Is CIM suitable for deriving a portable data format for simulation tools?

Several types of studies have to be performed to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the electrical power system: - stability studies, short-circuit studies, load-flow studies, transients, frequency behavior... These studies are often dispatched between several engineers/researchers, each one having his own field of expertise, and his own simulation tool. For each type of study, the first step is the description of the considered electrical system. Today, this work is made easier by sophisticated interfaces provided with main modern programs, for example EMTP-RV. Although modern computer programs are provided with sophisticated graphical user interfaces, each program has its own modeling interface and model development methods. There are no full portability or interoperability standards between applications of the same type. This issue creates significant and time consuming problems for the users since it is often required in the same organization to perform studies using different applications or to receive models available from different manufacturers using different tools. This paper briefly present what is CIM, and why CIM should be used and extended to derive a portable data format for simulation tools. To support our recommendation, we highlight some key results obtained over the last 10 years: (a) Thanks to EPRI, CIM interoperability tests have been in place for 10 years. In 2010, Entsoe sponsored CIM interoperability tests for planning and CIM for Dynamics based on previous EPRI project result. (b) EDF Research and Division worked on some CIM interfaces for Matlab PSAT, EMTP-RV and internal tools. We present the status of these interfaces and some results obtained. Then, we present major studies that have been started in 2010: (c) A UML model for IEC 61850 will be officially standardized, which will allow to better harmonize CIM and 61850. This is important for Hardware In the Loop simulation platforms, as they will probably combine CIM and 61850 standa- - rds (CIM at the simulation interface level, 61850 at the hardware interface level). (d) Some major European projects funded by the European Commission have made the choice to leverage CIM standard. This is the case for the ADDRESS project and for the DERRI project. We will focus more on DERRI project which has a joint research activity dedicated to interoperability between simulation tools. Finally we conclude with some key technical challenges that we will have to address in the coming years in order to get a portable data format for simulation tools.