Overview
IEC TS 62898-1:2017 - "Microgrids – Part 1: Guidelines for microgrid projects planning and specification" provides practical guidance for planning, specifying and evaluating alternating-current (AC) microgrids at low and medium voltage levels. The technical specification applies to both isolated microgrids (no connection to a wider power system) and non‑isolated microgrids that can operate in grid‑connected and island mode. It explicitly excludes direct‑current (DC) microgrid systems. The document (Edition 1.0, 2017) addresses project lifecycle topics from resource and load forecasting to high‑level technical requirements for DER, connection, control, protection and communications.
Key topics and technical requirements
The specification focuses on practical project elements and high‑level requirements, including:
- Resource analysis & generation forecast: methods for assessing non‑dispatchable (e.g., solar, wind) and dispatchable resources and producing generation forecasts.
- Load forecast & classification: load profiling and technical expectations for forecasting demand in microgrid contexts.
- Distributed Energy Resource (DER) planning: renewable penetration considerations, energy storage sizing, dispatchable generation and power/energy balancing.
- Microgrid power system planning: typical low/medium voltage topologies (single bus, multi‑bus, multilevel) and electrical parameter calculations.
- DER technical requirements: operation in grid‑connected and island modes, interoperability and performance expectations.
- Connection & distribution requirements: interface protection, earthing, power quality at point of common coupling (POC) and monitoring.
- Control, protection & communications: microgrid control schemes, protection relays, load shedding strategies, and information exchange/communication architecture.
- Project evaluation: reliability, economic and environmental assessment, scalability and integration with the wider power system.
- Informative annexes with business use cases (continuity by islanding, local resource optimization, remote area electrification, grid services/disaster preparedness).
Applications
IEC TS 62898-1 is directly applicable to:
- Design and specification of AC microgrid projects for communities, campuses, industrial sites and remote areas.
- Integration of distributed energy resources (DER) and energy storage into local networks.
- Resilience and continuity planning (islanding and backup power).
- Projects delivering grid services (frequency/voltage support) when operating in grid‑connected mode.
Who should use this standard
- Utility planners and distribution system operators (DSOs)
- Microgrid project developers and EPC contractors
- Power system and controls engineers
- DER integrators and equipment manufacturers
- Regulators and policy makers evaluating microgrid requirements
Related standards
Refer to relevant IEC and national standards on DER interconnection, power quality, protection, and communication protocols for detailed technical specifications. IEC TS 62898‑1 provides high‑level planning and specification guidance and should be used alongside detailed normative standards for implementation.