Universal utility data exchange (uudex) increases capability while replacing outmoded services and technologies for the exchange of data and information between stakeholders

This federal Cooperative Agreement award, issued by the Department of Energy's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) under the Cybersecurity, Energy Security & Emergency Response (CESER) program (CFDA 81.008), provides $4,087,807 to GE Vernova Operations LLC to develop and demonstrate the Universal Utility Data Exchange (UUDEX) framework as a potential replacement for the Inter-Control Center Communications Protocol (ICCP) standard. The project aims to improve the security, robustness, and performance of data and information exchange between energy sector stakeholders. Key deliverables include a demonstration of UUDEX's capabilities at an Independent System Operator (ISO) and renewable generation facility, as well as a final report documenting the setup, configuration, and performance of the UUDEX system. A sub-award to Battelle Memorial Institute's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will provide technical guidance on mapping stakeholder use cases, integrating security tools, and refining the UUDEX object model and protocols. The successful completion of this project is expected to advance the commercial viability of the UUDEX framework and facilitate its broader adoption in the energy industry.

The uudex architecture improves trust through use of security advances, improves robustness and resiliency and ease of extension using model-based design, and improves performance and scalability using a publish/subscribe messaging pattern. The successful completion of this project will include a demonstration of uudex's capabilities at an independent system operator (ISO) and in communication with its members. This demonstration will exhibit uudex security, flexibility, and ease-of-use integrated into a near-production test system. The final project deliverable is a report that documents the demonstration, including setup, configuration, operation, feature evaluation, and initial performance measurements and analysis.