National Energy Public Key Infrastructure – or NEPKI – is a critical new initiative helping to secure Australia’s clean energy future. We introduced NEPKI late last year – here’s a recap.

Public key infrastructure (PKI) enables secure digital communication between energy networks and smart devices like solar inverters, home batteries and electric vehicles. This ensures that consumer energy resources (CER) such as these can be safely and efficiently integrated into the electricity grid – including through participation in Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) and dynamic operating envelope management.

By providing a trusted foundation for digital authentication, PKI supports a more secure, responsive, and interoperable energy system.

Why NEPKI matters

NEPKI is one of the priority actions from the National Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Roadmap, endorsed by Australian Energy Ministers. It will help provide the digital infrastructure needed to support the growing role of consumer energy in the grid – making sure it’s smart, simple and secure.

NEPKI is being established as a not-for-profit organisation and will be open to five classes of members:

• Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) or their peak bodies
• Government, including 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

This broad, inclusive membership model reflects the cross-sector nature of the energy transition – and the shared need for trust, security and interoperability.

Next steps for NEPKI

ENA, acting on behalf of several distribution networks, has secured interim authorisation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to establish NEPKI and undertake activities to procure and make PKI services available to PKI users. A final determination from the ACCC is expected in July.

In parallel, the design and procurement process for NEPKI’s technical solution is underway. Once formed, NEPKI will support secure communications for emerging network needs including dynamic operating envelopes, emergency backstop capabilities and VPPs.

Interested CER industry participants – including retailers, aggregators, OEMs and others – are encouraged to consider joining as members.