EN 61850-7-420:2009

Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 7-420: Basic communication structure - Distributed energy resources logical nodes

IEC 61850-7-420:2009(E) defines IEC 61850 information models to be used in the exchange of information with distributed energy resources (DER), which comprise dispersed generation devices and dispersed storage devices, including reciprocating engines, fuel cells, microturbines, photovoltaics, combined heat and power, and energy storage. Utilizes existing IEC 61850-7-4 logical nodes where possible, but also defines DER-specific logical nodes where needed.

Kommunikationsnetze und -systeme für die Automatisierung in der elektrischen Energieversorgung - Teil 7-420: Grundlegende Kommunikationsstruktur - Logische Knoten für die dezentrale Energieversorgung

Systèmes et réseaux de communication pour l'automatisation des services de distribution d'énergie - Partie 7-420: Structure de communication de base - Noeuds logiques de ressources d'énergie distribuées

IEC 61850-7-420:2009 définit les modèles d’information de l’IEC 61850 à utiliser dans l’échange d’informations avec les ressources énergétiques distribuées (DER), qui comprend les dispositifs de génération dispersée et les dispositifs de stockage dispersé, y compris les moteurs à mouvement alternatif, les piles à combustible, les microturbines, les photovoltaïques, la production combinée de chaleur et d’électricité, et le stockage de l’énergie. La norme IEC 61850 relative au modèle d’information DER utilise les nœuds logiques existants de l’IEC 61850-7-4 lorsque cela est possible, mais définit également des nœuds logiques spécifiques aux DER lorsque cela est nécessaire.

Komunikacijska omrežja in sistemi v podpostajah - 7-420. del: Komunikacijski sistemi za porazdeljene energijske vire (DER) - Logična vozlišča (IEC 61850-7-420:2009)

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 10-Jun-2009
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Apr-2012
• ICS: 33.200 - Telecontrol. Telemetering
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 57 - Power systems management and associated information exchange
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 57 - IEC_TC_57
• Parallel Committee: IEC/TC 57 - IEC_TC_57
• Current Stage: 9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
• Start Date: 17-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 17-Nov-2024
• Mandate: M/490 - Standardisation mandate to the European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) to support European Smart Grid deployment
• Ref Project: SIST EN 61850-7-420:2009 - Communication networks and systems in substations - Part 7-420: Communications systems for distributed energy resources (DER) - Logical nodes (IEC 61850-7-420:2009)

Relations

• Replaced By: EN IEC 61850-7-420:2021 - Communication networks and systems for power utility automation - Part 7-420: Basic communication structure - Distributed energy resources and distribution automation logical nodes
• Effective Date: 23-Nov-2021

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2009
.RPXQLNDFLMVNDRPUHåMDLQVLVWHPLYSRGSRVWDMDKGHO.RPXQLNDFLMVNL
VLVWHPL]DSRUD]GHOMHQHHQHUJLMVNHYLUH'(5/RJLþQDYR]OLãþD,(&

Communication networks and systems in substations - Part 7-420: Communications
systems for distributed energy resources (DER) - Logical nodes (IEC 61850-7-420:2009)
Kommunikationsnetze und -systeme für die Automatisierung in der elektrischen
Energieversorgung - Teil 7-420: Grundlegende Kommunikationsstruktur - Logische
Knoten für die dezentrale Energieversorgung (IEC 61850-7-420:2009)
Systèmes et réseaux de communication pour l'automatisation des services de
distribution d'énergie - Partie 7-420: Structure de communication de base - Noeuds
logiques de ressources d'énergie distribuées (CEI 61850-7-420:2009)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 61850-7-420:2009
ICS:
29.240.30 Krmilna oprema za Control equipment for electric
elektroenergetske sisteme power systems
33.200 Daljinsko krmiljenje, daljinske Telecontrol. Telemetering
meritve (telemetrija)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 61850-7-420
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2009
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 33.200
English version
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation -
Part 7-420: Basic communication structure -
Distributed energy resources logical nodes
(IEC 61850-7-420:2009)
Systèmes et réseaux de communication Kommunikationsnetze und -systeme
pour l'automatisation des services für die Automatisierung
de distribution d'énergie - in der elektrischen Energieversorgung -
Partie 7-420: Structure Teil 7-420: Grundlegende
de communication de base - Kommunikationsstruktur -
Nœuds logiques de ressources Logische Knoten für die
d'énergie distribuées dezentrale Energieversorgung
(CEI 61850-7-420:2009) (IEC 61850-7-420:2009)

