Enabling European electrical transmission and distribution smart grids by standards

Abstract

Smart electrical transmission and distribution grids are seen as key facilitators of the industry innovation that are required to meet the challenges of de-carbonization, operation performance excellence, and consumer centricity. Electricity grids represent a complex system of systems with intense interactions between them and require the collection of large amounts of data from a variety of sources to improve the energy ecosystem operation. In this paper, we describe an IBM framework that combines industry standards and advanced technologies-including analytics, mobile, and IoT (Internet of Things)-to meet the smart grid industry challenge. The Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM) and accompanying standards are used as a reference to ensure the openness, loose coupling, and flexibility of the framework. A consolidated and standardized data model bridging traditional utility silos is essential for analytics in this framework and represents a canonical model for integration. While offering advanced service-oriented architecture and application-programming interface integration concepts, the framework allows for retention of traditional utilities' legacy applications, preserving investments made. The framework permits for mix-And-match of the flexible building blocks linked by industry standards, promoting an incremental deployment of services as per utility needs.