Power Metering in Germany - Revision history

Barney: /* Chapter 5 Energy Generation / Powerplants */

2024-03-13T12:53:10Z

Chapter 5 Energy Generation / Powerplants

Barney: /* Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers */

2024-03-11T07:46:56Z

Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers

Barney: /* Chapter 1 Home */

2024-03-10T13:26:49Z

Chapter 1 Home

Barney: /* Chapter 2 Public Key Infrastructure */

2024-03-10T11:13:48Z

Chapter 2 Public Key Infrastructure

Barney: /* Keygen and Distribution */ BSI PACE-Protokol

2024-03-10T11:12:09Z

Keygen and Distribution: BSI PACE-Protokol

Barney: /* Local Metrological Network or LMN */ PACE-Protokoll

2024-03-10T11:10:19Z

Local Metrological Network or LMN: PACE-Protokoll

Barney: /* Chapter 1 Home */ security module spec

2024-03-10T11:03:42Z

Chapter 1 Home: security module spec

Barney: /* Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers */

2024-03-10T10:50:46Z

Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers

Barney: /* Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers */

2024-03-10T10:49:23Z

Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers

Barney: /* Tarif Anwendungsfälle (TAF) */

2024-03-10T10:48:59Z

Tarif Anwendungsfälle (TAF)

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:53, 13 March 2024
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	=Chapter 5 Energy Generation / Powerplants=		=Chapter 5 Energy Generation / Powerplants=
		+	Actual powerplants do not have a direct technical relation to smartmeters in Germany. They function as an indication on who and how much is to charge for their operation of course. Power plants are connected to Redispatch 2.0 and are under the control of the grid controllers of course. They schedule their activities by load prrofiles, derived from historic data. This is then overlyd with "day-ahed" planning and immediate reaction to redispatch measures. They function by their ablity to react on sudden demmand changes. This leads to a hirarchy of systems and fuels:
		+
		+	* gas operated (can be quickly activated an shut down, recation time <30 Mins)
		+	* coal and biogas operated (can be scheduled to react in about 4-5 hrs)
		+	* nuclear operated (can be scheduled to react in about 4-5 hrs, not existing in Germany anymore (2024))
		+	* wind and solar power (basically uncontrolled, can be disconnected in thess than a second)
		+
		+	Redispatch will force all of them to disconnect from the grid within very short timespans. Addin them for stabilizing reasons has to schedulaed according to their natural time to react. As electricity from solar and wind energy generators are given priority but in the same moment do expose the grid to an extensive volatilities, other means for stabilizing the grid need to be either based on gas operated sources or planned ahead. All of this includes extensive weather monitoring and forcasting to maintain grid (frequency) stability while still allowing wind and solar generated eletriciy to be used with their inevitable volatile nature.
		+
	=Chapter 6 Energy Import /Export in the EU and Worldwide=		=Chapter 6 Energy Import /Export in the EU and Worldwide=

@@ Line 172: / Line 172: @@
 =Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers=
 [[File:TAF.png|thumb|Tarif-Anwendungsfälle (TAF)]]
-The market role "Lieferant" (retailer or supplier) is the consumers contracting party for energy delivery. This party is not necessarily the same organization or company acting in the role of grid or smart meter operator. Nevertheless it has vital interest to influence the behaviour of energy deliver to the customer via the smart meter. For this purpose the retailer is using the role of "external market participant" in the WAN connected to the smart meter gateway. The messages from the retailer can be authenticated by the smart meter gateway using the PKI and do include meter readouts (UTILMD 13017), status information and changes in tarriffs.
+The market role "Lieferant" (retailer or supplier) is the consumers contracting party for energy delivery. This party is not necessarily the same organization or company acting in the role of grid or smart meter operator. Nevertheless it has vital interest to influence the behaviour of energy deliver to the customer via the smart meter. For this purpose the retailer is using the role of "external market participant" in the WAN connected to the smart meter gateway. The messages from the retailer can be authenticated by the smart meter gateway using the PKI and do include meter readouts (MSCONS 13017), status information and changes in tarriffs.
 =====Tarif Anwendungsfälle (TAF)=====

