Wi-Fi and HomePlug Powerline Alliance Collaborate on Connected Smart Home

The momentum in implementing Smart Grid technology is growing in developed countries.  Homes are being fitted with Smart Meters, home owners are installing advance connected solutions that monitor and manage how they use their electricity and gas. To further support this market the Wi-Fi Alliance and HomePlug Powerline Alliance have teamed up in a joint effort to promote the use of their respective technology in these modern digital home.

The agreement between the two alliances enables cooperative efforts for joint technical review of Wi-Fi Alliance and HomePlug specifications and standards that facilitate interoperability of smart grid applications.  The organizations will also engage on joint outreach to promote the adoption of wireless and powerline technologies for smart grid applications.

Both bodies are already participating members of the SGIP (Smart Grid interoperability Panel), a forum for industry stakeholders and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and to play and active part in the ongoing development of standards for the smart grid infrastructure.

The Wi-Fi Alliance and HomePlug Powerline Alliance collaboration is also to enable SEP 2.0 applications to operate across a new mix of wireless and wired networks.   The Smart Energy 2 Application Profile (SEP 2.0) was selected last year b the U.S. Department of Energy and NIST as an initial interoperable standard for smart energy management with home area network devices.

Since inception both alliances have done a lot to promote and standardize their respective technologies.  The Wi-Fi Alliance’s “Wi-Fi Certified” logo is now a widely recognized sign of interoperability and quality. Since the launch of the Wi-Fi Certified program in March 2000, the Alliance has completed more than 8000 product certifications.

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has been very active with their respective specifications.  They have recently completed the HomePlug “Green PHY” (GP) specification for smart energy/smart grid applications and an update to HomePlug AV for broadband applications, “HomePlug AV2 Broadband Specification” is schedule for completion and release in the first quarter of 2011.