Learnings

Outcomes

Key Learnings from the project:

1. For OpenADR and OpenFMB communication protocols, for the parts of the framework tested the test results show no major impediments to using any of the communication media/technologies in use today.
2. Each of the frameworks tested benefit from standardization and built‐in cyber security. The testing showed that the frameworks would be able to cope with standard Distribution Network Operator (DNO) operations within a range of typical internal network deployments.
3. The project has highlighted a number of requirements for end‐point devices and makes some recommendations on specifications..
4. For interfaces at scale, standardization of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and importantly authentication mechanisms are critical. Learning in this report details these requirements and extends into additional testing, which would be required for a large‐scale deployment.

Significant work is still required at low TRL before this project topic can go above “demonstrator” to “live trials”.

Lessons Learnt

• IT access through the various organisations added complications to the testing and several extra steps in the trial process due to site access restrictions imposed due to the COVID19 pandemic. Staff had to access their respective organisation’s IT real estate
  from home and then try to access the trial systems, which were connected to systems at the other organisation (whose engineers were likewise accessing it from home). Physical devices also had to be configured and transported between people’s homes, rather than worked on jointly at a central lab/workspace. Future projects should pre agree how work will continue if staff are required to work from home, with particular attention given to communications and IT requirements.
• Learning for DNOs carrying out similar IT/OT projects is that you need to commit significant internal resource to review and monitor the contractors carrying out the work to ensure they are aligning with our organisations’, and the industry’s, expectations and
  roadmaps. This is a large topic area that overlaps with a lot of other IT/OT topic areas, many of which aren’t solely focussed on  Network Operators (e.g., the British Standards Institute ‘Energy Smart Appliances’ work).