Overview
This SunSpec Alliance webinar explored how the InterSTORE project is advancing interoperability and testing for distributed energy resources (DERs) using enhanced implementations of the IEEE 2030.5 protocol. Led by a consortium of European research institutions and industry partners, the project developed a suite of open-source tools designed to simplify integration between modern grid platforms and legacy DER devices. Central to the project is a Legacy Protocol Converter (LPC) that allows devices using protocols such as Modbus or MQTT to communicate through 2030.5-based systems, enabling broader interoperability without requiring hardware replacements.
The webinar highlighted several technical components developed through the project, including the LPC middleware, client and server communication libraries, and an open-source testing framework based on SunSpec procedures. These tools enable automated validation of DER devices and simplify configuration and deployment across different environments. Demonstrations showed how the testing software verifies device behavior against expected SunSpec standard values, helping developers confirm compliance and improve integration reliability.
The InterSTORE tools were validated through real-world pilots in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Portugal, where the platform successfully integrated multiple DER technologies—including batteries, PV systems, and EV infrastructure—across diverse grid environments. Across these pilots, the project demonstrated significant deployment efficiency, integrating dozens of DER assets and exceeding all defined performance targets while running lightweight infrastructure such as Raspberry Pi gateways. The project’s codebase has now been released through the LF Energy open-source community “Cupid,” ensuring the continued development and adoption of these interoperability tools beyond the project’s initial funding period.
