The Interoperable Device Interface Specifications Association, or IDIS Association for short.
In the early 21st century, with the accelerated development of smart grids in Europe, smart meters, as key terminal devices, faced serious interoperability challenges. The use of proprietary communication protocols by different manufacturers created extremely high cost barriers for grid operators in equipment selection, system integration, and subsequent maintenance, resulting in isolated technological silos. This "digital Tower of Babel" phenomenon severely hampered the large-scale development of smart grids and the efficient utilization of energy data.
To address this industry pain point, around 2010, four major European metering giants—Elster, Iskraemeco, Itron, and Landis+Gyr—jointly founded the IDIS Association. The core mission of this non-profit organization is to develop unified interface specifications for interoperable devices based on DLMS/COSEM, thereby reducing the interconnection costs of smart meters globally and improving the operational efficiency of the entire industry. The association's establishment reflects the industry wisdom of competitive companies seeking win-win cooperation in the field of technical standards. By establishing an open technical framework, it preserves market competition while eliminating unnecessary technical barriers.
1, Standardization Foundation Phase (2010-2014): IDIS 1.0 Establishes the Basic Framework
In September 2010, the IDS Association released its first communication interface standard, IDIS 1.0, marking the official commencement of its standardization mission. This initial version established the basic framework for smart meter communication, specified the core interfaces and protocol specifications for data exchange between devices, and provided the first technical benchmark for the interoperability of devices from different manufacturers.
The release of IDIS 1.0 quickly had an impact on the European market. Countries such as Romania and Poland were among the first to adopt this standard in their smart grid construction, significantly reducing equipment procurement and system maintenance costs for grid operators. According to industry statistics, after adopting a unified interface standard, the deployment cost of smart meters in Europe decreased by an average of 15%-20%, and equipment compatibility issues decreased by more than 60%. During this phase, association members were mainly European companies, and the standard's influence was primarily limited to the European region.
2, Ecosystem Expansion Phase (2014-2021): IDIS 2.0 Drives Market Expansion
With the continuous development of smart grid technology and the increasing variety of application scenarios, the IDIS Association launched the IDIS 2.0 standard in September 2014. This version represents a significant upgrade from version 1.0, adding object model extension capabilities to support more types of smart device access and richer data interaction needs, further enhancing the standard's applicability and flexibility.
The release of IDIS 2.0 marked a significant turning point in the association's development, propelling its influence from Europe to the rest of the world. In the African market, countries such as South Africa and Senegal began adopting the IDIS standard. The accelerated internationalization of the standard led to a more diversified membership structure, with increasing numbers of equipment manufacturers, grid operators, and research institutions participating in its development and application.
3, System Maturity Stage (2021 to Present): IDIS 3.0 Addresses the Energy Internet Transformation
Entering the 2020s, the rapid development of the energy internet has placed higher demands on smart meters, requiring them not only to achieve basic data collection functions but also to support more complex network architectures, higher security performance, and more flexible application scenarios. To address these new challenges, the IDIS Association officially released the IDIS 3.0 standard at the end of 2021.
IDIS 3.0 is a landmark upgrade, comprising two core components: IDIS-S03-001 Pack3 IP profile-X ed1.0 and the object model Pack3 Ed1.0 - V3. The new version introduces native support for IP networks, strengthens security encryption mechanisms, and expands device management functions, better meeting the needs of emerging scenarios such as distributed energy, microgrids, and electric vehicle charging. This upgrade transforms the IDIS standard from a simple device interface specification into a comprehensive technical system supporting complex applications in the energy internet.
To facilitate the implementation of the new standard, the association formulated a clear transition plan: IDIS 2.0 certification would be gradually phased out starting December 30, 2023, and IDIS 3.0 certification would be officially launched in October 2024. This arrangement provided the market with sufficient adaptation time while ensuring the orderly advancement of technological upgrades. By 2025, many leading international instrument companies had completed product iterations based on the 3.0 standard, and newly deployed smart grid projects in major European countries had fully adopted the IDIS 3.0 standard, marking the association's standardization work as entering a mature and stable phase.
Today, the IDIS standard has become a crucial technical specification in the global smart meter field, with influence spanning Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. The standard's adoption has not only reduced the construction and operation costs of global smart grids but also facilitated the efficient flow and value extraction of energy data, providing key support for the digital transformation of the energy industry.
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