SUNSPEC SPECIFICATIONS

SUNSPEC SPECIFICATIONS AND
INFORMATION MODELS

SunSpec publishes free, open interoperability specifications and information models that software developers, hardware manufacturers, and integrators use to achieve plug-and-play interoperability between Distributed Energy Resource (DER) components and smart grid applications. All SunSpec specifications are free to download and use. SunSpec also supports international standard communication protocols that adhere to open principles.

SUNSPEC MODBUS

SunSpec Modbus is an open standard, referenced in IEEE 1547-2018, that enables interoperability amongst DER system components. The SunSpec Alliance currently manages SunSpec Modbus testing directly and is in the process of transferring testing responsibilities to SunSpec Authorized Test Laboratories.

The SunSpec Modbus package includes:

Modbus Fact Sheet
SunSpec Technology Overview
SunSpec Device Information Model Specification
SunSpec DER Information Model Specification
SunSpec DER Information Model Reference (Includes APPROVED 700 Series DER Models)
SunSpec Modbus for IEEE 1547 Conformance Profile
SunSpec Model Definitions (Includes SMDX and JSON) (Download from Github)
SunSpec Energy Storage Model Description
SunSpec Inverter Model Description
Report from IREC, “Making the Grid Smarter: State Primer on Adopting the New IEEE Standard 1547™-2018 for Distributed Energy Resources”

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California Rule 21 (IEEE 2030.5/CSIP)

California Rule 21 requires that, by default, Distributed Energy Resources within Investor Owned Utilities (IOU) must utilize the IEEE™ 2030.5-2018 networking standard in the manner described in the Common Smart Inverter Profile.Products certified by SunSpec to the 2030.5 standard for wide area communication can be installed on sites connected to California Investor Owned Utilities and have the confidence in their compatibility with local area communication protocols like the freely available SunSpec Modbus Standards.

The 2030.5/CSIP package includes:

SunSpec Common Smart Inverter Profile (CSIP)
SunSpec Common Smart Inverter Profile Test Procedure
SunSpec DER Information Model and UL1741 Supplement SA Interoperability Report
SunSpec IEEE 2030.5/CSIP Conformance Test Procedures Results Reporting
SunSpec Test PKI Certificate Application Note
PICS Template

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SUNSPEC RAPID SHUTDOWN

The SunSpec Certified program for Rapid Shutdown verifies compliance to the SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown Functional Specification to meet the requirement established by National Electrical Code (NEC) 2017. PV module-level power control and safety (“rapid shutdown”) is required in 24 states starting in January 2019 and will affect millions of PV panels and all solar inverters. This standard is tested using UL 1741 SA criteria.

The SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown Specifications package includes:

Rapid Shutdown Fact Sheet
SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown Functional Specification
SunSpec Communication Signal for Rapid Shutdown Test Specification
PICS Template

DOWNLOAD RAPID SHUTDOWN SPECIFICATIONS

SUNSPEC CYBERSECURITY

The mission of the SunSpec / Sandia DER Cybersecurity Work Group is to support the deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) by defining best practices in cybersecurity for DER and driving the concepts that emerge from these best practices into relevant national and international standards. The following documents include the published results of this initiative.

The SunSpec Cybersecurity Specifications package includes:

SunSpec Test PKI Certificate Application Note
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION Actions Needed to Address Significant Cybersecurity Risks Facing the Electric Grid
Certification Procedures for Data and Communications Security of DER
Recommendations for Trust and Encryption in DER Interoperability Standards [SAND2019-1490]
Roadmap for Photovoltaic Cyber Security [SAND2017-13262]

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ORANGE BUTTON

Orange Button is an open data exchange standard for the distributed solar PV industry. Comprised of information models, a standard taxonomy, a standard Application Program Interface (API), and supporting compliance test suites, Orange Button enables the free flow of data between information systems used in the solar asset lifecycle to decrease long term costs and increase innovation.

The SunSpec Orange Button Document Package includes:

Orange Button Fact Sheet
Orange Button Taxonomy Guide
Orange Button Taxonomy Data Definitions
Orange Button Taxonomy
Orange Button XBRL Application Programing Interface (API)
Orange Button GitHub Library of Projects

Check out SunSpec.OrangeButton.io for more information about the program!

DOWNLOAD ORANGE BUTTON SPECIFICATIONS

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Developed in conjunction with NREL and Sandia National Laboratory under U.S. Department of Energy funding.

DOWNLOAD SUNSPEC O&M BEST PRACTICES GUIDE

SUNSPEC BLOCKCHAIN

The SunSpec Blockchain package includes:

Blockchain to Record Private Key Properties in DER Equipment Specification

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