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2009-05-01. CENELEC members are bound to comply
with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified
to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2009 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 61850-7-420:2009 E

Foreword
The text of document 57/981/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 61850-7-420, prepared by IEC TC 57, Power
systems management and associated information exchange, was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC
parallel vote and was approved by CENELEC as EN 61850-7-420 on 2009-05-01.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2010-02-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2012-05-01
Annex ZA has been added by CENELEC.
__________
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 61850-7-420:2009 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards indicated:
IEC 60364-7-712 NOTE  Harmonized as HD 60364-7-712:2005 (not modified).
IEC 60870-5-101 NOTE  Harmonized as EN 60870-5-101:2003 (not modified).
IEC 60870-5-104 NOTE  Harmonized as EN 60870-5-104:2006 (not modified).
IEC 61800-4 NOTE  Harmonized as EN 61800-4:2003 (not modified).
IEC 61850 NOTE  Harmonized in EN 61850 series (not modified).
IEC 61850-6 NOTE  Harmonized as EN 61850-6:2004 (not modified).
IEC 61850-7-1 NOTE  Harmonized as EN 61850-7-1:2003 (not modified).
IEC 61850-8 NOTE  Harmonized in EN 61850-8 series (not modified).
IEC 61850-9 NOTE  Harmonized in EN 61850-9 series (not modified).
IEC 61850-10 NOTE  Harmonized as EN 61850-10:2005 (not modified).
IEC 61968 NOTE  Harmonized in EN 61968 series (not modified).
IEC 61970-301 NOTE  Harmonized as EN 61970-301:2004 (not modified).
IEC 62056 NOTE  Harmonized in EN 62056 series (not modified).
ISO/IEC 7498-1 NOTE  Harmonized as EN ISO/IEC 7498-1:1995 (not modified).
__________
- 3 - EN 61850-7-420:2009
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE  When an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD
applies.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 61850-7-2 2003 Communication networks and systems in EN 61850-7-2 2003
substations -
Part 7-2: Basic communication structure for
substation and feeder equipment - Abstract
communication service interface (ACSI)

IEC 61850-7-3 2003 Communication networks and systems in EN 61850-7-3 2003
substations -
Part 7-3: Basic communication structure for
substation and feeder equipment - Common
data classes
IEC 61850-7-4 2003 Communication networks and systems in EN 61850-7-4 2003
substations -
Part 7-4: Basic communication structure for
substation and feeder equipment - Compatible
logical node classes and data classes

1) 2)
IEC 61850-7-410 - Communication networks and systems for EN 61850-7-410 2007
power utility automation -
Part 7-410: Hydroelectric power plants -
Communication for monitoring and control

1)
ISO 4217 - Codes for the representation of currencies - -
and funds
1)
Undated reference.
2)
Valid edition at date of issue.

IEC 61850-7-420 ®
Edition 1.0 2009-03
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 7-420: Basic communication structure – Distributed energy resources
logical nodes
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
XD
ICS 33.200 ISBN 2-8318-1026-4
– 2 – 61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.7
INTRODUCTION.9
1 Scope.12
2 Normative references .12
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations .13
3.1 Terms and definitions .13
3.2 DER abbreviated terms .18
4 Conformance.20
5 Logical nodes for DER management systems .20
5.1 Overview of information modelling (informative) .20
5.1.1 Data information modelling constructs .20
5.1.2 Logical devices concepts.21
5.1.3 Logical nodes structure .22
5.1.4 Naming structure .22
5.1.5 Interpretation of logical node tables.23
5.1.6 System logical nodes LN Group: L (informative) .24
5.1.7 Overview of DER management system LNs .27
5.2 Logical nodes for the DER plant ECP logical device .29
5.2.1 DER plant electrical connection point (ECP) logical device
(informative) .29
5.2.2 LN: DER plant corporate characteristics at the ECP Name: DCRP.31
5.2.3 LN: Operational characteristics at ECP Name: DOPR .31
5.2.4 LN: DER operational authority at the ECP Name: DOPA.32
5.2.5 LN: Operating mode at ECP Name: DOPM .33
5.2.6 LN: Status information at the ECP Name: DPST .34
5.2.7 LN: DER economic dispatch parameters Name: DCCT .35
5.2.8 LN: DER energy and/or ancillary services schedule control Name:
DSCC .36
5.2.9 LN: DER energy and/or ancillary services schedule Name: DSCH .37
5.3 Logical nodes for the DER unit controller logical device .38
5.3.1 DER device controller logical device (informative) .38
5.3.2 LN: DER controller characteristics Name: DRCT.38
5.3.3 LN: DER controller status Name: DRCS .39
5.3.4 LN: DER supervisory control Name: DRCC.40
6 Logical nodes for DER generation systems.42
6.1 Logical nodes for DER generation logical device .42
6.1.1 DER generator logical device (informative) .42
6.1.2 LN: DER unit generator Name: DGEN .42
6.1.3 LN: DER generator ratings Name: DRAT .44
6.1.4 LN: DER advanced generator ratings Name: DRAZ .45
6.1.5 LN: Generator cost Name: DCST.46
6.2 Logical nodes for DER excitation logical device.47
6.2.1 DER excitation logical device (informative) .47
6.2.2 LN: Excitation ratings Name: DREX .47
6.2.3 LN: Excitation Name: DEXC .48
6.3 Logical nodes for DER speed/frequency controller .49

