The OpenADR Alliance has selected Intertek as its exclusive testing and certification laboratory, providing conformance testing and certification for OpenADR 2.0 compliant products for interoperability with the smart grid.
Demand Response is the ability of demand side resources to alter their consumption, in response to price signals or incentives (to maintain system reliability). While DR solutions have been available to the industry for some time, increasingly the automation of DR programs is accepted as an effective industry solution for balancing the supply and demand across the electric grid - in real-time.
However, many current solutions lack standardization, which causes challenges for utility companies, system operators and regulators. As a result, the OpenADR Alliance was created to foster the development, adoption and compliance of the OpenADR standards. The Alliance is in the process of developing and standardizing OpenADR 2.0 version of the standard and has engaged Intertek to be the only, independent third-party testing company that will perform interoperability testing and certification, for OpenADR 2.0 compliant products.
Automated demand response is one of the dominant drivers for the smart grid as it deploys a fully preset signal from a utility, system operator (ISO/RTO) or other related entity to provide connectivity to customer end-use control systems and strategies. In an effort to provide a foundation for interoperable information exchange and set an industry standard and establish compliance, the OpenADR Alliance will work with companies to facilitate automated demand response. Intertek will play an integral part in helping to set this standard for the smart grid industry, as the company will provide interoperability testing and certification under the OpenADR Alliance initiative. Additionally, Intertek will support the Alliance and its members from pre-certification, to implementation and final testing and certification services.
