Overview
IEC TR 62361-103:2018 (Power systems management and associated information exchange - Interoperability in the long term - Part 103: Standard profiling) is a technical report from IEC TC 57 that introduces standard profiling concepts and methodologies for the Common Information Model (CIM - IEC 61970 / IEC 61968 / IEC 62325) and the IEC 61850 series. The report describes why profiling is needed for long‑term interoperability, defines profiling frameworks, and establishes a foundation for more detailed profile specifications in the respective standard series.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Profiling concepts and frameworks: structured approaches for defining, developing and testing profiles to ensure interoperable implementations across power systems and utility applications.
- Canonical information model: use of a shared semantic model (CIM) as the basis for creating consistent profiles and linking overlapping domains (e.g., market data and physical assets).
- CIM profiling: definition of CIM profiles, requirements, use cases, development methodology and profiling process specific to EMS/market integration domains.
- IEC 61850 profiling: profile definition, relevant field/items to consider, requirements and profile‑related processes for substation and field automation.
- Basic Application Profiles (BAPs) and Basic Application Interoperability Profiles (BAIOPs):
- BAP: user‑agreed selections from standards forming mandatory, option‑free building blocks for interoperability.
- BAIOP: test sequences/cases that extend BAPs to achieve and verify interoperability.
- Conformance and conformance testing: conformance to base standards is a prerequisite for interoperability testing; profiles specify mandatory selections and testable requirements.
- Management of extensions and technology constraints: guidance on handling vendor extensions and limitations of modeling or protocol technologies.
- Comparison and harmonization: similarities and common rules between CIM and IEC 61850 profiling to support cross‑domain interoperability.
Practical applications and who uses this standard
- Utilities and grid operators designing interoperable information exchanges between control centers, market systems and substations.
- Device vendors and software integrators implementing CIM or IEC 61850 who need to adopt or publish profiles to guarantee interoperability.
- System architects, test laboratories and certification bodies developing conformance and interoperability test plans based on BAPs/BAIOPs.
- Standards developers and project leads using the TR as a foundation for creating detailed, project‑specific profiles.
Related standards
Keywords: IEC TR 62361-103:2018, standard profiling, interoperability, CIM, IEC 61850, BAP, BAIOP, conformance testing, canonical information model.