Overview
IEC SRD 62913-2-1:2019, "Generic Smart Grid Requirements – Part 2-1: Grid Related Domains," published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), provides a systems-based, use case-driven foundation for identifying generic smart grid requirements in key grid-related domains. These include transmission grid management, distribution grid management, microgrids, and smart substation automation. By employing the IEC’s use case methodology, this document supports further standardization efforts focused on improving grid operation efficiency, safety, reliability, and flexibility.
This standard is part of the wider IEC SRD 62913 series, which defines universal requirements for smart grid systems applicable across electrical networks of varying voltage levels, from extra high voltage (EHV) and high voltage (HV) to medium/low voltage (MV/LV). The standard aids in harmonizing operational practices and ensuring interoperability, laying the groundwork for consistent performance across diverse electric power systems and market environments.
Key Topics
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Use Case Methodology:
Utilizes real-world scenarios (“Use Cases”) to identify repeatable and common practices within smart grid systems, facilitating the extraction of generic requirements that inform future standards and technical specifications.
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Grid Management Domains:
- Transmission Grid Management: Focuses on the operations of EHV and HV networks, addressing system-wide reliability and coordination among transmission system operators (TSOs).
- Distribution Grid Management: Targets the operations of MV/LV networks with an emphasis on integrating distributed energy resources (DERs), managing grid automation, and supporting evolving customer behaviors.
- Microgrids: Covers the control and management of localized grids that can operate autonomously or in conjunction with the main network.
- Smart Substation Automation: Encompasses the use of new technologies to automate substations, enhancing performance and monitoring across the grid.
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System Requirements:
Derives requirements related to interfaces, information exchange, communication services, and non-functional aspects such as performance, security, and reliability. This ensures that all actors within the grid ecosystem can interact seamlessly.
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Business and Technical Analysis:
Examines practical challenges such as increased DER penetration, evolving market models, regulatory changes, cybersecurity threats, and the transition from traditional “fit and forget” grid design to flexible, real-time, data-driven management.
Applications
IEC SRD 62913-2-1:2019 offers significant practical value for a range of stakeholders in the energy sector:
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System Operators:
The document guides TSOs and DSOs in adapting to increased grid complexity, ensuring reliable and efficient service delivery even as DERs, demand response programs, and electric vehicles reshape energy flows.
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Solution Providers and Integrators:
Technology developers and integrators use these generic requirements to design interoperable products and systems, facilitating seamless upgrades and cross-vendor compatibility in transmission, distribution, and automation environments.
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Policy Makers and Regulators:
The standard provides a neutral framework to inform policy, supporting sustainable, competitive, and secure energy system objectives while accommodating evolving technological and market landscapes.
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Grid Planners and Asset Managers:
Planners and managers gain insights into future operational challenges, optimal investment strategies, and the integration of automation and intelligence at all network levels.
Related Standards
Organizations leveraging IEC SRD 62913-2-1:2019 for smart grid applications may also reference:
- IEC SRD 62913-1: Details the use case methodology foundational to this series.
- IEC 62559-2: Standardized templates and guidelines for documenting and exchanging smart grid use cases.
- IEC 61850: A crucial standard for substation communication and automation.
- IEC 60364 and IEC 60050 series: Cover foundational terms, definitions, and requirements for electrical installations.
- ISO/IEC 27001: Reference for cybersecurity practices relevant to smart grid environments.
IEC SRD 62913-2-1:2019 is essential for advancing smart grid standardization, ensuring reliable and secure grid operation, and supporting the integration of innovative technologies within grid-related domains. By basing requirements on practical, repeatable use cases, the standard ensures adaptability, interoperability, and long-term value for global energy stakeholders.