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IEEE 1547 Standards Advancing Grid Modernization

Thomas Basso, Sudipta Chakraborty, Andy Hoke, and Michael Coddington


National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, 80401, United States of America

Abstract — Technology advances including development of information technologies that provide state-of-the-art solutions
advanced distributed energy resources (DER) and grid- for enhanced integration of DER and loads with the grid.
integrated operations and controls functionalities have surpassed
the requirements in current standards and codes for DER
interconnection with the distribution grid. The full revision of II. THE 1547 AND 1547.1 AMENDED STANDARDS
IEEE Standards 1547 (requirements for DER-grid
interconnection and interoperability) and 1547.1 (test procedures Traditionally, as a technical standard, 1547 has provided
for conformance to 1547) are establishing requirements and best local, state, and federal regulators and policymakers a
practices for state-of-the-art DER including variable renewable technical basis for promoting transparency, openness, and
energy sources. The revised standards will also address fairness in implementing DER interconnecting to the grid.
challenges associated with interoperability and transmission-level And in recent times, with higher penetration levels of DERs
effects, in addition to strictly addressing the distribution grid
needs. This paper provides the status and future direction of the and with advanced functionalities of interconnection systems
ongoing development focus for the 1547 standards. such as advanced autonomous and communications-based
Index Terms — conformance, converter, distributed energy features for inverters, revision of IEEE 1547 was initiated by a
resources, grid, IEEE 1547, integration, interconnection, diverse group of volunteers [1].
interoperability, inverter, microgrid, power system, Smart Grid, The first phase of revising 1547 was the publication of
standard, storage, testing. 1547a (Amendment 1 to 1547) in May 2014 [2]. In
Amendment 1, the operators of the distribution grid and the
I. INTRODUCTION1 DERs are required to mutually agree if the DER is allowed to
actively participate to regulate the grid voltage by changes to
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) the real and reactive power output of the DER. Generally, the
Standard 1547 has been a foundational document for the DER equipment could respond autonomously to variations in
interconnection of distributed energy resources (DER) with grid voltage, and/or via communicated settings, and/or via a
the electric power system or the grid. IEEE 1547 is unique as time schedule. This allowable advanced functionality provides
the only American National Standard addressing overall a more robust grid and is inherently integrated with utility grid
systems-level DER interconnected with the distribution grid. It operating practices.
has had a significant effect on how the energy industry does Similarly in 1547a, under mutual agreement between the
business, and it (along with ongoing revisions) should operators of the grid and the DERs, the DER is permitted
continue to influence the way electric power systems operate much wider latitude in how it responds to grid abnormal
far into the future. IEEE 1547 has helped to modernize our voltage and frequency conditions, including that DER are now
electric power systems infrastructure by providing a clearly allowed to provide voltage and frequency ride-through.
foundation for integrating clean renewable energy The required voltage and frequency equipment functionalities
technologies and other distributed generation and energy are greatly expanded in the Amendment and the operational
storage technologies. IEEE 1547 provides mandatory flexibility is enhanced.
functional technical requirements and specifications, as well To provide the necessary test procedures for the 1547a
as flexibility and choices, for equipment and operating details Amendment 1, IEEE Std 1547.1 was revised to cover testing
that are compliant with the standard. The 1547 development for voltage-regulation equipment functionality and for voltage
has, in large part, been accomplished through industry support and frequency ride-through [3]. The 1547.1a amended
and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/National standard was published in March 2015. In that amendment,
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) support of IEEE four testing categories for DER voltage-regulation support of
standards development. And more recently, the IEEE 2030 the grid were established for interconnection equipment under
series of standards for Smart Grid interoperability is helping to test (EUT):
further realize greater implementation of communications and • EUT responds to variations in voltage as per the
manufacturer-specified response characteristics.
• EUT responds to communicated settings as per the
This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy manufacturer-specified protocols, means of
under Contract No. DE-AC36-08-GO28308 with the National communications, and response characteristics.
Renewable Energy Laboratory. • EUT responds to a time schedule as per the manufacturer-
specified response characteristics.