61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E) – 3 –
6.3.1 Speed/frequency logical device (informative).49
6.3.2 LN: Speed/Frequency controller Name: DSFC .49
6.4 Logical nodes for DER inverter/converter logical device .50
6.4.1 Inverter/converter logical device (informative).50
6.4.2 LN: Rectifier Name: ZRCT .51
6.4.3 LN: Inverter Name: ZINV .53
7 Logical nodes for specific types of DER.55
7.1 Logical nodes for reciprocating engine logical device .55
7.1.1 Reciprocating engine description (informative) .55
7.1.2 Reciprocating engine logical device (informative) .55
7.1.3 LN: Reciprocating engine Name: DCIP .56
7.2 Logical nodes for fuel cell logical device.57
7.2.1 Fuel cell description (informative) .57
7.2.2 Fuel cell logical device (informative) .59
7.2.3 LN: Fuel cell controller Name: DFCL.60
7.2.4 LN: Fuel cell stack Name: DSTK.61
7.2.5 LN: Fuel processing module Name: DFPM.62
7.3 Logical nodes for photovoltaic system (PV) logical device .63
7.3.1 Photovoltaic system description (informative) .63
7.3.2 Photovoltaics system logical device (informative) .65
7.3.3 LN: Photovoltaics module ratings Name: DPVM.67
7.3.4 LN: Photovoltaics array characteristics Name: DPVA.68
7.3.5 LN: Photovoltaics array controller Name: DPVC .69
7.3.6 LN: Tracking controller Name: DTRC.70
7.4 Logical nodes for combined heat and power (CHP) logical device .72
7.4.1 Combined heat and power description (informative).72
7.4.2 Combined heat and power logical device (informative) .75
7.4.3 LN: CHP system controller Name: DCHC.76
7.4.4 LN: Thermal storage Name: DCTS .77
7.4.5 LN: Boiler Name: DCHB .78
8 Logical nodes for auxiliary systems .78
8.1 Logical nodes for fuel system logical device .78
8.1.1 Fuel system logical device (informative) .78
8.1.2 LN: Fuel characteristics Name: MFUL.80
8.1.3 LN: Fuel delivery system Name: DFLV.80
8.2 Logical nodes for battery system logical device .81
8.2.1 Battery system logical device (informative) .81
8.2.2 LN: Battery systems Name: ZBAT.82
8.2.3 LN: Battery charger Name: ZBTC .83
8.3 Logical node for fuse device.84
8.3.1 Fuse logical device (informative) .84
8.3.2 LN: Fuse Name: XFUS .84
8.4 Logical node for sequencer .85
8.4.1 Sequencer logical device.85
8.4.2 LN: Sequencer Name: FSEQ .85
8.5 Logical nodes for physical measurements .86
8.5.1 Physical measurements (informative) .86
8.5.2 LN: Temperature measurements Name: STMP .86

