Have you heard about FINSENY before? I didn’t know about these activities. What is it? Another European project – yes, but one that seems to build on existing standards like IEC 61850, IEC 61968/70, IEC 61400-25, IEC 62351, … IEC 60870-5.
FINSENY – Future Internet for Smart Energy (2011 – 2015)
FINSENY project: 35 organizations from the ICT and energy sectors team-up to identify the ICT requirements of Smart Energy Systems. This will lead to the definition of new solutions and standards, verified in a large scale pan-European Smart Energy trial … As part of the FI-PPP programme, FINSENY will analyse energy-specific requirements, develop solutions to address these requirements, and prepare for a Smart Energy trial in phase two of the programme.
Click HERE for the list of the 35 organizations.
Fortunately the work done so far refers to IEC TC 57 and TC 88 standards!
“ … existing standards which are worldwide considered and recognized like the IEC TC57 standards for Communication networks and systems for power utility automation (IEC 61850) and System interfaces for distribution management (IEC 61968) will be taken into account when defining the architecture, data models and communication relationships as well as existing telecommunication standards supporting the Future …”
Click HERE for a statement on standards.
A first list of consolidated ICT Requirements recommends: “To ensure interoperability the communication should rely on well-known and frequently used standards like IEC 61850, IEC 61968/61970 (CIM), or IEC 60870-5-101/104 (Telecontrol) and others. Also to be respected are specialized communication standards like - IEC 61400-25-4 for wind turbines …”
Click HERE for the requirements document [pdf, 262 pages]
A very detailed description of typical use-cases in power distribution has been written: “Distribution Network Building Block”: “ … Advanced ICT solutions that could provide Future Internet and the economies of scale that could be reached are essential for the development of the Smart Distribution Network. This deliverable presents a Reference Model for the Distributed Network Scenario and selects and describes a set of building blocks (UC) that should be representative enough for a further analysis of ICT requirements of smart DN solutions.”.
Click HERE for the Distribution Network Building Block [pdf, 98 pages]
I was a bit surprised when I read in that document about the communication with SCADA systems:
“SCADA System updates real time information from the RTU by means of continuous polling. The RTU is monitoring continuously Power Equipment through its Analog and Digital Inputs. When a change occurs is some of the inputs, the RTU takes note of it in order to send it in the next request from the SCADA System SCADA System requests every 2 seconds for any change of state or measurements detected in the RTU. When a request of state or measurement change is received, RTU sends all these changes to the SCADA System …”
Hm, this seems a bit … ok, smart people will develop smart(er) devices – the IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices) – that will help to reduce the sheer unlimited amount of data to be exchanged continuously every 2 seconds. The project expects millions of devices to communicate with. Suppose 100 signals to be exchanged every 2 seconds from 100.000 devices: 5.000.000 signals per second … IEDs (RTUs, Data Managers, Data Aggregators, Gateways, …) with IEC 61850 will send information only if it is needed!! – on an event like a state change or limit violation.
Exchanging millions of signals per second means we need a high bandwidth – good for vendors that sell “bandwidth”! That is the question, how can more active power flow through the copper cable? Same may accomplish it the smart way with the reactive power compensation that can be done smart by inverters – smart electricians may solve this by just putting a bigger cable into the ground.
Click HERE for some discussion of polling versus spontaneous reporting.
The document lists also Monitoring and Control of Inverter Functions (Connect / Disconnect to/from grid, Adjust Maximum Generation Level, Adjust Power Factor, ... Scheduled Actions based on time, temperature, power pricing … VAr modes for VAr support from PV/Storage inverters (Modes PV1…PV5) … Advanced functions (Watt/Frequency or Watt/Voltage mode, advanced schedules, low voltage
fault ride through (FRT), separate Watt and VAr management, harmonic cancellation) …
The FINSENY papers are worth to read and study.