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• The EUT reactive-power output changes with respect to • Two-way communications, controls, and dispatchability
real-power output, as per the manufacturer-specified • Interoperability and intelligent devices integration
response characteristics. • Demand response and load effects
These advanced test procedures thus allow certification testing • Potential interactive effects among advanced
for the new voltage-regulation functionalities. requirements and specifications
• Introduction and incorporation of advanced evaluation
and testing approaches such as enhanced modeling and
III. THE FULL REVISION OF 1547 AND 1547.1 STANDARDS
simulation requirements
Technology advances and development of advanced DER– • Consideration and acceptance of power hardware-in-the-
grid-integrated operations and controls functionalities, and loop and control hardware-in-the-loop technology
Smart Grid interoperability research and development are • Potential requirements and specifications considering
surpassing the requirements in the amended 1547a and security, reliability, and resiliency aspects of DER–grid
1547.1a standards for DER. Subsequently, the full revision of interconnections.
1547 was initiated, with the first meeting in April 2014.
The full revision of 1547 – “Draft Standard for
Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy
Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems
Interfaces," now addresses interoperability and associated
interface aspects and will build from IEEE Standard 2030 in
addition to the 1547 series. The definition of “interface”
related to the full revision of 1547 follows: “interface – a
logical interconnection from one entity to another that
supports one or more data flows implemented with one or
more data links” (IEEE 2030). Figure 1 includes the
definition of interoperability (IEEE 2030) and graphically
depicts the interoperability focus areas for the electric power,
communications, and information technologies that constitute
the technological heart of the Smart Grid.
The full revision of 1547 has substantial participation of Interoperability: the capability of two or more networks, systems,
devices, applications, or components to externally exchange and
individual utilities and participation from a number of readily use information securely & effectively. (Std 2030)
transmission-level authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs).
Fig. 1. Smart Grid interoperability: the integration of power,
State regulatory experts have asked NREL and DOE to
communications, and information technologies.
accelerate the IEEE 1547 standards revisions. Also, the North
American Electric Reliability Corporation and a number of As a result of the full revision of IEEE 1547, the full
transmission grid, independent system operators, and regional revision of 1547.1 (test procedures) is necessary. And to test
transmission operators are actively participating in updating advanced features of DERs along with their compatibility with
the 1547 standard. Full revision of 1547 is being coordinated modernized grid operations, new testing methodologies are
with corresponding standards and codes such as the National being considered. Some DER advanced grid-support features
Electrical Code (NEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) will be interdependent, so these new test procedures should
safety standards and state-level interconnection regulations verify that interactions between features do not negatively
such as California’s Electric Rule 21 and Hawaiian Electric affect grid safety, stability, or power quality. In addition,
Company Rule 14H. advanced grid-support features operate on a range of time
The full revision of 1547 is addressing distribution-level scales—from milliseconds to many minutes—so the new test
connected DER, which includes: protocols should also test the dynamic response of DER. The
• Generation and storage, including storage as a load new test protocols will build upon the success of IEEE Std
• Advanced functionalities of both DER and modern grid 1547 by preserving the characteristics of IEEE Std 1547.1 to
equipment the extent possible, including its balance between generality
• Distribution–transmission impacts and cross- and prescriptiveness. To establish new tests considered for
harmonization of requirements full revision of 1547.1, stakeholders are first considering
• DER supplying adequate inertia (or inertia-like functions) results from more in-depth performance characterization tests
for the grid beyond strictly standards conformance tests. Example
• Microgrids potential extensions of such tests include the following:
• Very high-penetration of renewables and other DERs • Tests for voltage and frequency ride-through curves that
• Intermittency and uncertainty of renewable generation are not step functions (if implemented by manufacturers)

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S
• Tests for frequency support/response functions, such as 2
1.1

voltage, p.u
those described in [4] and [5]. An example of such a test 1
is shown in Fig. 2.

