National cybersecurity body to protect consumer energy resources

Energy Networks Australia (ENA) has welcomed the formal incorporation of National Energy Public Key Infrastructure (NEPKI) Ltd — a new body set up to protect Australia’s distributed and consumer energy resources.

Public key infrastructure (PKI) enables secure digital communication between energy networks and smart devices like solar inverters, home batteries and electric vehicles. It’s designed to ensure that these types of consumer energy resources (CER) can be safely and efficiently integrated into the electricity grid — including through participation in virtual power plants (VPPs) and dynamic operating envelope management.

NEPKI, a not-for-profit, collaborative industry initiative, will deliver secure, interoperable and compliant digital identity and encryption services for consumer energy resources in Australia.

It will be open to five classes of members:

• Distribution network service providers (DNSPs) or their peak bodies.
• Government, including Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and state, territory or Commonwealth representatives.
• Electricity market participants, such as retailers, aggregators or their peak bodies.
• Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or their peak bodies.
• Other CER industry participants, including technology providers or developers involved in CER.
   

The organisation’s initial development and operational set-up will be supported by funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of the latter’s Advancing Renewables Program. By building and operating a trusted certificate authority and related services, NEPKI aims to provide confidence in a secure, reliable and efficient transition to a renewable and distributed energy future.

To guide its establishment and growth, NEPKI has appointed an experienced inaugural board of directors, bringing together expertise from across Australia. The board includes:

• Independent Chair: Lachlan Blackhall
• Independent Directors: Anissa Levy, Caitlin Trethewy, Ed Chan, James Brown
• Energy Networks Australia Designated Director: Dominic Adams
   

The board has in turn appointed Naomi Wynn as Chief Executive Officer and Travis Kauschke as Chief Operating Officer to establish and operationalise NEPKI’s core services.

“As Australia moves towards a cleaner, distributed energy future, we need to make sure the digital systems that support our electricity grid are safe and reliable. NEPKI will help provide that assurance for businesses, communities and households alike,” Blackhall said.

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