DNV GL opens first Technical Assurance Laboratory for smart energy and cyber security in Peterborough

Laboratory will be a centre of excellence, focusing on the rigorous testing and compliance of new smart energy and cyber security solutions for the UK market.

DNV GL has launched a new centre of excellence for both smart energy and cyber security testing expertise. This facility, which will specialise in smart metering assurance, is the first of its kind in the UK.

As UK industry makes its final preparations for the mass roll-out of smart metering to households and businesses, the newly-opened DNV GL Technical Assurance Laboratory (DTAL) located in the centre of Peterborough (Cambridgeshire) will play a vital part in this process.

Recently commissioned by DNV GL, the 410 square meters facility will act as an innovative exploration and research centre to ensure the interoperability, safety and reliability of smart energy products for consumers, manufacturers and utilities. 

The products under test in the new facility will be destined for prolific deployment in an increasingly decentralised and interconnected smart energy system – and it is important they work reliably, securely and fulfil their design criteria. For example, smart meters must be interoperable. When customers change their energy supplier, there must be no loss of functionality or service. Furthermore, there are a plethora of energy system and in-home technologies which require a similar level of scrutiny and independent testing.

Employing a highly-skilled specialist workforce, the lab will be offering best-in-class quality assurance and testing services for a whole range of smart energy products, including smart meters.

Stuart Bright, Operations Manager of DNV GL’s DTAL, said “This is an exciting development for DNV GL – we are opening a unique laboratory for the independent assurance and testing of smart energy and cyber security products – in one of the UK’s award winning Smart Cities. We are excited about becoming a leading player in these developing sectors.”

Cyber security risks are becoming more apparent in today’s world and as a constant stream of headlines suggest, all systems are vulnerable to hackers. The energy system is no exception. It is therefore vital that smart energy products are ‘secure by design’ and are independently assessed to check for any vulnerability. The DTAL is gearing up to respond to this challenge and last year, DNV GL recruited best-in-class security experts.

The facility will be used to perform a wide range of testing activities on different technologies, including:

• Smart energy testing; specifically smart metering, smart home and smart grid products.
• Cyber security testing; for a multitude of hardware/software products.

“As we move to a data smart world in energy systems, it is imperative that functionality, interoperability and cyber security concerns of our customers and wider stakeholders are addressed. I am pleased that DTAL is at the heart of providing this assurance and is therefore at the core of DNV GL’s vision for a safe and sustainable future,” noted Prajeev Rasiah, Executive Vice President for Northern Europe, Middle East & Africa (NEMEA), DNV GL – Energy.

DTAL is fully accredited and will be working to ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 methodologies as standard, enabling DNV GL to offer specialised testing services to customers.

For more information about the DTAL, please click here.

DNV GL
Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organisations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. DNV GL provides classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. It also provides certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. DNV GL, whose origins go back to 1864, operates globally in more than 100 countries with its 16,000 professionals dedicated to helping their customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

In the Energy industry
In DNV GL we unite the strengths of DNV, KEMA, Garrad Hassan, and GL Renewables Certification. DNV GL’s 2,500 energy experts support customers around the globe in delivering a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy supply. We deliver world-renowned testing, certification and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy efficiency. Our expertise spans onshore and offshore wind power, solar, conventional generation, transmission and distribu¬tion, smart grids, and sustainable energy use, as well as energy markets and regulations. Our testing, certification and advisory services are delivered independent from each other.