Energy Web Unveils EW Switchboard
The new open-source tool offers identity and access management for users, assets, and app developers in a self-sovereign era
Zug, Switzerland — 17 December 2020 — Today Energy Web unveiled EW Switchboard, the latest addition to its open-source technology stack, the Energy Web Decentralized Operating System (EW-DOS). Switchboard is a first-of-its-kind identity and access management (IAM) tool for users, assets, and application developers in today’s growing self-sovereign approach to digital solutions. Although Energy Web developed Switchboard with a focus on the global energy sector and its foundational Energy Web Chain, Switchboard can be used in any sector and on any blockchain-based or non-blockchain digital solution.
To date, IAM solutions have been centralized, fragmented, and siloed. This presents challenges with respect to data privacy and security, lack of interoperability across systems, concerns about data persistence and censorship, and bloated administrative (e.g., reconciliation, KYC) and compliance (e.g., privacy, security) costs. Consumer-focused solutions such as Google or Facebook single sign-on and enterprise-focused solutions such as Google OAuth or Azure Active Directory have attempted to address some of these challenges. But a decentralized self-sovereign identity (SSI) approach offers a superior experience.
“This is a major landmark, not just for Energy Web’s ecosystem but for the future of open-source, decentralized technology,” explained Micha Roon, chief technology officer for Energy Web. “Universal self-sovereign identity is at the core of tomorrow’s digital solutions, from tracing an energy asset or megawatt-hour of renewable generation throughout its entire lifecycle to managing energy market and application access for enterprise users.”
SSI creates master identities for users and assets, avoiding constant duplication and always remaining in control of the user or asset owner (rather than third parties). An SSI comprises decentralized identifiers (DIDs) supported by verifiable claims (VCs). For example, a residential battery energy storage system manufacturer may create a DID for each battery that rolls off its production line. The manufacturer then might transfer ownership of a particular DID to a homeowner that installs a battery system at their residence, while the battery installer and the local grid operator both might attest to VCs about the battery’s capacity, location, and other details.
But until EW Switchboard, no organization had developed a full IAM solution that leverages SSI, DIDs, and VCs for authentication, authorization (such as for role-based access management in applications), and accounting (for logging user activity history).
“In the 20th century, an analog switchboard allowed an operator to plug and unplug various inputs and outputs, interconnecting a variety of users and endpoints. EW Switchboard is the modern, 21st century equivalent. We’ve replaced the operator with a decentralized system of autonomous self-sovereign identities, interconnecting various users, assets, and applications,” said Mani Hagh Sefat, solution architect at Energy Web.
For users, Switchboard enables them to manage their core identity and associated verifiable claims, their assets (such as solar panels, thermostats, electric vehicles, and batteries), and their enrollment in various applications and digital services (such as messaging and storage). For application developers, Switchboard enables them to define user roles and associated permissions, authorize users and assets, and log user operations.
The alpha version of EW Switchboard is available now, for initial use and feedback from the community. Energy Web intends to release a beta version in Q1 2021, with a final production version to follow.
- Visit Switchboard now
- Continue reading about enterprise ID management
- Dig deeper into SSIs, DIDs, and VCs
About Energy Web
Energy Web is a global, member-driven nonprofit accelerating a low-carbon, customer-centric electricity system by unleashing the potential of decentralized, digital technologies. EW focuses on our open-source technology stack — the Energy Web Decentralized Operating System (EW-DOS) — to enable any device, owned by any customer, to participate in any energy market.
EW launched the Energy Web Chain, the world’s first enterprise-grade, public blockchain tailored to the energy sector and the anchor of the EW-DOS tech stack. EW has also fostered the world’s largest enterprise ecosystem focused on open-source, decentralized, digital technologies. They comprise utilities, grid operators, renewable energy developers, corporate energy buyers, IoT / telecom leaders, and others.
For more, please visit https://energyweb.org.
CONTACT
Peter Bronski, Energy Web
+1.201.575.5545 | peter.bronski@energyweb.org
