Interoperability is seen by many in the energy sector as key to unlocking flexibility services. Energy Systems Catapult is looking at its broader implications, so the energy system and consumers benefit from the potential of digitisation. es.catapult.org.uk/publications/a… 
Interoperability is the ability of a product or system to cooperate with other products or systems to share resources.
This report discusses the types of interoperability which must be considered to deliver demand-side flexibility and provides case studies which illustrate the practical need to consider the different elements in context with each other.
We explore 19 different types of interoperability within energy sectors, broadly categorised into 6 areas:
1. Consumer Interoperability: ensuring that provisions exist for consumers to switch between both different commercial offers and technology choices.
1. Consumer Interoperability: ensuring that provisions exist for consumers to switch between both different commercial offers and technology choices.
2. Commercial Interoperability: to ensure that incentives are aligned across the energy system to ensure that value can flow where it needs to, driven by market forces.
3. Data Interoperability: to ease the sharing and portability of data between different systems.
4. Device Interoperability: to ensure that devices are swappable, replaceable and exchangeable as needs change and technologies develop and to allow consumers to make informed choices between open and closed eco-systems.
5. Physical Interoperability: to ensure that end-to-end systems function as changes happen to parts of the system.
6. Vector Interoperability: to ensure that energy provision across gas, electricity, heat, transport fuels etc. are compatible with one-another and that coordination occurs in a timely fashion.
