SunSpec Modbus
SunSpec Modbus is an open communication standard that specifies common parameters and settings for monitoring and controlling Distributed Energy Resource (DER) systems. SunSpec Modbus utilizes SunSpec Information Models and is specified in IEEE™ 1547-2018, the U.S. national standard for DER.
Key Features and Benefits
- Enables multi-vendor interoperability for manufacturers of solar inverters, energy storage devices, trackers, meters, and other devices incorporated into DER systems.
- Semantically identical, and thus fully interoperable, with IEEE 2030.5 and IEEE 1815 communication protocols, thus ensuring a high signal-to-noise ratio for the majority of DER networks that implement multiple protocols.
- Specified in IEEE 1547, the national DER standard in the U.S., as one of three mandated standard communication interface options (along with IEEE 2030.5 and IEEE 1815).
Approved Specifications
Four SunSpec Specifications Now in Countdown to APPROVAL
We're excited to announce that four SunSpec specifications have entered the final countdown of moving from TEST to APPROVED status. During this 45-day window for technical comments and IPR Review, which will begin on March 11, 2021 and conclude on April 20, 2021,...
SunSpec Alliance Releases SVP Dashboard Test Platform To Enable IEEE 1547 Communication Testing For Distributed Energy Resources
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 4, 2021-- To accelerate the delivery of Distributed Energy Resource (DER) technology such as solar and storage products that comply with IEEE 1547-2018, the U.S. national standard for DER, the SunSpec Alliance has released the SunSpec SVP...
New 700 Series Model Definitions for IEEE 1547 Near Approval
SunSpec Modbus is an open standard that enables interoperability amongst DER system components. Referenced in IEEE 1547-2018, the SunSpec Modbus 701-712 Series DER Information Models are just months away from being promoted from TEST status to APPROVED status, thus...
SunSpec Modbus Technology Overview
Provides a theory of operation for the SunSpec Modbus interface. Read this document first.
SunSpec Information Model Reference
Describes SunSpec Modbus data points and information models for all types of DER devices including inverters, batteries, meters, and trackers. Published in Microsoft Excel format.
SunSpec Information Model Specification
Provides an overview of SunSpec information models associated with the physical devices comprising a photovoltaic system. This document provides communication interface developers with detailed information needed to define SunSpec-compliant device interfaces....
SunSpec Model Definition XML (SMDX)
Revision: APPROVED Date: February 15, 2018 Link to the SunSpec Model Definition XML (SMDX) repository on Github.
SunSpec Energy Storage Model Description
TEST status. Describes the SunSpec Modbus information models for lithium ion, flow, and lead acid batteries.
CA Rule 21 Implementation Guide for SunSpec Modbus
TEST Status. Describes the SunSpec Modbus information models required to develop a CA Rule 21 Phase 1 and UL 1741 SA compliant communication interface.
SunSpec Inverter Model Descriptions
Revision: APPROVED Date: April 6, 2015 Describes the SunSpec Modbus information models for inverter monitoring and control. Note: some newer SunSpec models are not documented here.
Specifications in Development
NEW IN 2020
With the publication of the IEEE 1547-2018, SunSpec upgraded its core information models to meet the requirements of the IEEE 1547 specifications. These information models are incorporated in SunSpec Modbus and are now also available in JSON and accessible via the SunSpec RESTful web service interface. The benefits associated with this technology include all those listed above plus these:
- Utilizes the HTTPS protocol. HTTPS is used by most major internet applications (Google, Facebook, etc.) and by the IEEE 2030.5 standard used in the state of California.
- Supports TLS 1.2 encryption, the same security standard employed by IEEE 2030.5
- Designed for simple data transfer, very high speed, and low latency
- Ideal for gateway applications incorporating IEEE 2030.5, IEEE 1815, or IEC 61850-7-420
The SunSpec Alliance encourages you to download, review, and provide comments to these documents. The comment period will remain open through February 2020; final publications of the APPROVED specifications is anticipated in March. Comments can be entered in this form.
Four SunSpec Specifications Now in Countdown to APPROVAL
We're excited to announce that four SunSpec specifications have entered the final countdown of moving from TEST to APPROVED status. During this 45-day window for technical comments and IPR Review, which will begin on March 11, 2021 and conclude on April 20, 2021,...
New 700 Series Model Definitions for IEEE 1547 Near Approval
SunSpec Modbus is an open standard that enables interoperability amongst DER system components. Referenced in IEEE 1547-2018, the SunSpec Modbus 701-712 Series DER Information Models are just months away from being promoted from TEST status to APPROVED status, thus...
SunSpec DER Information Model Reference
TEST status. Describes SunSpec Modbus 700 series data points contained in the DER Information Model. Compatible with IEEE 1547-2018.
SunSpec Device Web Service API Specification
TEST status. This specification describes a Representational State Transfer (RESTful) interface, compatible with HTTPS, to read and write device data that conforms to the SunSpec Device Information Models. It enables software developers to implement both the server...
SunSpec DER Information Model Specification
TEST status. This document describes the SunSpec Distributed Energy Resource (DER) information models that provide support for IEEE 1547-2018 functionality using SunSpec information models.
SunSpec Device Information Model Specification
TEST status. This document specifies the definition SunSpec Device Information Models that are compatible with IEEE 1547-2018.