MESA-DER Becoming IEEE 1815.2 Standard

 

The MESA-DER specification (version 1 released December 2018) defines the communication requirements for distributed energy resources (DER), with a special focus on utility-scale energy storage systems (ESS). The MESA-DER specification maps the utility SCADA protocol IEEE 1815 (DNP3) to the IEC 61850-7-420 DER information model, thus creating an interoperable profile of DER functions, monitored information, and control commands. MESA-DER is now becoming the IEEE 1815.2 Standard, with balloting expected in early 2024.

 

MESA-DER De Facto Standard Becoming the IEEE 1815.2 Standard

The MESA-DER de facto standard is becoming an actual standard, IEEE 1815.2, which defines the mapping between the commonly-used utility SCADA protocol IEEE 1815 (DNP3) to the IEC 61850-7-420 DER information model, thus creating an interoperable profile of DER functions, monitored information, and control commands. This MESA-DER interoperable profile is defined in the DNP3 Application Note AN2018-001 and supports all the IEEE 1547 and California Rule 21 DER functions as well as additional market-based DER functions to support utility grid safe, reliable, and efficient operations. In addition, the MESA-DER specification covers the data exchange requirements for ESS configuration management, including ESS role-based access control (RBAC) for different ESS operational states.

This multi-year process is shown below:

 

MESA-DER Process

Basic Functions

  • Monitoring Function: The DER provides status, measurements, and other requested data
  • Connect/Disconnect Function: Connect or disconnect (cease to energize) the DER from the grid at its ECP

Emergency Modes

  • High/Low Voltage Ride-Through Mode: The DER rides through temporary fluctuations in voltage at the PCC
  • High/Low Frequency Ride-Through Mode: The DER rides through temporary fluctuations in frequency at the PCC
  • Dynamic Reactive Current Support Mode: The DER reacts against rapid voltage changes to provide dynamic system stabilization
  • Frequency-Watt Emergency Mode: The DER responds to large frequency excursions during H/LFRT events at a referenced ECP by changing its charging or discharging rate

Active Power Modes

  • Active Power Charge/Discharge Mode: Set the DER to charge or discharge real power at the referenced ECP
  • Limit Active l Power Discharging or Charging Mode: Limits the discharging or charging level of the DER based on the referenced ECP
  • Load Following (Peak Power Limiting) Mode: The discharging real power output of the DER follows the load at the Referenced ECP if it starts to exceed a target power level.
  • Generation Following Mode: The discharging or charging of the DER follows the generation at the referenced ECP if it starts to exceed a target power level.
  • Active Power Smoothing Mode: The DER produces or absorbs real power in order to smooth the changes in the power level of the referenced ECP.
  • Volt-Watt Mode: The DER responds to changes in the voltage at the referenced ECP by changing its charging or discharging rate
  • Automatic Generation Control (AGC) Mode: The DER responds to raise and lower power level requests to provide frequency regulation support
  • Coordinated Charge/Discharge Mode: The DER determines when to charge so long as it meets its State of Charge level obligation by the Charge-By date and time in the most cost-effective manner or based on owner preferences
  • Frequency-Watt Smoothing Mode: The DER responds to changes in frequency at the referenced ECP by changing its charging or discharging rate based on frequency deviations from nominal, as a means for countering those frequency deviations

 

 Reactive Power Modes

  • Fixed Power Factor Mode: The DER power factor is set to a fixed value.
  • Volt-Var Control Mode: The DER responds to changes in voltage at the referenced ECP by supplying or absorbing vars in order to maintain the desired voltage level
  • Watt-Power Factor Mode: The DER responds to changes in power at the referenced ECP by changing its power factor
  • Power Factor Correction Mode: The DER supplies or absorbs VArs to hold the power factor constant at the referenced ECP.

Additional Capabilities

  • Scheduling of Power Settings and Modes: The DER follows the schedule which consists of a time offset (specified as a number of seconds) from the start of the schedule and is associated with a power system setting, the enabling/disabling of an operating mode, and a price signal.
  • Establish Ramp Rates: In addition to the default ramp rate, the DER may support multiple ramp rates that reflect different conditions.
  • Soft-Start Reconnection: Use ramp rate or random time within window when reconnecting
  • Permit reconnection: Utility or other authority permits reconnection, but reconnection may or may not start at that time
  • Microgrid separation control: Process for normal separation, emergency separation, and reconnection (in development)
  • Provide Black Start Capability: Ability to start without grid power and the ability to add significant load in segmented groups (in development)
  • Provide Backup Power: Ability to provide power to local loads when not connected to the grid

Historical Information

  • DER unit status, alarms, and measurements
  • Inverter status, alarms, and measurements
  • Battery cells status, alarms, and measurements
  • Metering status, alarms, and measurements


MESA Architecture

MESA-DER Specifications

Since MESA-DER is being converted to IEEE 1815.2, the MESA-DER specification and the DNP3 Application Note are out-of-date and are no longer available from this site.

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