Overview
IEC TS 61970-555:2016 specifies a Component Interface Specification (CIS) for Energy Management System Application Program Interfaces (EMS-API) that defines the CIM/E format - a compact, CIM-based efficient model exchange format. CIM/E is a serialization style and schema framework for exchanging power system modelling information based on the Common Information Model (CIM). Designed for high-performance and online model exchange, CIM/E provides rules and a meta-model (the CIM/E Schema) for constructing machine-readable documents suitable for real-time EMS interactions.
Key Topics
- Scope and Purpose
- Defines format and rules for exchanging modelling information based on the CIM.
- Documents the CIM/E Schema used as the meta-model framework.
- Structure Specification
- Model header, root element and system declaration.
- Block structures and data block organization (headers, contents, separators).
- Data Constructs
- Object pointers, compound types and enumeration definitions used to represent network components efficiently.
- Techniques for compact serialization to reduce processing and transfer time.
- Incremental Model Exchange
- Support for incremental updates to avoid retransmitting large complete models - optimized for frequent small changes.
- Usage and Use Cases
- Real-time sharing of CIM models, online Dynamic Stability Analysis (DSA), model merging and synchronization across systems.
- Mapping and Compatibility
- Guidance for mapping CIM/E to CIM/XML (see informative Annex B) to support interoperability with other CIM serializations.
Applications
IEC TS 61970-555 is targeted at stakeholders needing efficient, real-time exchange of power system models:
- Transmission and distribution system operators that require fast online model synchronization and dynamic studies.
- EMS vendors and software integrators implementing EMS-API endpoints and model import/export features.
- Real-time analytics and DSA tool developers that require compact serialization for low-latency processing.
- Utilities and grid data hubs exchanging incremental model updates across control centers or between regional operators.
Practical benefits include reduced network traffic, faster parsing and merging of large network models, and improved responsiveness for online stability and state-estimation workflows.
Related Standards
Keywords: IEC TS 61970-555, CIM/E, EMS-API, model exchange, CIM, CIM/XML, incremental model, serialization, power system modelling, real-time model exchange.