– 4 – 61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E)
8.5.3 LN: Pressure measurements Name: MPRS.87
8.5.4 LN: Heat measured values Name: MHET.87
8.5.5 LN: Flow measurements Name: MFLW .88
8.5.6 LN: Vibration conditions Name: SVBR .90
8.5.7 LN: Emissions measurements Name: MENV.90
8.5.8 LN: Meteorological conditions Name: MMET.91
8.6 Logical nodes for metering .91
8.6.1 Electric metering (informative) .91
9 DER common data classes (CDC) .92
9.1 Array CDCs .92
9.1.1 E-Array (ERY) enumerated common data class specification.92
9.1.2 V-Array (VRY) visible string common data class specification.92
9.2 Schedule CDCs .93
9.2.1 Absolute time schedule (SCA) settings common data class
specification .93
9.2.2 Relative time schedule (SCR) settings common data class
specification .94
Annex A (informative) Glossary.96
Bibliography.98

Figure 1 – Example of a communications configuration for a DER plant .10
Figure 2 – IEC 61850 modelling and connections with CIM and other IEC TC 57
models.11
Figure 3 – Information model hierarchy.21
Figure 4 – Example of relationship of logical device, logical nodes, data objects, and
common data classes .22
Figure 5 – Overview: Conceptual organization of DER logical devices and logical
nodes .28
Figure 6 – Illustration of electrical connection points (ECP) in a DER plant .29
Figure 7 – Inverter / converter configuration.50
Figure 8 – Example of a reciprocating engine system (e.g. Diesel Gen-Set).55
Figure 9 – Example of LNs in a reciprocating engine system.56
Figure 10 – Fuel cell – Hydrogen/oxygen proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM) .58
Figure 11 – PEM fuel cell operation .58
Figure 12 – Example of LNs used in a fuel cell system.59
Figure 13 – Example: One line diagram of an interconnected PV system .64
Figure 14 – Schematic diagram of a large PV installation with two arrays of several
sub-arrays .65
Figure 15 – Example of LNs associated with a photovoltaics system.66
Figure 16 – Two examples of CHP configurations .73
Figure 17 – CHP unit includes both domestic hot water and heating loops .74
Figure 18 – CHP unit includes domestic hot water with hybrid storage .74
Figure 19 – CHP unit includes domestic hot water without hybrid storage .74
Figure 20 – Example of LNs associated with a combined heat and power (CHP) system.75

61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E) – 5 –
Table 1 – Interpretation of logical node tables.23
Table 2 – LPHD class .25
Table 3 – Common LN class .26
Table 4 – LLN0 class .27
Table 5 – DER plant corporate characteristics at the ECP, LN (DCRP) .31
Table 6 – Operational characteristics at the ECP, LN (DOPR) .32
Table 7 – DER operational authority at the ECP, LN (DOPA) .33
Table 8 – Operating mode at the ECP, LN (DOPM).34
Table 9 – Status at the ECP, LN (DPST).35
Table 10 – DER Economic dispatch parameters, LN (DCCT) .35
Table 11 – DER energy schedule control, LN (DSCC).36
Table 12 – DER Energy and ancillary services schedule, LN (DSCH) .37
Table 13 – DER controller characteristics, LN DRCT .38
Table 14 – DER controller status, LN DRCS .39
Table 15 – DER supervisory control, LN DRCC.40
Table 16 – DER unit generator, LN (DGEN) .42
Table 17 – DER Basic Generator ratings, LN (DRAT).44
Table 18 – DER advanced generator ratings, LN (DRAZ).46
Table 19 – Generator cost, LN DCST.47
Table 20 – Excitation ratings, LN (DREX) .47
Table 21 – Excitation, LN (DEXC) .48
Table 22 – Speed/frequency controller, LN (DSFC).49
Table 23 – Rectifier, LN (ZRCT).51
Table 24 – Inverter, LN (ZINV).53
Table 25 – Reciprocating engine, LN (DCIP).57
Table 26 – Fuel cell controller, LN (DFCL) .60
Table 27 – Fuel cell stack, LN (DSTK) .61
Table 28 – Fuel cell processing module, LN (DFPM).62
Table 29 – Photovoltaic module characteristics, LN (DPVM) .67
Table 30 – Photovoltaic array characteristics, LN (DPVA) .68
Table 31 – Photovoltaic array controller, LN (DPVC).69
Table 32 – Tracking controller, LN (DTRC) .70
Table 33 – CHP system controller, LN (DCHC) .76
Table 34 – CHP thermal storage, LN (DCTS) .77
Table 35 – CHP Boiler System, LN (DCHB) .78
Table 36 – Fuel types .79
Table 37 – Fuel characteristics, LN (MFUL) .80
Table 38 – Fuel systems, LN (DFLV) .81
Table 39 – Battery systems, LN (ZBAT) .82
Table 40 – Battery charger, LN (ZBTC).83
Table 41 – Fuse, LN (XFUS).84
Table 42 – Sequencer, LN (FSEQ).85
Table 43 – Temperature measurements, LN (STMP).86

