Reference architectures for Smart Grids

Lecturer: Friederich Kupzog

Due to the advancing digitalization, which also affects the energy systems, an unprecedented level of information technology networking is being achieved step by step. This leads to two main challenges for the system design: on the one hand, interoperability between different (sub)systems and components must be ensured, on the other hand, effective security and data protection measures are required to protect this critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks and to increase consumer acceptance. A high security of supply can only be guaranteed in the long term if both challenges of technological development are taken into account when designing future smart grids.

The workshop dealt with the main two reference architectures for smart grids relevant in an European context. Such a reference architecture aims to support in planning of future systems and migrating from existing legacy architectures to a new smart grid architecture. Especially the requirements for safety and security bring additional complexity into the system.

As one if the main origins of the European Smart Grid Architectural Model (SGAM) as developed in the EU Mandate M/470 by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, the US American Smart Grid Conceptual Model was introduced. This model, published by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), also referred to as “NIST-Model”, introduces the main scope of the reference architecture and has a strong focus on interoperability. Subsequently, the European SGAM Model was discussed, and example applications were modelled in SGAM to illustrate the benefits of using a unified modelling approach to describe smart grid use cases. Bets practices and learnings around the usage of SGAM were discussed.