Thanks to the development and application of standards, people worldwide can trust that the products, processes, and services they use are safer, more reliable, higher quality, and – in some cases – more ethical or sustainable.

How Standards Shape Our World

In everyday life, standards help ensure the safety of everything from the food we eat to the appliances, devices, and medical equipment we operate. Standards also guide energy management for improved efficiency and govern IT security practices to protect sensitive information.

The concept of standardization dates back to ancient civilizations, many of which created universal systems of weights, measures, and guidelines to support their trading activities. The world’s first formal standards organization, the National Standards Body, was established in London in 1901. Following the launch of the World Bank in 1944 and the founding of the United Nations in 1945, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was officially created in 1947 to “establish international standards for goods and services, promote global cooperation, and enhance quality, safety, and efficiency” in the post-WWII era.

Streamlining Society and Business

Since then, standards have had an indelible impact on our lives – enhancing safety, promoting technological innovation, and streamlining global trade. Below are some interesting facts about global standards:

• The acronym “ISO” (associated with the International Organization for Standardization) comes from the Greek word “isos,” meaning “equal.”
• More than 100,000 standards are recognized in the U.S. alone, and over 30,000 international standards are acknowledged globally.
• Standards are foundational for a wide range of industries. Examples include:
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) used in financial reporting
  • Common Core Standards in education
  • The National Electric Code (NEC) governing safe electrical installations in the U.S.
  • The International Energy Conservation Code regulating global energy usage
  • Bluetooth standards defining how wireless devices connect and communicate
  • HTML and CSS language standards regulating the architecture, look, and feel of web content
  • Even credit card sizes are standardized to ensure their compatibility worldwide!
• 14 October marks World Standards Day (founded by ISO in 1970), celebrating the importance of standards and those who develop them.

The Role of IEEE in the Standards Process

For over a century, the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) has helped shape global technology. As one of the most respected standards organizations, IEEE collaborates with thought leaders in more than 160 countries to advance innovation, safety, and interoperability. Its portfolio includes more than 1,200 active standards, with another 1,000+ currently in development.

IEEE standards span a wide range of disciplines—telecommunications, IT, electric vehicles, smart grids, blockchain, electromagnetic compatibility, and more. By providing a framework for compliance and innovation, these standards empower professionals to develop reliable, forward-thinking technologies. 

IEEE: Your Expert Source on Standards

IEEE offers many informative standards-related courses across a diverse range of fields.

• IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High-Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) 
  This 6-hour course program examines the underlying technology behind the latest Wi-Fi 6 products and the 802.11ax standard, which is focused on achieving higher efficiency and improving the user experience.
• Introduction to IEEE Std 1547-2018: Connecting Distributed Energy Resources 
  This 6-hour course program reviews the interconnection testing and verification requirements included in the IEEE 1547 standard, requirements for interoperability and open access at the DER, and power quality issues associated with DER systems.
• AI Standards: Roadmap for Ethical and Responsible Digital Environments 
  This 5-hour course program offers a comprehensive approach to creating ethical and responsible digital ecosystems based on the principles of Honesty & Impartiality, Protection & Security, and Safe Disclosure & Privacy.
• IEEE Software and Systems Engineering Standards Used in Aerospace and Defense
  This 5-hour course program explores systems and software engineering concepts applicable to the Aerospace and Defense industries and covers such topics as the selection and application of appropriate IEEE standards for life cycle processes, solving complex issues through interrelated life cycle processes, and techniques for rapid but high quality delivery.
• NESC® 2023: National Electrical Safety Code
  This 7-hour course program educates power utility professionals on the rules, regulations, and changes in the 2023 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and reviews such specific topics as supply station safety, grounding, and overhead and underground requirements.
• Software & Hardware Configuration Management in Systems Engineering
  This 5-hour course program reviews essential configuration management core concepts for both hardware and software, from the requirements specified in the IEEE 828 standard to best CM practices, modern CM approaches such as “Agile SCM,” and methods to assess and improve existing organizational CM practices.

Explore and enroll in IEEE standards courses today on the IEEE Learning Network. For institutional access, contact a specialist today!

