Creation of a Common Information Model of the Belarusian energy system

Adoption of the GPO Belenergo standard STP 33240.01.108-22 “Definition of a common  information model of an electrical network in combination with a common system for identifying model objects and a common system for managing regulatory and reference information” became the start for the creation in the Belarusian energy system of a common information model of a network based on a common information model, taking into account the requirements of IEC 61970 / 61968 standards.

The Common Information Model (CIM) is a standardized information interaction model for power industry enterprises that provides the ability to integrate heterogeneous automated systems and provides a common control method, regardless of the purpose and equipment manufacturer.

The prerequisites for the creation of a common information model, and with it a common information exchange format, were problems that manifest themselves in the process of interaction and exchange of technological information. The lack of a common structure and format of information exchange leads to an increase in the time and cost of implementing information systems, an increase in the resource intensity of tasks for updating proprietary models, to non-synchronous updating and heterogeneity of information, a lack of integration of software from different manufacturers, and an increase in dependence on developers of heterogeneous software.

The development of information technologies has led to the introduction of a large number of automated systems (AS) at electric power enterprises, which, as a rule, are designed to solve only one specific technological problem. Most of these ASs have their own information model of the power system or part of it and, as a rule, their own storage format. At the same time, the mutual conversion of information models of different AS is implemented pointwise and partially. Thus, despite the fact that information models of different AS contain data on the same equipment, information exchange between them is difficult.

Between enterprises, information exchange is carried out, as a rule, by sending tabular or text files, which are rarely suitable for machine processing. This situation is typical for all enterprises of the electric power industry, which leads to the following problems:

• increase in the resource intensity of the task of updating information models due to the impossibility of implementing the concept of one-time data entry;

• diversity of updating information in information models of one enterprise;

• heterogeneity of data on the same facility in different ASs and in different power industry enterprises;

• the emergence of intermediate links that increase the likelihood of error;

• increasing the time and cost of introducing new nuclear power plants;

• the impossibility of mutual integration of applications from different developers,

• dependence on the AS developer due to the implementation of not only unique AS operation algorithms, but also unique data storage.

To address these issues, the International Electrotechnical Commission has developed the IEC 61970 and IEC 61968 standards, which define the Common Information Model (CIM) to describe the information infrastructure of a power utility in a standard way. It is important to note that CIM is a standardized information exchange format, but does not impose requirements on the structure of information storage. This means that the information model may have its own unique format, but must be suitable for information exchange in the CIM format. It is also obvious that the closer the internal format of the model representation to the exchange format, the easier will be the integration of this model with external speakers.

Significant projects have already been launched to create separate parts of a single information model with the introduction of digital network management tools as part of the ADCS. RUE "Brestenergo" is implementing a project to introduce a comprehensive IT solution in the field of automated dispatch and technological control systems. The solution is based on the RS-20 software platform developed by JSC Operator ASTU (part of the Rosseti Group, Russian Federation), and the SK-11 software is used as a control and data acquisition system (SCADA).

The implementation of a project similar in terms of technical solutions is carried out in RUE "Gomelenergo" with a pilot zone in the Gomel city distribution zone and further expansion to the power system. The same approach is planned in RUE "Minskenergo", where the Minsk Cable Networks branch will become a pilot zone.

The implementation of these and future projects, the creation of a single information model for the Belarusian energy system is a key step towards success in the digital transformation of the power industry.