The ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, residential, commercial and consumer electronics applications, today announced it has made the draft 0.7 document of ZigBee Smart Energy version 2.0 available for public download and comment. This draft is being provided in conjunction with the Alliance’s previously announced commitment to collect public comments on the standard in addition to the input from the broad stakeholder community already actively engaged in its development. The release of the draft 0.7 document has been accelerated to meet the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards review timeline.
“The ZigBee Alliance’s Smart Energy Profile 2.0 is an integral part of the HAN and the emerging requirements for Smart Grid interoperability and energy management,” said George Arnold, National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability at NIST. “I am pleased to see the ZigBee Alliance going the extra mile to ensure all points of view are represented, augmenting its already open consensus-oriented process.”
Since its initial release in May 2008, ZigBee Smart Energy has been the energy industry’s leading choice for implementing AMI and Smart Metering on home area networks (HAN). In January 2010, ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 was included in the NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards, Release 1.0.
“GE believes that ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 provides the industry with the best and quickest path to achieve HAN standardization for the Smart Grid,” said John McDonald, Technical Strategy & Policy Development Director at GE and Chair of the NIST SGIP Governing Board. “GE is committed to our role in developing ZigBee Smart Energy and developing ZigBee Certified products.”
The ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 development process continues concurrently on multiple levels to ensure rapid progress. This multi-pronged effort offers opportunities for all Smart Grid stakeholders to provide public comments and feedback that ensures ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 satisfies the varying requirements of the evolving Smart Grid.
“By publishing the draft 0.7 document of ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0, we continue our commitment to involve the entire Smart Grid community in the development of this standard,” said Bob Heile, Chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. “The ZigBee Alliance has taken extraordinary steps, beyond its normal open channels, to allow consideration of everyone’s views. Our members look forward to rapidly completing a very market-relevant ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 standard.”
ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 will provide an IP-based energy management solution that expands opportunities for use that builds upon the momentum currently underway in the industry today. ZigBee Smart Energy has already attracted strong support from leading smart meter manufacturers, device manufacturers, utilities, energy service providers and various government and standards organizations around the world.
The Alliance will accept comments on the draft 0.7 document of ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 until June 4, 2010. The Alliance continues to accept public comments on the ZigBee Smart Energy version 2.0 Technical Requirements Document (TRD) until May 7, 2010. Comments for both documents will be reviewed and considered as part of the ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 draft 0.9 creation process. The 0.7 draft document, TRD and required comment submission forms are available at www.ZigBee.org/SmartEnergy. The Alliance will continue announcing future public comment periods based on the successful completion of development milestones.
ZigBee Smart Energy enables energy service providers and utilities to wirelessly communicate with and manage common household devices such as smart thermostats, in home displays and appliances. It improves energy efficiency by allowing consumers the means to manage their energy consumption more precisely using automation and near real-time information and additionally gives consumers the ability to choose interoperable energy saving products from a variety of different manufacturers and link them together. It also helps utilities and energy providers implement new advanced metering and demand response programs to drive greater energy management and efficiency, while responding to changing government requirements.
For more information and a list of ZigBee Certified products, visit: www.ZigBee.org/SmartEnergy.