p.u.
1 0
• Tests for voltage-regulation methods not in 1547.1 -1
Amendment 1 0.9
V -2
• Testing of advanced grid-support features in an 0 100 200 300 Q 400
environment that simulates realistic power system time, seconds
dynamics (i.e., Power Hardware in the Loop – PHIL), for

reactive power, pu
2
example, as described in [6]. For DER functions that Q
interact dynamically with the distribution system, PHIL 0
Qcmd
testing can replicate the full closed-loop dynamic system
in a way that traditional open-loop DER testing does not.
-2
Although this type of testing may or may not be 105 110 115 120 125 130 135
incorporated directly into standards testing, the results of L-N voltage, Vrms
such tests do serve to inform the standards development Fig. 3. An example of a PHIL test of inverter-based voltage
process. An example of such a test is shown in Fig. 3. regulation where a simple distribution system model is used to
emulate the dynamic response of the electric power system. In
• Testing of multiple inverters with advanced features to this test, the inverter is in volt-VAR mode.
study their dynamic interaction and performance. This
type of testing may also incorporate elements of a characterization performance or research. With the
distribution system into the test setup, such as proliferation of new DER features and interconnection
interconnecting impedances between various DERs, applications, there are significant challenges to design
allowing interactions between multiple inverters and the standardized tests that are thorough without being
distribution grid to be examined experimentally in a unnecessarily burdensome.
controlled environment. Elements of distribution systems
such as interconnected impedances can be implemented in
hardware or simulated using PHIL, as described in [7]. IV. EXAMPLE CONSIDERATIONS FOR 1547/1547.1 REVISION
Again, although it is not clear whether it is beneficial to The following information presents works in progress that
incorporate this type of testing directly into standards, it are subject to change by the 1547/1547.1 working groups.
can serve to inform the standards development process— These examples are for illustrative purposes only—to convey
for example, by helping determine what sets of control the general direction that the revised standards are headed.
parameters for advanced grid-support functions work well The full revision of 1547 is considering significant
(and what sets of parameters may lead to undesirable requirements addressing grid support, interoperability and
behavior). associated interfaces, and additional interconnection effects
• Testing that incorporates both communications systems beyond the point of common coupling. Differentiated
and power systems into the same tests, such as those requirements are being considered based on various defined
described in [8] and [9]. categories of DER. Currently, there are draft categories
identified for DER providing voltage-regulation support and
The IEEE 1547.1 working group needs to explore and for DER interconnection response to grid abnormalities of
validate effective conformance tests that do not overly burden voltage and frequency. The terminology of these categories
conformance testing with procedures geared to full and the differentiated functionalities of the DER remain under
discussion and are being harmonized with various
65 2 performance requirements in the industry. Example draft text
for DER capability to support voltage regulation follows:
frequency “The DER shall be capable of injecting reactive power to the
frequency, Hz

system (over-excited) and absorbing reactive power from the


current, p.u.

Irms
60 1 system (under-excited); and, “The DER shall provide the
capabilities of the following modes of reactive power control
functions: power factor mode; voltage-reactive power (Volt-
VAr) mode; active power-power factor mode (watt-pf); and
55 0 reactive power mode.” Whereas this is generally a widely
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
accepted approach and may appear straightforward, the details
time, seconds
of the required and allowable values and ranges of the
Fig. 2. A sample test of a photovoltaic inverter’s high- performance parameters are being vigorously debated.
frequency ride-through function with the high-frequency power Similarly for DER response to grid abnormal voltage and
curtailment (frequency-watt) function enabled.

