Facts and myths about Open Protocols

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Facts and myths about Open Protocols
Interoperability A way forward
Surendra JhaloraMIOS forum, IEEMA
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Open Standard Interoperability

• Different interpretation by different people
• Attributes of an open standard
• Accessible to all, free of charge
• All details documented properly
• Open to public use/input/ comment
• Interoperability - The capability to communicate,
  execute programs, or transfer data among various
  functional units in a manner that requires the
  user to have little or no knowledge of the unique
  characteristics of those units.

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The Need

• With the growth in AMR systems, there is a need
  for
• Reading of different makes and models of meters
  through a common software
• Seamless system integration in case of meter
  replacement/ new meter addition
• High speed data transfer, large data volume,
  exceptional events notification and selective
  data transfer
• High system performance for old as well new
  meters

Open protocol for energy meters like IEC 62056/
DLMS, ANSI, IEEE, MODBUS as per SRS of RAPDRP
Can these different open protocols really
provide interoperability?

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MODBUS Protocol

• Widely used for different applications
• Parameters with their configurations are
  published.
• Register mapping Two different manufacturers
  can map same set of data on different MODBUS
  registers.
• Data type Different data type can be defined
  for same parameter.
• Scaling Basic Unit these can be different for
  different make of meters and with different
  resolution.

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IEC 62056

• An open standard for data transfer from energy
  meters
• Manufacturer specific objects
• Parameters which are not defined in standard can
  be mapped as manufacturer specific objects.
• Similarly, there can be manufacturer specific
  profiles.
• Display representation is not standardized.
• Selection of security levels has been left with
  manufacturer.

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Conclusion

• MODBUS
• Has dependency on manufacturer specific register
  mapping, data type and scaling.
• Is nothing but a proprietary protocol in absence
  of above information.
• IEC 62056
• Interoperable only up to a certain level.
• Most of the meter parameters, as used in India,
  are not standardized. Hence, different makes of
  meters define different manufacturer specific
  objects.

Too many options multiple implementations can
hamper interoperability.

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Conclusion

• Meter/ make specific implementation is must in
  common data retrieval software.
• Issues with Open protocols
• Insufficient specification coverage
• Too many options for implementation
• Provision for independent implementation with
  manufacturer
• Compliance testing is not an Interoperability
  Testing

Open protocols does not provide interoperability,
until all parameters are clearly defined with
details.

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What We Need..

• Vision for next 5-10 years is the key.
• Critically review the future requirements of
  Electricity metering and AMR/ RMR systems.
• Migration from AMR to AMI
• Define metering parameters clearly for different
  applications and segments.
• Define system performance parameters and
  implementation plans.

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Future Migration
AMR Automatic Meter Reading
AMI Advance Metering Infrastructure
SMART GRID
Are we on this path ?
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How AMI differs from AMR?
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Key Drivers for AMI

• AMI drivers in India -
• Demand shortage
• Revenue protection
• Loss reduction
• Energy accounting
• Load control
• System automation
• Better system economics
• Many more.

• Energy conservation
• Consumer involvement
• Reduce carbon emission
• Load management
• Better system planning
• Drivers may be different for different
  countries.

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AMI Putting things simply
WAN
N M S
Blue blocks are electronic devices
Yellow blocks are communication link
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AMI System Note the multiplicity of each element
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Requirements for future metering system

• Define metering parameters for different
  applications
• Segments Grid metering, Feeder meter, HT
  consumers, DT metering, LT consumers, Domestic
  consumers
• Parameters -
• Tariffs
• Energy types
• Demand registers
• Load survey
• History
• Tamper detection recording
• Events and alarms
• Load control parameters
• Energy auditing parameters

Standardization of parameters to achieve
interoperability
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Requirements for future metering system

• Define system performance parameters
• Data storage
• Throughput required (data volume and speed)
• Data selectivity
• Flexibility of configurations
• Security levels
• Compatibility with communication technologies
• Consumer interface and engagement

Conduct pilots prior to large scale rollout
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Thanks

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Global AMI Migration Experiences

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Australia AMI

• Govt. formed industry strategy group for planning
  and implementation of AMI trials and roll out.
• Developed state-wide set of core functionality
  and service level requirements.
• Cost benefit analysis done for various
  functionalities.
• Trials are mainly about technologies (excludes
  customer response or pricing trials). DLC, Mesh
  Radio, PLC trials being done.
• Roll out planned for typically 2.4M meters, in
  3-4 yrs duration.

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UK AMI

• Drivers
• CO2 reduction under Climate Change Program
• The Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services
  Directive (ESD)
• Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC)
• SRSM (suppliers requirement for smart meters) by
  ERA
• All the stake holder inputs in the requirement
  specification
• Vision and Migration being defined
• Pilots underway
• Govt. approved to change 46Mn meters in next 10
  years