If you’ve seen solar panels installed on rooftops or wind power being generated off the shores of coastal locales, use smart thermostats, electric vehicles and EV charging systems, fuel cells, or heat pumps, or participate in a local microgrid, then you’ve witnessed some examples of the use of distributed energy resources, also known as DERs.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), distributed energy resources involve “a variety of technologies that generate electricity at or near where it will be used” as opposed to relying on a more centralized power generation source. DERs support everything from single homes and businesses to huge industrial facilities, college campuses, and entire municipalities. (This is often through a microgrid that ties into a central electric utility’s local distribution lines). Based on their demonstrated ability to reduce electricity costs to ratepayers, improve power quality, reliability, and resiliency, engage in the “intelligent” process of two-way electricity flow, and help meet environmental and sustainability goals through their use of renewable energy sources, they’ve become increasingly popular.

Benefits of Distributed Energy Resources

Thanks to DERs, homes and businesses can reduce their dependence on the aging electric grid— portions of which are over a century old and in need of an upgrade. DERs also help minimize the risk of power outages that have risen in tandem with the growing frequency of severe storms and other natural disasters globally. At the same time, DERs offer greater control to end users by enabling them to generate the energy they need for their own use, sell it to the market, and/or modify their own energy demand.

As such, one doesn’t have to look far to see evidence of the growing market and demand for DERs worldwide. For instance:

• On the solar panel front, Fortune Business Insights predicts that the global solar power market will nearly double from US$254 billion in 2023 to US$437 billion by 2032.
• Statista projects that the market for global battery energy storage will grow from US$5 billion in 2023 to US$18 billion by 2030, an over three-fold increase.
• Electric cars, which represented just 2% of all vehicles globally in 2018, accounted for some 18% of all cars sold in 2023.
• Smart thermostat sales in the U.S. are expected to triple from roughly US$1.3 billion in 2022 to US$3.9 billion by 2029.

Growing Demand

The outlook for DERs continues to look bright, for many reasons. Declining initial price points are bolstering demand for these technologies. Additionally, federal support and funding through such legislation as America’s Inflation Reduction Act (enacted in August 2022) are driving demand for a range of DERs by providing financial rebates and incentives that encourage their adoption. Similarly, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order No. 222 (issued in September 2020) will financially compensate the owners of groups of qualified DERs for the power and services they provide to the electric grid. According to the World Resources Institute, this incentive will “[create] a new long-term value stream for the people and entities using these resources.”

Similar actions have been undertaken around the world to help fuel the proliferation of DERs. In Europe, for instance, the ‘European Green Deal’ and ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’ legislative initiatives are promoting the integration of renewable energy sources and DERs. The International Energy Agency confirms that DERs will be critical to the ongoing energy transformation in China.

Ultimately, experts confirm that the ongoing transition to DERs will promote a more reliable, energy-efficient, and equitable energy system worldwide.

Challenges Abound

While DERs offer many benefits, including the promise of greater resilience, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, experts nonetheless confirm that there are also many challenges associated with their use.

Among them, the harmonious operation of these systems and devices will require significant investments in new power generation and storage technology. In addition, with so many small-scale DERs being activated at a decentralized level and on disparate platforms worldwide, experts at the World Resources Institute warn that integration of these devices with central power sources can trigger power quality, compatibility, and reliability issues that will require a greater degree of grid management to control.

For all of these reasons, there’s never been a greater need for IEEE Standard 1547, which is designed to ensure the interconnection, interoperability, and safety of DERs connected to the electric grid.

“Before the adoption of this standard, there were significant challenges in connecting renewable energy sources to the grid, as each technology had its own set of protocols and requirements,” explained Christopher Sanderson, energy storage industry expert and IEEE Senior Member. “The development of IEEE Standard 1547 has made it possible for different types of DERs to work together seamlessly, ensuring that electricity generated from various sources can be reliably, [safely], and efficiently distributed and integrated into the grid without causing disruptions.”

Navigate IEEE Standard 1547 Through a Targeted Course Program

Introduction to IEEE Standard 1547-2018: Connecting Distributed Energy Resources is a six-course program developed by IEEE to help train entire technical teams on how to best implement this important standard. The course program reviews testing, verification, and interoperability requirements. It also covers clauses and annexes of IEEE Standard 1547-2018, and power quality issues that can result from the interconnection of DERs with utility grids.

Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about getting access to this program for your organization.

Interested in access for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN).

Resources

Hurst, R.W. What is Distributed Generation? Distributed Energy Resources. The Electricity Forum.

Distributed Generation of Electricity and its Environmental Impacts. United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Richmond-Crosset, Kyle and Greene, Zachary. (30 September 2022). How Distributed Energy Resources Can Lower Power Bills, Raise Revenue in US Communities. World Resources Institute.

