IEC TR 61850-90-27:2023

Overview - IEC TR 61850-90-27:2023 (thermal energy systems)

IEC TR 61850-90-27:2023 extends the IEC 61850 family guidance to thermal energy systems connected to the electric power grid. As a Technical Report, it provides the foundational aspects for using IEC 61850 information exchange and data modelling to support residential and commercial/district thermal resources that interact with electricity (energy transformation between electricity and thermal energy). Industrial thermal systems, gas-only systems, and thermal systems isolated from the grid are outside its scope.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Information modelling: Defines requirements for information exchange and maps use-case-driven requirements onto IEC 61850 logical node (LN) classes.
• Logical nodes (LNs): Introduces generic and specific LNs for thermal resources, examples include DGTH, DSTH, DLTH, DETH, DETG, and unit-type LNs for P2H (power-to-heat) and CHP (combined heat and power).
• Operational functions & reference points: Models operational functions (e.g., thermal comfort profiles, modes to set active power) and thermal reference points (physical and virtual TCP/PCP).
• Use-case driven requirements: Provides detailed use cases (aggregated building storage for congestion management, small-scale CHP for grid stabilisation, centralised heat pumps, tertiary reserve via demand response) and derives exchanged-data needs.
• Metering & measurement: Defines thermal energy measurement LNs and extensions to electric measurement to support sector coupling.
• Scope limitations: Explicitly excludes modelling of gas boilers, heat exchangers, HVAC controls, thermal tanks as LNs (some concepts treated generically).

Practical applications and users

This report is intended for professionals implementing cross-domain energy solutions and grid-interactive thermal systems:

• Utility engineers and grid operators integrating thermal resources for congestion management and ancillary services.
• System integrators and software developers implementing IEC 61850-based controllers and communication stacks for building energy management, district heating/cooling, P2H, and CHP systems.
• Manufacturers of heat pumps, electric heaters, CHP units, and metering equipment who need standardized LN mappings and data objects.
• DER aggregators and energy service companies deploying demand response and storage orchestration across buildings and districts.

Related standards

• Core: IEC 61850 (substation and DER information modelling and communications)
• Cross-reference: IEC 62913-2-3 (actors and functional roles used in some use cases)

IEC TR 61850-90-27:2023 is a practical reference for architects of sector-coupled energy systems who want standardized, interoperable data models for thermal–electric interactions using IEC 61850.