– 6 – 61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E)
Table 44 – Pressure measurements, LN (MPRS) .87
Table 45 – Heat measurement, LN (MHET).88
Table 46 – Flow measurement, LN (MFLW) .89
Table 47 – Vibration conditions, LN (SVBR).90
Table 48 – Emissions measurements, LN (MENV) .91
Table 49 – E-Array (ERY) common data class specification .92
Table 50 – V-Array (VRY) common data class specification .92
Table 51 – Schedule (SCA) common data class specification .93
Table 52 – Schedule (SCR) common data class specification .94

61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E) – 7 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
COMMUNICATION NETWORKS AND
SYSTEMS FOR POWER UTILITY AUTOMATION –

Part 7-420: Basic communication structure –
Distributed energy resources logical nodes

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
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agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61850-7-420 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 57:
Power systems management and associated information exchange.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
57/981/FDIS 57/988/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 8 – 61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E)
In Clauses 5 to 8 of this document, each subclause contains an initial informative clause,
followed by normative clauses. Specifically, any subclause identified as informative is
informative; any clause with no identification is considered normative.
A list of all parts of the IEC 61850 series, under the general title: Communication networks
and systems for power utility automation, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E) – 9 –
INTRODUCTION
Increasing numbers of DER (distributed energy resources) systems are being interconnected
to electric power systems throughout the world. As DER technology evolves and as the impact
of dispersed generation on distribution power systems becomes a growing challenge - and
opportunity, nations worldwide are recognizing the economic, social, and environmental
benefits of integrating DER technology within their electric infrastructure.
The manufacturers of DER devices are facing the age-old issues of what communication
standards and protocols to provide to their customers for monitoring and controlling DER
devices, in particular when they are interconnected with the electric utility system. In the past,
DER manufacturers developed their own proprietary communication technology. However, as
utilities, aggregators, and other energy service providers start to manage DER devices which
are interconnected with the utility power system, they are finding that coping with these
different communication technologies present major technical difficulties, implementation
costs, and maintenance costs. Therefore, utilities and DER manufacturers recognize the
growing need to have one international standard that defines the communication and control
interfaces for all DER devices. Such standards, along with associated guidelines and uniform
procedures would simplify implementation, reduce installation costs, reduce maintenance
costs, and improve reliability of power system operations.
The logical nodes in this document are intended for use with DER, but may also be applicable
to central-station generation installations that are comprised of groupings of multiple units of
the same types of energy conversion systems that are represented by the DER logical nodes
in this document. This applicability to central-station generation is strongest for photovoltaics
and fuel cells, due to their modular nature.
Communications for DER plants involve not only local communications between DER units
and the plant management system, but also between the DER plant and the operators or
aggregators who manage the DER plant as a virtual source of energy and/or ancillary
services. This is illustrated in Figure 1.

– 10 – 61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E)
Example of a Communications Configuration for a DER Plant
= ECPs usually with switches, circuit
breakers, and protection
WAN
DER Plant Controller
and/or Proxy Server
DER Plant Operations
DER Plant LAN
Fuel Stor-
Diesel
age
Cell
Controller
Controller Controller
Utility interconnection
Meter
Meter
PV
CHP
Controller
Controller
DER Devices Local Load
IEC  099/09
Key
CHP combined heat and power
WAN wide area network
DER distributed energy resources
PV  photovoltaics
LAN  local area network
Figure 1 – Example of a communications configuration for a DER plant
In basic terms, “communications” can be separated into four parts:
• information modelling (the types of data to be exchanged – nouns),
• services modelling (the read, write, or other actions to take on the data – verbs),
• communication protocols (mapping the noun and verb models to actual bits and bytes),
• telecommunication media (fibre optics, radio systems, wireless systems, and other
physical equipment).
This document addresses only the IEC 61850 information modelling for DER. Other
IEC 61850 documents address the services modelling (IEC 61850-7-2) and the mapping to
communication protocols (IEC 61850-8-x). In addition, a systems configuration language
(SCL) for DER (IEC 61850-6-x) would address the configuration of DER plants.
The general technology for information modelling has developed to become well-established
as the most effective method for managing information exchanges. In particular, the
IEC 61850-7-x information models for the exchange of information within substations have
become International Standard. Many of the components of this standard can be reused for
information models of other types of devices.
In addition to the IEC 61850 standards, IEC TC 57 has developed the common information
model (CIM) that models the relationships among power system elements and other

