The development of the smart grid is expected to lead to a large growth in energy storage technology and applications to support the power infrastructure. A new project from IEEE will develop guidelines to help facilitate the wide-scale and consistent implementation of these energy storage systems.

The project, IEEE P2032.2, "Guide for the Interoperability of Energy Storage Systems Integrated with the Electric Power Infrastructure," is being developed by the IEEE Standards Association Standards Board and its SCC21 - Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Dispersed Generation, and Energy Storage Committee.

When completed, IEEE P2032.2 will provide guidelines for understanding and defining technical characteristics of energy storage systems, and how discrete or hybrid systems may be integrated with and used compatibly as part of the electric power infrastructure. It will meet an existing need for a new knowledge base to address terminology, functional performance, evaluation criteria, operations, testing, and the application of engineering principles for energy storage systems integrated with the electric power infrastructure.

Two related smart-grid standards, which this project will build upon, are already in development at IEEE, including the core IEEE P2030 project, "Guide for Smart Grid Interoperability of Energy Technology and Information Technology Operation With the Electric Power System (EPS), and End-Use Applications and Loads," and IEEE P2030.1, "Guide for Electric-Sourced Transportation Infrastructure."