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 <blockquote>'''''Editor’s Note:'''''
-Without being able to describe all aspects of the above-mentioned standards and their implications in whole, I will follow a route on how it works and what is happening from the point of view of a regular consumer of energy services. Pleas keep in mind that the roll-out for this digital infrastructure is still in full swing at the point of this writing (2025). Whenever use cases are used as examples, they refer to electric energy. This should not divert attention from the fact, these communication standards and protocols do apply to all metered products (Sparten) in energy industries (Water, Heat, Gas, Contracting Services…) as well. Also, I do use the words “electricity” and “electric energy” synonymously and electricity or energy cannot be “consumed” – I know that. Finally: I am only beginning to investigate this. I have some professional experience, but it is limited. If I am wrong and/or describing situations inadequately, please share your insight either in this Wiki, Recessim Discord or DM (Discord)</blockquote>
+Without being able to describe all aspects of the above-mentioned standards and their implications in whole, I will follow a route on how it works and what is happening from the point of view of a regular consumer of energy services. Pleas keep in mind that the roll-out for this digital infrastructure is still in full swing at the time of this writing (2024). Whenever use cases are used as examples, they refer to electric energy. This should not divert attention from the fact, these communication standards and protocols do apply to all metered products (Sparten) in energy industries (Water, Heat, Gas, Contracting Services…) as well. Also, I do use the words “electricity” and “electric energy” synonymously and electricity or energy cannot be “consumed” – I know that. Finally: I am only beginning to investigate this. I have some professional experience, but it is limited. If I am wrong and/or describing situations inadequately, please share your insight either in this Wiki, Recessim Discord or DM (Discord)</blockquote>
 =Chapter 1 Home=
-So you live in an apartment or house and use electricity. Big deal! And it really is. Let us see why. All the electric energy delivered for your convenience goes through at least one measuring device – the meter. That will be in our digitized world an electronic device called in Germany for unknown reasons a '''smart-meter''' or moderne Messeinrichtung ('''mME'''). This thing in its initial configuration is not “smart” at all, given the idea "smart" means also: able to communicate. It’s not. It is an electronic counter with no ability to communicate. The meter resides logically in a '''market-locatio'''n or '''MaLo''' (address of the building or apartment), which is associated with your invoicing details (customer name & address).  The meter itself or multiple meters represent the '''measuring-location''' or '''MeLo'''. Ant this is bound to a '''meter-ID''' which is then associated with the physical meter, which again has a '''serial number'''.
+So you live in an apartment or house and use electricity. Big deal! And it really is. Let us see why. All the electric energy delivered for your convenience goes through at least one measuring device – the meter. That will be in our digitized world an electronic device called in Germany for unknown reasons a '''smart-meter''' or moderne Messeinrichtung ('''mME'''). This thing in its initial configuration is not “smart” at all, given the idea "smart" means also: able to communicate. It’s not. It is an electronic counter with no ability to communicate. Here's a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEnofAOLAdY&t=2s video] on this variant. The meter resides logically in a '''market-locatio'''n or '''MaLo''' (address of the building or apartment), which is associated with your invoicing details (customer name & address).  The meter itself or multiple meters represent the '''measuring-location''' or '''MeLo'''. Ant this is bound to a '''meter-ID''' which is then associated with the physical meter, which again has a '''serial number'''.
 [[List of EU Smart Meters]]
@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 [[File:LMN Stack.png|thumb]]
-One or more smart-meters with communication interfaces connect with a single smart meter gateway and form the '''Local Metrological Network''' or '''LMN'''.
+One or more smart-meters with communication interfaces connect with a single smart meter gateway and form the Local Metrological Network or LMN.
 [[File:LNMHANWAN.png|thumb|LNM HAN WAN Overview]]