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61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E) – 11 –
information elements so that these relationships can be communicated across systems.
Although this standard does not address these CIM relationships for DER, it is fully
compatible with the CIM concepts.
The interrelationship between IEC TC 57 modelling standards is illustrated in Figure 2. This
illustration shows as horizontal layers the three components to an information exchange
model for retrieving data from the field, namely, the communication protocol profiles, the
service models, and the information models. Above these layers is the information model of
utility-specific data, termed the common information model (CIM), as well as all the
applications and databases needed in utility operations. Vertically, different information
models are shown:
• substation automation (IEC 61850-7-4),
• large hydro plants (IEC 61850-7-410),
• distributed energy resources (DER) (IEC 61850-7-420),
• distribution automation (under development),
• advanced metering infrastructure (as pertinent to utility operations) (pending).

IEC 61850 Models and the Common Information Model (CIM)
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Figure 2 – IEC 61850 modelling and connections with CIM and other IEC TC 57 models

– 12 – 61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E)
COMMUNICATION NETWORKS AND
SYSTEMS FOR POWER UTILITY AUTOMATION –

Part 7-420: Basic communication structure –
Distributed energy resources logical nodes

1 Scope
This International Standard defines the IEC 61850 information models to be used in the
exchange of information with distributed energy resources (DER), which comprise dispersed
generation devices and dispersed storage devices, including reciprocating engines, fuel cells,
microturbines, photovoltaics, combined heat and power, and energy storage.
The IEC 61850 DER information model standard utilizes existing IEC 61850-7-4 logical nodes
where possible, but also defines DER-specific logical nodes where needed.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 61850-7-2:2003, Communication networks and systems in substations – Part 7-2: Basic
communication structure for substations and feeder equipment – Abstract communication
1)
service interface (ACSI)
IEC 61850-7-3:2003, Communication networks and systems in substations – Part 7-3: Basic
)
communication structure for substations and feeder equipment – Common data classes
IEC 61850-7-4:2003, Communication networks and systems in substations – Part 7-4: Basic
communication structure for substations and feeder equipment – Compatible logical node
1)
classes and data classes
IEC 61850-7-410, Communication networks and systems for power utility automation –
Part 7-410: Hydroelectric power plants – Communication for monitoring and control
ISO 4217, Codes for the representation of currencies and funds
___________
)
A new edition of this document is in preparation.

61850-7-420 © IEC:2009(E) – 13 –
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the following terms, definitions and abbreviations apply.
3.1 Terms and definitions
3.1.1
ambient temperature
temperature of the medium in the immediate vicinity of a device
[IEC/TS 62257-8-1:2007, definition 3.15 modified]
3.1.2
combined heat and power (CHP) co-generation
production of heat which is used for non-electrical purposes and also for the generation of
electric energy
[IEV 602-01-24, modified]
NOTE Conventional power plants emit the heat produced as a useless byproduct of the generation of electric
energy into the environment. With combined heat and power, the excess heat is captured for domestic or industrial
– is used for driving a steam turbine connected to an air-conditioner
heating purposes or – in form of steam
compressor. Alternatively, the production of heat may be the primary purpose of combined heat and power,
whereas excess heat is used for the generation of electric energy.
3.1.3
common data class
CDC
classes of commonly used data structures which are defined in IEC 61850-7-3
3.1.4
device
material element or assembly of such elements intended to perform a required function
[IEV 151-11-20]
NOTE A device may form part of a larger device.
3.1.5
electrical connection point
ECP
point of electrical connection between the DER source of energy (generation or storage) and
any electric power system (EPS)
Each DER (generation or storage) unit has an ECP connecting it to its local power system;
groups of DER units have an ECP where they interconnect to the power system at a specific
site or plant; a group of DER units plus local loads have an ECP where they are
interconnected to the utility power system.
NOTE For those ECP
...