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Specifications for secure, standardized access and sharing of energy-related data

The future of energy relies on digital, data-driven systems that optimize infrastructure for lower costs, improved reliability, and cleaner energy.

Our next-generation data specifications enable this future through standardized, secure data access and sharing designed for modern machine communication and AI, building the foundation for tomorrow’s energy grid.

Secure by Design

Developed in collaboration with global leaders in security and privacy, these specifications incorporate industry best practices to ensure the protection of sensitive data.

AI Ready

Share well-structured and descriptive data for training AI systems to unlock its full value, while maintaining proper authorization and permissions.

Broadly Applicable, Uniquely Adaptable

Drawing on decades of experience integrating numerous utility data systems, these specifications capture common use cases while providing flexibility for customization and future evolution.

Overview

How It Works

LF Energy CDS Data Sharing Roadmap

Architecture Overview

LF Energy CDS Architecture Diagram

Use Cases

For Utilities and Data Administrators

  • Secure data transfer for key accounts
  • Privacy and security compliance
  • VPP and market integration infrastructure
  • Settlement automation for retailers, CCAs, and aggregators
  • Trade ally network activation
  • Streamlined vendor integration
  • Device data interoperability
  • Interconnection process automation
  • Performance-based rebate support
  • Statewide/federal program reporting

For Energy Consumers

  • Modern consumer app integrations
  • Personalized, accurate energy assessments
  • Ability to leverage AI tools for energy securely
  • Access to energy programs and incentives
  • Financial and carbon reporting
  • Building benchmarking
  • Portfolio management
  • Consolidated utility billing

For Solution Providers

  • Energy project site assessment
  • VPP registration automation
  • Program eligibility screening
  • Complex rate management
  • Flexible interconnection support
  • Energy performance contracting
  • DR/VPP event settlement
  • Consolidated billing/virtual net metering
  • Streamlined program enrollment

Get Involved

Participation in the project is open to all, including reviewing public information on the repository, website, or mailing list; engaging on the mailing list or Slack channel; attending meetings; commenting on issues or pull requests; and forking the repositories to play around with code or documentation (we’re open source!).

Specifications

Review the specifications.

Community Meetings

The CDS community meets regularly to make progress on individual working groups and collectively. Check out the calendar.

Mailing Lists

Join the general mailing list to receive regular updates. If you are interested in a specific working group, join one of the mailing lists below:

Contribute to the Specifications

To contribute comments, suggestions, or other content that will be included in our specifications or open pull requests with proposed changes to our repository or specifications, your company must join as an LFESS member (it’s free!). You can complete the membership application at joinnow.lfess.org. Contributions and suggestions can be made directly on GitHub.

CDS in the Field

Interested in getting something into the field? We’re looking for utilities, solution providers, and state agencies that want to put the CDS specifications to work. We have varying levels of engagements, many of which can be phased in toward full scale deployment:

  • Technical Proof of Concepts can be completed within a day without the need for contracting to help technical teams understand what’s possible.
  • Field trials of varying levels can be deployed within weeks using discrete data from engaged customers based on their interests at little to no cost.
  • We’re looking for Pilot Partners to deploy time-bound deployments of the specifications at scale to test specific use cases in coordination with the member partners. We expect that these should be able to be launched within months given clear scope and buy-in from interested parties.
  • Full Scale Deployments should be feasible in the coming year. There are many data access initiatives planned or underway that could quickly adopt CDS to help drive scalable, secure data integration through CDS.

If you have interest in participating in one of more of the options above, please reach out at info@lfenergy.org.

Learn More

Contact

Have questions that aren’t answered here? Reach out to info@lfenergy.org for guidance.

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