@@ Line 125: / Line 125: @@
 While until 1st of April 2024 most communications between energy market participants (roles) were relying on automatically processed [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDIFACT EDIFACT] messages in email, this is changed to a [https://www.edi-energy.de/index.php?id=38&tx_bdew_bdew%5Buid%5D=1608&tx_bdew_bdew%5Baction%5D=download&tx_bdew_bdew%5Bcontroller%5D=Dokument&cHash=5fbee16dcbd284d5f9899875d50353de machine-to-machine communication via webservices], using [[wikipedia:AS4|AS4]] encrypted payloads. The [https://www.edi-energy.de/index.php?id=38&tx_bdew_bdew%5Buid%5D=1606&tx_bdew_bdew%5Baction%5D=download&tx_bdew_bdew%5Bcontroller%5D=Dokument&cHash=6b7d02fa38030119e628544f92fcdc07 requirements] for the XML encryption / signing public key infrastructure (PKI) leans on Diffie-Hellman key exchange procedures. The keys algorithms themselves however can be based on [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR02102/BSI-TR-02102.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=9 anything] commonly accepted like: RSA, Diffie-Hellman, DLIES or Elliptic-Curve.
-===== Smartmeter PKI functions =====
+=====Smartmeter PKI functions=====
-The smart meter gateway contains a [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR03109/TR-03109-2-Anforderungen_an_die_Funktionalitaet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3 security module], which is used to controll the meters PKI function using the proprietary BSI PACE-Protokoll.
+The smart meter gateway contains a [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR03109/TR-03109-2-Anforderungen_an_die_Funktionalitaet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3 security module], which is used to controll the meters PKI function using the proprietary BSI PACE-Protokoll (Password Authenticated Connection Establishment).
 =====Backend Keygen and Distribution=====

@@ Line 125: / Line 125: @@
 While until 1st of April 2024 most communications between energy market participants (roles) were relying on automatically processed [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDIFACT EDIFACT] messages in email, this is changed to a [https://www.edi-energy.de/index.php?id=38&tx_bdew_bdew%5Buid%5D=1608&tx_bdew_bdew%5Baction%5D=download&tx_bdew_bdew%5Bcontroller%5D=Dokument&cHash=5fbee16dcbd284d5f9899875d50353de machine-to-machine communication via webservices], using [[wikipedia:AS4|AS4]] encrypted payloads. The [https://www.edi-energy.de/index.php?id=38&tx_bdew_bdew%5Buid%5D=1606&tx_bdew_bdew%5Baction%5D=download&tx_bdew_bdew%5Bcontroller%5D=Dokument&cHash=6b7d02fa38030119e628544f92fcdc07 requirements] for the XML encryption / signing public key infrastructure (PKI) leans on Diffie-Hellman key exchange procedures. The keys algorithms themselves however can be based on [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR02102/BSI-TR-02102.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=9 anything] commonly accepted like: RSA, Diffie-Hellman, DLIES or Elliptic-Curve.
-=====Keygen and Distribution=====
+===== Smartmeter PKI functions =====
 In theory every market participant is obliged to create their own key-pair for each role in the EDI@Energy framework. Then the public key needs to be signed by an officially certified CA. Officially certified CAs in this case are IT service providers, registered with the National Energy Grid Agency (BNetzA) and do include like Arvato, Telesec and Deutsche Telekom. The signed public key must be made available in a central directory operated by the BDEW, an energy industry standardization organization. It turns out, the challenge to generate key pairs in a secure fashion is overwhelming most IT organizations in small and medium sized utilities companies. The challenges arising from installing and maintaining trust-centre grade “circle of trust” procedures including the necessary escrow mechanisms, keeping employees from stealing keys and passwords, are substantial. Some larger organizations are known to have the resources and procedures in place, most smaller companies seem to ignore the risks and have their admins generating X.509 keys with ssh-keygen on their Linux machines and some totally rely on the service offerings of the CAs. In the case of some IT-guy made the key pair, there is a substantial risk, this pair will sooner or later be compromised. Additionally relying on a CA service provider to generate, distribute and maintain thousands of key-pairs for smaller organizations creates a single target, which if compromised, will void the security of the whole PKI at least for a while.

