The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) announced today that it will be launching its onlineIEC Smart Grid Standard Mapping Solution, a multidimensional interactive tool that will make a map of the smart grid for allowing smart grid managers all over the world to quickly identify the commission’s international smart grid standards, position them relative to their role in the smart grid, and identify interactions and overlaps that may exist.
IEC intends to launch the mapping solution by the end of 2010 or early 2011, and it has already gotten recognition from major smart grid standard players, such as United States' National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and CEN CENELEC.
At present, The IEC is the major provider of all standards for Smart Grid required for building the smart grid, with new standards becoming a part of the portfolio on an ongoing basis. The IEC adds relevant national or regional standards into the international consensus process through a fast track system. Gradually, their mapping solution will enable other organizations to include their own standards in layers to go along with IEC International Standards.
"The smart grid represents a technical challenge beyond building infrastructure, and can't reach its potential if every country and company are building it based on different standards," stated Jacques Régis, IEC President. "Our international set of standards ensures the smart grid industry can grow and function as one coordinated entity, relying on optimal compatibility and the ability of one system or device to communicate with others."
Founded in 1906, the IEC develops and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. It has representatives from 162 countries and brings together around 10,000 experts in 174 technical committees and 1,000 working groups, who collaborate for create International Standards that any company, regulator, or government can use for guiding the design, testing and manufacture of products and technology. This allows a true global market for smart grid solutions.
The IEC Smart Grid Standard Mapping Solution will allow easy identification of the standards needed in their smart grid. It will enable users to search by pointing to areas or links between elements of the electric system. "For the first time anybody working on smart grids, anywhere in the world, will be able to quickly navigate through the interoperability standards, they need to build smart grid projects, products and technology," said Richard Schomberg, Chairman of the IEC Smart Grid Strategic Group. "This approach is unique in that computers will do the heavy lifting, dealing with the full complexity of the task, on behalf of the users. It provides the foundation for a sustainable evolution of the global smart grid standards portfolio."
