Since October 2021, 51nodes has been supporting the Stuttgart-based electricity transmission system operator TransnetBW in exploring and determining the potential for using Self-Sovereign Identities (SSI) in network management processes.
In the digital world, people, machines and organizations need a credential to communicate with each other in a trustworthy manner. Following the example of the plastic cards in our wallets, we also need digital proof of the capabilities of people, machines and organizations. Service providers requesting this evidence must be able to verify the evidence without contacting the issuer. When I rent a car, it is also enough to show my driver’s license and credit card – two plastic cards.
Self-sovereign identities (SSIs) strive to do just that, enable digital credentials of attributes and capabilities for people, machines, and organizations that can be self-managed by their respective holders in a digital badge. Our cell phones, for example, can store this ID. And similar to permission sharing when installing an app, badge holders can share the credentials assigned to them with precision fit when signing up for a service.
With SSI, holders have complete control of their identity and related credentials. Furthermore, time-consuming logon processes with service providers are eliminated, as they no longer require their own identity management. Required identity information is provided by the holder’s digital ID card in an up-to-date form at all times. SSI thus promises to overcome parallel, expensive and inconsistent data management in different application silos.
TransnetBW has now set itself the task of tapping the obviously high potential of SSI for itself. Today, the power grid industry is still characterized by silo-like data management structures. A large number of processes such as control power, congestion management, and the collection of EEG and CHP levies are supported by IT systems that manage the respective master data of power generation plants themselves. Furthermore, the German energy industry lacks a single point of truth for trustworthy plant master data – while at the same time millions of private energy producers will have to be integrated in the near future.
With the support of the technology company 51nodes, several potential use cases for SSI have now been identified in TransnetBW’s network management processes.
51nodes is, among others, a member of the SSI-based identity management network IDunion, which is driven by more than 47 well-known German companies and organizations. Furthermore, 51nodes has extensive experience in implementing SSI and blockchain-based solutions with clear added value.
Further information about SSI
– Self-Sovereign Identity: The Ultimate Beginners Guide
– Self-Sovereign Identity: Basics, Applications and Potentials of Portable Digital Identities (Whitepaper of Fraunhofer FIT)
– Opportunities of Self-Sovereign Identities from an Enterprise Perspective for Identity & Access Management
– An Overview of the SSI Ecosystem (Scientific Article)
– A Technical Implementation Platform for SSI in the Energy Industry: Energy Web Decentralized Operating System (Technical Concept Documentation)