(May 2022). Unlocking the Potential of Distributed Energy Resources. International Energy Agency.

Ali, Junaid. (16 August 2024). The Future of Energy and Distributed Power. Forbes.

(5 August 2024). Solar Power Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Technology. Fortune Business Insights.

Sanderson, Christopher. (30 June 2024). The Power of Standards: How IEEE-1547 Shapes Our Energy Future. LinkedIn.

Will Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) Change How We Get Our Energy? European Parliament.

Prospects for Distributed Energy Systems in China. International Energy Agency.

While the global pandemic has created an uncertain future for renewables, new discoveries are giving researchers hope for a greener tomorrow. According to a pair of recently published studies from Tel Aviv University, two naturally abundant resources—plants and humidity—may revolutionize renewable energy in the future by generating electricity.

Can Plants Generate Electricity?

One of the studies revealed that plants, which contain chlorophyll, may be able to act as natural solar panels. However, scientists are still determining how the electrical currents of plants can be “plugged into” man-made devices.

“At home, an electric current can be wired to many devices. Just plug the device into a power outlet,” Iftach Yacoby, head of The Laboratory of Renewable Energy Studies at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Life Sciences, told CTECH. “But when you want to do it in plants, it’s about the order of nanometers. We have no idea where to plug the plugs. That’s what we did in this study.”

By using a hydrogen-producing enzyme to “sit in the socket” of  the plant cell, the researchers proved that they possess a socket for everything—even though it was nanotermically-sized. Previously just a theory, the researchers believe they will now be able to engineer any type of plant or kelp with the purpose of energy production.

Yacoby told CTECH that he wants to use plant enzymes to create ammonia, a compound traditionally used in fertilizers, that doesn’t pollute the environment. “If we can get plants to produce ammonia on their own, we don’t need to produce fertilizer at all. We can give up nitrogen fertilizer and allow plants to use nitrogen in the air without fertilizer,” he said.

While the technology is promising, it won’t be economical for at least another ten years. 

Water Vapor May One Day Charge Batteries

According to another study from Tel Aviv University, water vapor from the atmosphere may one day be harnessed to charge batteries.

Water is able to naturally generate electricity. For example, during thunderstorms, lightning forms along the various stages of cloud formations—beginning with water vapor and then transitioning to droplets and ice. 

In the 1800s, physicist Michael Faraday revealed that metal surfaces can be charged with water droplets when there is friction between them.

Knowing that water vapor can create electrical charges during molecular collisions and generate static electricity through friction, the researchers performed an experiment to identify the voltage between two separate metals when exposed to humidity. They exposed one of the metals to high relative humidity, while keeping the other metal grounded. When the air was dry, there was no charge. When they elevated the humidity to over 60%, however, it did generate a voltage. This voltage then dissipated when they lowered the humidity.

The findings contradict traditional thinking about humidity as it pertains to electricity. While water is considered an effective conductor of electricity, it has not traditionally been seen as a way to produce charges on surfaces. “However, it seems that things are different once the relative humidity exceeds a certain threshold,” Professor Colin Price told Science Daily. 

According to the findings, it may be possible for humid air to charge metal surfaces to roughly a single volt. 

“If a AA battery is 1.5V, there may be a practical application in the future: to develop batteries that can be charged from water vapor in the air,” Price said. “The results may be particularly important as a renewable source of energy in developing countries, where many communities still do not have access to electricity, but the humidity is constantly about 60%.”

In other words, given the abundance of humidity in warmer climates, the technology could potentially serve as an endless source of renewable energy in poorer regions that need it the most.  

Connecting Distributed Energy Resources

Leveraging distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids can help countries reach their renewable energy goals.

Introduction to IEEE Std 1547-2018: Connecting Distributed Energy Resources is a course program that focuses on IEEE Standard 1547-2018. This standard provides technical specifications for interconnection and interoperability between utility electric power systems (EPSs) and distributed energy resources. It also provides requirements relevant to the performance, operation, testing, safety considerations, and maintenance of the interconnection.

Contact an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about getting access to these courses for your organization.

Do you want to learn more about Standard 1547 for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network.

Resources

American Friends of Tel Aviv University. (9 June 2020). Water vapor in the atmosphere may be prime renewable energy source. Science Daily. 

Kabir, Omer. (8 June 2020). The sun’s rays can electrify plants into producing renewable energy, study finds. CTECH.