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 =====Local Metrological Network or LMN=====
-In order to “smartify” the situation, communication must be enabled. Therefore an communication interface needs to be added to the smart-meter. Furthermore a smart-meter-gateway ('''SMGW''') needs to be added and accessible from the meters communication interface. These two devices can now communicate and are called in Germany an intelligent measuring system or '''iMSys''' - and yes, this communication is already protected (encrypted). The protocol used here is a COSEM (Companion Specification for Energy Metering) / OBIS (Object Identification System) / OMS (Operation Management System) protocol based on RS485 which can be either by wire or wireless, defined in [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR03109/TR-03109-1_Detailspezifikation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4 TR-03109]. It also contains a [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR03109/TR-03109-2-Anforderungen_an_die_Funktionalitaet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3 security module], which is used to controll the meters PKI function.
+In order to “smartify” the situation, communication must be enabled. Therefore an communication interface needs to be added to the smart-meter. Furthermore a smart-meter-gateway ('''SMGW''') needs to be added and accessible from the meters communication interface. These two devices can now communicate and are called in Germany an intelligent measuring system or '''iMSys''' - and yes, this communication is already protected (encrypted). The protocol used here is a COSEM (Companion Specification for Energy Metering) / OBIS (Object Identification System) / OMS (Operation Management System) protocol based on RS485 which can be either by wire or wireless, defined in [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR03109/TR-03109-1_Detailspezifikation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=4 TR-03109]. It also contains a [https://www.bsi.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BSI/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/TR03109/TR-03109-2-Anforderungen_an_die_Funktionalitaet.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3 security module], which is used to controll the meters PKI function using the BSI PACE-Protokoll.
 [[File:LMN Stack.png|thumb]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:50, 10 March 2024
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	=Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers=		=Chapter 4 Energy Suppliers / Retailers=
		+	[[File:TAF.png\|thumb\|Tarif-Anwendungsfälle (TAF)]]
	The market role "Lieferant" (retailer or supplier) is the consumers contracting party for energy delivery. This party is not necessarily the same organization or company acting in the role of grid or smart meter operator. Nevertheless it has vital interest to influence the behaviour of energy deliver to the customer via the smart meter. For this purpose the retailer is using the role of "external market participant" in the WAN connected to the smart meter gateway. The messages from the retailer can be authenticated by the smart meter gateway using the PKI and do include meter readouts (UTILMD 13017), status information and changes in tarriffs.		The market role "Lieferant" (retailer or supplier) is the consumers contracting party for energy delivery. This party is not necessarily the same organization or company acting in the role of grid or smart meter operator. Nevertheless it has vital interest to influence the behaviour of energy deliver to the customer via the smart meter. For this purpose the retailer is using the role of "external market participant" in the WAN connected to the smart meter gateway. The messages from the retailer can be authenticated by the smart meter gateway using the PKI and do include meter readouts (UTILMD 13017), status information and changes in tarriffs.

@@ Line 186: / Line 186: @@
   '''TAF 13:''' consumer data copy (HAN>WAN)
   '''TAF 14:''' high frequency communication mode
-If the consumer is notoriously late paying bills, switching to TAF12 will put the meter into prepaid mode. The meter will allow electricity to be delivered only if accounts receivable balance is positive.
+Example: If the consumer is notoriously late paying bills, switching to TAF12 will put the meter into prepaid mode. The meter will allow electricity to be delivered only if accounts receivable balance is positive.
 =Chapter 5 Energy Generation / Powerplants=
 =Chapter 6 Energy Import /Export in the EU and Worldwide=

@@ Line 184: / Line 184: @@
   '''TAF 11:''' CLS control (on/off)
   '''TAF 12:''' prepaid
-  '''TAF 13:''' consumer data copy (han>WAN)
+  '''TAF 13:''' consumer data copy (HAN>WAN)
   '''TAF 14:''' high frequency communication mode
 If the consumer is notoriously late paying bills, switching to TAF12 will put the meter into prepaid mode. The meter will allow electricity to be delivered only if accounts receivable balance is positive.