DER Integration
DER integration, without the integration drag
Distributed energy resource integration connects batteries, solar systems, EV chargers and other energy devices to the software platforms that need to access their data or control how they operate.
Derapi provides the infrastructure energy companies use to connect devices, work with energy data and build applications that scale.
What is DER integration?
DER integration is the process of connecting distributed energy resources to software systems such as VPPs, DERMS platforms, utility programs and energy applications.
It typically includes device authentication, telemetry, data normalization, supported control functions and ongoing maintenance of manufacturer APIs.
Why are DER integrations difficult to scale?
Every manufacturer has different APIs, authentication methods, data structures and device capabilities.
As companies support more manufacturers, they also take on more integration development, monitoring and maintenance.
The challenge isn’t connecting one device. It’s maintaining reliable connectivity across an expanding ecosystem of devices and manufacturers.
What is a unified DER API?
A unified DER API provides a common way to connect to devices from multiple manufacturers.
Instead of building and maintaining a separate integration for every OEM, applications can connect through one infrastructure layer that handles manufacturer-specific APIs and normalizes the resulting data.
Should you build DER integrations or use a platform?
Building integrations internally can make sense when you only support a small number of manufacturers or require highly specialized functionality.
A DER integration platform becomes increasingly valuable as device coverage grows because it can reduce engineering effort, standardize data and centralize ongoing API maintenance.
Build internally
- Build each OEM separately
- Maintain every API
- Create your own data models
- Greater engineering burden
Integration platform
- Access multiple OEMs through common infrastructure
- Maintenance handled centrally
- Work with normalized data
- Lower integration overhead
How do you evaluate a DER integration platform?
Look at five things:
Manufacturer coverage
Does it support the devices you need today and the ones you’ll need tomorrow?
Data quality
What telemetry, metadata and historical information can you access?
Control capabilities
Which commands and device functions are supported?
Reliability and scale
Can it perform consistently across large device portfolios?
Maintenance
Who is responsible when manufacturers change their APIs?
The right platform should reduce both the cost of connecting today’s devices and the complexity of adding tomorrow’s.
How is a DER integration platform different from a DERMS?
A DERMS typically manages, coordinates and optimizes distributed energy resources.
A DER integration platform provides the connectivity underneath it.
The integration layer connects to devices and normalizes their data. The DERMS uses that connectivity to orchestrate resources and operate programs.
How long does a DER integration take?
Timelines depend on the manufacturer’s API, authentication requirements, device functionality and testing process.
Using an existing connectivity platform can reduce the amount of custom development required and allow companies to add supported manufacturers faster than building integrations independently.
What does Derapi do?
Derapi helps energy companies connect distributed energy devices, work with energy data, run programs and build applications.
Instead of rebuilding integrations across manufacturers and use cases, teams can use Derapi as a common infrastructure layer for distributed energy.
2,000+ batteries supported through Enphase’s DSGS program
5x YoY DSGS program revenue growth
Build what’s next in energy.
Connect devices. Work with energy data. Run programs. Build applications.
Talk to Derapi