On the use of IEC 61850-90-7 for Smart Inverters Integration

Currently, there is a big correlation between the exponential technological development (verified in the last decades) and the increasing energy dependence in industrial and residential environments. A growing number of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) led the utility operators to explore new methods of network planning and management. New approaches and concepts have emerged, such as the smart grid, showing exciting results in increasing the hosting capacity for DERs and Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Standardized automation, control, and communication systems have shown to be important keys to perform intelligent methods to manage energy efficiently. Smart inverters have proven to be a helpful tool in minimize adverse effects on the performance of electrical power system, so that the DERs can play an active role in supporting operations and remain connected during short-term voltage and frequency anomalies. This paper shows how to control and monitor an inverter using the IEC TR 61850-90-7 standard. A comparative analysis between the IEC TR 61850-90-7 and UL 1741 standards is presented. These standards are specific inverters standards, showing differences in performance and in the advantages of using them. The importance of smart inverters in the smart grid and its role is also discussed.