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frequency, the technical details for voltage and frequency ride-
through are nearing consensus by the working group.
The full revision of 1547 and 1547.1 is also considering
new requirements and test procedures to address emerging
topics not covered in previous editions. For example, under
the general heading of power quality, several more well-
defined requirements are likely to be introduced into the
standards. One such topic includes transient over-voltages
(TOV) that may occur when distribution feeders with
significant levels of DERs experience faults. Recent testing
has shown that inverter-based DERs behave significantly
differently from machine-based DERs in such situations [10]–
[12], so standards may need to be updated to reflect these Fig. 4. An example of a transient overvoltage test of a PV
findings. Figure 4 shows an example of a TOV test result. inverter. This test addresses a type of TOV known as load-
rejection overvoltage (LRO), which can occur when part of a
Interoperability is another topic new to the full revision of
distribution system is islanded containing more distributed
1547 and 1547.1. Such requirements or designated generation than load [11]. For the brief time before the DER
allowances are being considered for communications, inverter controllers disconnect from the grid, the DER output
information models, and protocols. In the modern grid, power is directed into the load. Although current-controlled
interoperability will play a key role, enabling more effective inverters such as photovoltaic inverters may be more prone to
interactions between grid and DER operators. Related to LRO than synchronous machines, inverter controllers can also
interoperability, cybersecurity, privacy, and confidentiality react very quickly, mitigating any TOV. In the test shown here,
the inverter-to-load power ratio was 10:1, and the inverter took
considerations are being discussed. Generally, it is agreed for about five line-cycles to disconnect.
interoperability concerns that relevant standards should be
used as much as possible. However, it is not generally agreed • Reduce interconnection approval time for advanced DER
within the working group what level of detailed requirements projects,
should be included in the 1547 standard. • Reduce interconnection costs for projects, and
With the increasing interest in storage-based DER and with • Accelerate conformance validation of state-of-the-art
DER applications that incorporate both storage and renewable interconnection systems for the future grid.
energy sources such as photovoltaics, the revised standard is The interoperability, communications, and information
expected to include additional considerations for multi-mode technology integrated functionalities into interconnection
inverters, or inverters that can operate both in grid-interactive systems will also:
mode and in stand-alone (planned island) mode. IEEE 1547 • Enable the success of new business models and valuations
revisions to address multi-mode DER inverters will be for utilities and customers,
coordinated with the ongoing work of the UL 1741 working • Support transactive roles of customers, and
group on this topic. • Improve grid awareness of interconnected DER, including
Other topics being considered for the full revision of 1547 helping to mitigate concerns about intermittency and
include: additional requirements for DER on distribution dispatchability of renewable energy technologies.
secondary networks; new requirements addressing transition Whereas the 1547 series of standards continue to evolve,
modes for planned islanding; new requirements for modeling new technical standards alone are not immediately effective
and simulation; and if there might be specific, additional for advancing grid modernization. Effectiveness involves
requirements for electric vehicles and for energy storage (e.g., acceptance and understanding of the revised standards among
storage functioning as both a load and a power source). a broad consensus of stakeholders, as well as coherent
implementation across the physical boundaries of the
transmission and distribution electric grid infrastructure.
IV. CLOSING REMARKS Those stakeholders include utilities, manufacturers, authorities
The full revision of the IEEE 1547 standard, including having jurisdiction over the grid, system integrators, and DER
interoperability and associated interface aspects and the owners (electricity customers). Updated 1547 standards are
subsequent full revision of IEEE 1547.1 (conformance paramount for successfully accelerating the evolution of the
testing), is critical to the power industry and the evolution of modern grid. However, additional key success factors include
the electricity infrastructure. This is because the 1547 and improved standards conformance programs, transparent
1547.1 standards provide the widely accepted engineering market requirements, and ongoing research and development
consensus for properly ensuring grid performance and for hardware and software advances in power,
reliability levels are at least maintained (or increased) when communications, and information technologies for DER and
interconnecting DER with the grid. These revised standards: for the grid.
• Enable high penetration of DER, including clean solar
technologies, at levels approaching or exceeding, 100%
peak load,

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT [5] A. Hoke, S. Chakraborty, and T. Basso, “Testing of Advanced
PV Inverters Conforming to IEEE Standard 1547 – Amendment
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Alvin 1,” IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), Denver,
Razon, Ranga Pitchumani, and Minh Le from the DOE-EERE CO, June 2014.
Solar Energy Technologies Office and Dan Ton of the DOE [6] A. Hoke, S. Chakraborty, and T. Basso, “A Power Hardware-in-
Office of Electricity for funding this work. Additionally, the the-Loop Framework for Advanced Grid-interactive Inverter
Testing,” 2015 IEEE Innovative Smart Grid Technologies
authors gratefully acknowledge the volunteers contributing to
Conference (ISGT), Washington, DC.
IEEE 1547 and IEEE 2030 series development. [7] S. Chakraborty, A. Hoke, and B. Lundstrom, “Evaluation of
Multiple Inverter Volt-VAR Control Interactions with Realistic
Grid Impedances,” IEEE Power and Energy Society General
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