 in addition to the existing G3-PLC protocol. Each device in the mesh network can use PLC as well as RF for communication. Depending on the actual conditions in the field, messages between two devices are sent over the ‘best’ available channel.

The channel selection for each link in the network is done automatically and adjusted dynamically. This way, the hybrid profile provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for many applications and opens up new use cases as it extends the connectivity of G3-PLC to RF-only devices.

G3-PLC Certificates

Last year, the G3-PLC Alliance and the DLMS User Association worked together to further extend capabilities for multi-commodity AMI and IOT applications using the DLMS application protocol and data model. The G3-PLC Hybrid with an update of G3-PLC Interface Classes according to ITU-T G.9903 has been published in the DLMS User Association Blue Book 15.

Read more: The G3-PLC Alliance and the DLMS User Association to extend capabilities and drive innovation

The total number of issued G3-PLC certificates is now approaching 500 including 13 hybrid PLC&RF platforms and the first hybrid products. High-quality certification will give both vendors and customers assurance that their meters, data concentrators, and other devices, have the correct implementation of the G3-PLC standard, that they are interoperable with other certified devices, and meet the specified performance levels.

The G3-PLC Hybrid certification enables long-term availability and replaceability of hybrid platforms and products and provides the DSO with investment safe and future proof projects. Therefore, G3-PLC Alliance members are closely working together to continuously improve the G3-PLC certification program and leverage all available expertise.

A proven and global certification program for DSO’s! www.G3-PLC.com