IEC/TR 61850-90-7 Just published

Please note the publication of

IEC/TR 61850-90-7:2013-02
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation
Part 90-7: Object models for power converters in distributed energy resources (DER) systems

Download the preview of IEC 61850-90-7.

This part is very crucial because it provides solutions for the challenges of feeding the huge amount of power from PV and other DER systems into the various voltage levels of the power delivery grid. This part will have a crucial impact on how to manage especially distribution networks. Just a few examples of these functions are:

7.1.2 Function INV1: connect / disconnect from grid
7.1.3 Function INV2: adjust maximum generation level up/down
7.1.4 Function INV3: adjust power factor
7.1.5 Function INV4: request active power (charge or discharge storage)
7.1.6 Function INV5: pricing signal for charge/discharge action
7.2 Modes for volt-var management
7.2.1 VAr management modes using volt-var arrays
7.2.2 Example setting volt-var mode VV11: available var support mode with no impact on watts
7.2.3 Example setting volt-var mode VV12: maximum var support mode based on WMax
7.2.4 Example setting volt-var mode VV13: static power converter mode based on settings
7.2.5 Example setting volt-var mode VV14: passive mode with no var support
7.3 Modes for frequency-related behaviours
7.3.1 Frequency management modes
7.3.2 Frequency-watt mode FW21: high frequency reduces active power
7.3.3 Frequency-watt mode FW22: constraining generating/charging by frequency

…

Draft IEC 61850-90-7 – Object models for photovoltaic, storage, and other DER inverters

IEC has published the following very crucial draft for ballot (57/1239/DTR):

IEC 61850-90-7 Ed. 1:
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 90-7: IEC 61850 object models for photovoltaic, storage, and other DER
inverters

The ballot closes on 2012-06-29.

This 114 page Technical Report describes the functions for inverter-based Distributed Energy Resources (DER) systems, including photovoltaic systems (PV), battery storage systems, electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, and any other DER systems with a controllable inverter. It defines the IEC 61850 information models to be used in the exchange of information between these inverter based DER systems and the utilities, Energy Service Providers (ESPs), or other entities which are tasked with managing the volt, var, and watt capabilities of these inverter-based systems.
These inverter-based DER systems can range from very small grid-connected systems at residential customer sites, to medium-sized systems configured as microgrids on campuses or communities, to very large systems in utility-operated power plants, and to many other configurations and ownership models. They may or may not combine different types of DER systems behind the inverter, such as an inverter-based DER system and a battery that are connected at the DC level.

The crucial object models for IEC 61850-90-7 have already been implemented on the Beck IPC Development Kit 61.

Please contact your national committee to get a copy of this crucial document.

A list of crucial models defined in IEC 61850-90-7 can be found here.

Italian Norm about to Require IEC 61850 for almost all PV Inverters

The CEI (Comitato Elettrotecnico Italiano) has published in December 2011 a norm that strongly proposes to use IEC 61850 to connect PV inverters (>1kV and >6 kW) to external systems (grid operator, …):

CEI 0-21 “Regola tecnica di riferimento per la connessione di Utenti attivi e passivi alle reti BT delle imprese distributrici di energia elettrica”.

“Reference technical rules for the connection of active and passive users to
the LV electrical Utilities”

Click HERE for the press release and link to the norm provided by CEI [pdf, Italian].

Click HERE for a up-to-date presentation presenting the background and needs for … and for standard communications in low voltage (LV) power systems.

The document IEC 61850-90-7 “IEC 61850 object models for inverters in distributed energy resources (DER) systems” is about to published in a few months. This document is a perfect fit for the needs of PV inverters.

IEC TC 57 WG 17 has met in San Diego (CA) last week. The final draft paper is expected to be available in a few weeks.

News from the IEC TC 57 Standardization Work

The following documents and New Work Proposals have been approved for final publication on 2011-07-15:

IEC 62351-8 TS Ed.1 [Approved Technical Specification]:
Power systems management and associated information exchange – Data and communications security – Part 8: Role-based access control

IEC 61850-10-2 TS Ed.1 [Approved New project of Working Group 18]:
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 10-2: Interoperability test for hydro equipments based on IEC 61850

IEC 62351-9 TS Ed.1 [Approved New project of Working Group 15]:
Power systems management and associated information exchange – Data and communications security – Part 9: Cyber security key management for power system equipment

The following draft documents have been provided for publication on 2011-07-15:

Draft IEC 61850-90-4 TR [WG 10 Document for Comments by 2011-09-02]
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 90-4: Network engineering guidelines for substations

Draft IEC 61850-90-7 TR [WG 17 Document for Comments by 2011-09-02]
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 90-7: IEC 61850 object models for photovoltaic, storage, and other DER inverters

IEC 61850 together with IEC 61400-25 and IEC 62351 provides a complete suite of standards for automation – even the title restricts the scope to power utility automation. This restriction is just toner on the paper! Almost all definitions in these standards can be used in many other domains. The communication stack (including object dictionary, ACSI, MMS, TCP/IP, Ethernet, … most of SCL) are completely independent of the electrical world.