Seven U.S. states have completed adoption of a key industry technical standard for how distributed energy resources, such as microgrids, are connected and interact with the main grid and end user loads.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) several years ago established its IEEE 1547-2018 standard on interconnection requirements for smart inverters. This type of equipment makes it safer for the grid to accommodate higher levels of sometimes intermittent renewable energy, which itself can be deployed to support grid functions.

Recently, the industry non-profit advocacy group Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) released its IEEE 1547-2018 Adoption Tracker Map to indicate the status across states and system operators nationwide and in parts of Canada. In those states, the utilities and state regulators have selected and announced deadline dates for requiring certification of inverters to the IEEE standard.

The IREC map shows that Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon and California have completed the smart inverter standard implementation process both by state energy regulators and utilities.

Grid operators and utilities in six more states are on the way to ensuring adoption of the smart inverter standard. Those states considered “ongoing” in their adoption IEEE 1547-2018 process are Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and New Jersey.