October 26, 2011 - HomePlug Alliance, Wi-Fi Alliance and ZigBee Alliance signed an agreement formalizing the Consortium for SEP 2 Interoperability. The Consortium will provide the Smart Grid ecosystem – including utilities, product vendors and consumers – confidence in application and device interoperability. The agreement defines the structure for the Consortium as it develops an interoperability testing suite. Plans for the Consortium were announced in August of this year. The Consortium is focused on accelerating the market availability of interoperable Smart Energy Profile 2 (SEP 2) products so that consumers can enjoy the numerous energy management benefits of the Smart Grid via wired and wireless networks.
SEP 2 is an Internet Protocol-based application selected in 2009 by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a standard for home energy management devices. The Consortium will create and maintain a comprehensive test and certification test suite to validate interoperability for a variety of wired or wireless devices. Products to be certified as a result of the Consortium’s work are expected to include thermostats, appliances, electric meters, gateways, electric vehicles, and countless other devices in the Smart Grid. “Product interoperability is essential to the realization of the Smart Grid. The Consortium will work to enable interoperability validation across the diverse Smart Grid ecosystem,” said Edgar Figueroa, chairman of the Consortium.
“Leveraging the collective expertise of every Consortium member will ensure that SEP 2 delivers a positive experience that helps consumers make smart choices about their energy use,” said Bob Heile, vice chairman of the Consortium for SEP 2 Interoperability.
About The Consortium for SEP 2 Interoperability
The Consortium is an inclusive, communications technology-agnostic forum formed to unify and accelerate the realization of interoperable SEP 2 products. The Consortium was formed in 2011 by HomePlug PowerLine Alliance, Wi-Fi Alliance and ZigBee Alliance. Membership is open to eligible organizations with a business interest in SEP 2, see the Memorandum of Understanding for complete membership details.
