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March 27, 2025 – WAGO has expanded its industrial automation portfolio with a new Distributed Energy Resources (DER) controller that now natively supports the IEEE 2030.5 (CSIP) communication standard. The controller is designed to monitor and manage a wide range of on-site energy assets—from solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) chargers to heat pumps and battery storage—helping utilities and facility operators integrate distributed generation into the grid more reliably.
The announcement comes as U.S. utilities accelerate adoption of DER interconnection protocols under the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) framework. IEEE 2030.5, also known as Common Smart Inverter Profile (CSIP), is increasingly mandated by states like California, Hawaii, and New York for inverter-based resources. By adding native IEEE 2030.5 support, WAGO’s controller enables direct, standards-based communication between DERs and utility management systems without requiring custom gateways or middleware.
WAGO’s new DER controller is not just a protocol converter—it’s a full edge computing platform. It supports a broad set of industrial communication protocols, including OPC UA, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, CAN, IEC 61850 (MMS and GOOSE), and IEC 60870-5-104. This multi-protocol capability allows the controller to act as a universal translator, connecting DERs to different automation systems, SCADA networks, and cloud platforms.
The controller also pairs seamlessly with WAGO’s existing input/output (I/O) modules. That means customers already using WAGO’s I/O systems can simply add the new controller to their existing architecture—no need to rip and replace hardware. This backward compatibility is a key selling point for industrial facilities and commercial buildings that have standardized on WAGO’s ecosystem.
Distributed energy resources are proliferating across the U.S. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), small-scale solar generation alone grew by 25% in 2024, and EV charging loads are expected to double by 2027. Without intelligent controllers, this influx of variable, behind-the-meter assets can destabilize local distribution grids. DER controllers like WAGO’s provide real-time monitoring, curtailment, and scheduling capabilities that help maintain voltage and frequency within acceptable limits.
Industry analysts at Guidehouse Insights project that the global DER management system market will exceed $1.5 billion by 2030, driven by utility mandates and the need for grid resilience. WAGO’s entry with IEEE 2030.5 support positions it directly in the high-growth segment of utility-grade DER controllers.
WAGO Group is a German-based electrical connection and automation technology manufacturer with nine production facilities worldwide. Its North American headquarters in Burlington, Ontario, serves the U.S. and Canadian markets. The company’s DER controller portfolio is part of a broader push into energy management, complementing its well-known spring-loaded terminal blocks, PLCs, and edge controllers.
The new controller is available for order now. For full specifications, wiring diagrams, and compatibility lists, visit the official product page at .
This launch is particularly timely given the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent release of the “Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X)” best practices guide, which explicitly recommends IEEE 2030.5 for distributed energy resource interconnection. Utilities in PJM, CAISO, and ERCOT are currently piloting CSIP-based DER management systems, and WAGO’s controller is one of the first non-specialist industrial automation controllers to offer native support out of the box.
In an interview with Smart Grid Today, a WAGO product manager noted that the company sees “strong demand from commercial solar installers and EV charging network operators who need a single hardware platform to manage multiple DER types without writing custom code.” The controller’s ability to run edge logic via IEC 61131-3 also allows local control sequences to be deployed without cloud dependency—
