Learning Objectives
- Understand the context of CIM development
- Understand the structure of each section: content, case study, and questions
Introduction
Market regulatory changes and the growth in variable energy resources around the world requires power companies to exchange information on a regular basis. This information exchange supports reliability standards for the interconnected power networks owned and operated by many different power producers, transmission operators, vertically integrated utilities and market participants. Power companies use a wide range of systems and processes for managing and moving data across IT and OT systems. Along with this, new applications of data science and advanced analytics are creating more demand for higher-quality data across the utility enterprise and across power markets.
There is often a need to exchange information both internally between different applications as well as externally with applications at other companies. Using proprietary formats for sharing data between applications has typically required a myriad of translators to import and export data. This resulted in exponential growth in complexity as increasing numbers of applications exchanged data. The need to simplify integration complexity then drove adoption of a model-based data exchange approach in the electric power domain.
The CIM comprises three series of standards, each with a specific focus, but all are based on a single, unified model.
Table 1-1: IEC Packages and their Modeling Focus
|
Standard |
Modeling Focus |
|
IEC 61970 |
Information exchange among systems directly involved with operation and planning of the overall interconnected electric grid which rely on power system network models to analyze the behavior of the entire interconnected grid at all voltage levels. This often involves interactions between systems at various different participants in the grid (that is, RTO, TSO, DSO, microgrid, generator, consumer). |
|
IEC 61968 |
Information exchange among systems supporting business functions that support power system operations, maintenance and customer support. This includes major business functions such as asset management, work management, meter data management, customer information, geographic information systems and engineering design. |
|
IEC 62325 |
Information exchange among systems directly involved with electricity market business processes such as transmission capacity allocation, forecasting, bidding, contracts, clearing and settlement.1 |
These standards have three primary uses:
- to facilitate the exchange of power system network data between organizations
- to allow the exchange of data between applications within an organization
- to exchange market data between organizations.
CIM development began primarily in North America and gained industry momentum when ERCOT implemented a CIM-based approach for managing the network model data required by its nodal market. Recent expanded CIM adoption was driven by the European Network of Transmission Systems Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) requiring CIM-based exchanges for compliance with grid codes. Expanded usage by a number of other European, Asian, and South American utilities has caused CIM adoption to grow well beyond its North American roots.
1 In more modern models, these packages are now known as Grid, Support, and Market respectively.
EPRI has published several pieces of research on the subject of CIM based network model data management, including:
- Network Model Manager and Repository: A Guide to Exploring the Potential of Centralized Network Model Management for the Interested Utility (3002000609)
- Network Model Manager Technical Market Requirements: The Transmission Perspective (3002003053)
- Example Request for Proposal for Transmission Network Model Manager Tool (3002009552)
- Using the CIM for Network Analysis Data Management (3002002587)
- Case Study on Network Model Management Solution Design (3002009610)
- Leading Practices for Network Model Management (3002014082)
Case Study
The primer will follow a large utility, serving millions of customers, on its journey as it goes from using vendor proprietary interfaces and integration, to using the CIM as a core part of its enterprise semantic model, and using CIM-based adapters to translate from proprietary interfaces at the enterprise service bus, to create a uniform approach to back-office integration.
This case study will follow Jeff Kimble, manager of the integration effort at Electric Innovation Utility (EIU), as he learns that a model such as the CIM exists, how a semantic model is used, how objects are represented in the model, how the profiles are created to support messaging, and some techniques for extending the model when gaps are found.
Jeff is frustrated with the high cost and difficulty of integrating systems, and with vendor adapters that do not work as advertised, has recently learned that something called the “CIM” exists, and he attends an industry conference to find out more. Additionally, Electricity Innovation Utility has recently started a series of strategic projects to streamline operations, and charged with reducing head count by designing and implementing workflows that cross traditional utility interdepartmental boundaries. Jeff’s job is to facilitate these strategic initiatives by integrating back office applications.
IEC 61970 covers the definition for:
A
Power system data exchange
B
Distribution systems
C
Energy market information exchange
D
Water and Gas systems
A. Power system data exchange
“CIM” stands for:
A
Complete Information Management
B
Common Industry Meaning
C
Common Information Model
D
Conditional Integrated Models
C. Common Information Model
IEC 62325 covers the definition for:
A
Power system data exchange
B
Distribution systems
C
Market information exchange
D
Gas Systems
C. Market information exchange
IEC 61968 covers the definitions for:
A
Power system data exchange
B
Exchange of electric operating data other than network models
C
Energy market information exchange
D
Gas Systems
B. Exchange of electric operating data other than network models
The CIM is useful because it provides:
A
A semantic model that describes the components of a power system
B
A non-proprietary way to describe interfaces
C
While describing a power system, it can also be used to define energy market exchanges
D
All of the above
D. All of the above