DER/ADA

Communication Standards for Distributed Energy Resources in Advanced Distribution Automation

Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Integration is subpart of Advanced Distributed Automation (ADA). Changes to the distribution electrical system and communication system are needed in order to fully capture the prospective benefits of new distribution technologies. Individual equipment types, such as DER, must be made interoperable with overall infrastructure. This project addresses communication standards aimed at helping to achieve this interoperability.

Project Goals

Improve the strategic value of DER in a system context
Create the ability to use DER as a valuable resource in ADA
Enable interoperability of DER with a variety of other new distribution system and customer equipment
Provide improved quality of service to end users (cost, reliability, power quality)

Project Objectives

Lead an IEEE standards working group to develop a guide document for monitoring, information exchange, and control of DER in electric power systems. This guide will be part of the IEEE 1547™ series of standards under SCC21.
Lead an IEC standards working group to develop an international standard for DER communications in electric power systems. This standard will be part of the IEC 61850 family of standards.
Coordinate with other related work, identify gaps and implement plans for filling the gaps.

Status of Relevant Standards Work

One of the major hurdles to deployment of distributed energy resources (DER) has been lack of industry standards for interconnecting these devices with electric power systems. In response, IEEE approved a standards project with participation of EPRI, DOE and numerous other stakeholders to develop foundational interconnection standards for DER. The resulting 1547™ standard was issued in July 2003. This initial standard is now being followed by a series of additional standards, recommended practices, and guidelines within the IEEE 1547™ family. This EPRI IntelliGrid project is supporting the chairman role for one of these follow-up documents-the guide on monitoring, information exchange, and control.

IEC has launched an effort to produce international open-systems communication architecture standards for electric power systems. This work has been focused mainly on substations to date and has led to the initial 61850 standard. EPRI was instrumental in launching this past work. This IntelliGrid project launched a new IEC working group to expand the IEC 61850 communication architecture to DER, with the possibility of expansion to other distribution system technologies later. IntelliGrid continues to support the Convenor (leader) role for this new working group.

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