Description
Generation management system refers to the real-time information system and all the elements needed to support all the relevant operational activities and functions used in day to day operation of the Generation system, including the control of generation assets under normal and abnormal operating conditions. It enables implementing generating programs that are prepared for a certain period, improves the information made available to operators at the control room, field and crew personnel, customer service representatives and management. It may thus support or help in making operational decisions.
Such a system is usually made of one or many interconnected IT systems, connected to field generation operation systems, through the use of LAN/WAN communication systems. It may also include the components needed to enable field crew to operate the generation system from the field.
A generation management system usually provides following major functions:
• EMS/SCADA, real time monitoring and control of the (geographically localized) generation system at the Transmission Operator level;
• DCS, real time monitoring and control of the generation assets at the station/field level;
• scheduling, monitoring and control of the (scattered) generation fleet at the generation company level for the production of energy, ancillary services and by-products in close relation to the Asset Management System;
• advanced generation management applications;
• work management;
• support of trading functions;
• black start facilities.
Addressing these challenges requires process-level and asset management system constraints to be more closely integrated within the higher levels of the Generation management system.
Available standards
Layer |
Standard |
Title and comments |
Information |
IEC 61131 series |
Programmable controllers |
Information |
IEC 61499 series |
Function blocks |
Information |
IEC 61804 series |
Function blocks (FB) for process control |
Information |
IEC 62264 series |
Enterprise-control system integration (ISA 95) |
Information |
IEC 61512 series |
Batch control (ISA 88) |
Information |
IEC 61987 series |
Industrial-process measurement and control – Data structures and elements in process equipment catalogues |
Information |
IEC 61360 |
CDD – Common Data Dictionary, available from <http://std.iec.ch/iec61360http://std.iec.ch/iec61360> |
Information |
IEC 61968-1 IEC 61968-2 IEC 61968-3 IEC 61968-4 IEC 61968-9 IEC 61968-11 |
Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution management |
Information |
IEC 61968-6 |
Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution management – Part 6: Interfaces for maintenance and construction |
Information |
IEC 61970-1 IEC 61970-2 IEC 61970-301 IEC 61970-401 IEC 61970-452 IEC 61970-453 IEC 61970-456 IEC 61970-501 IEC 61970-552 |
Energy management system application program interface (EMS-API) |
Information |
IEC 62325-301 IEC 62325-451-1 IEC 62325-451-2 IEC 62325-451-3 IEC 62325-451-4 IEC 62325-451-5 |
Framework for energy market communications CIM information model (Market profiles) |
Information |
IEC 61850-7-4 IEC 61850-6 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation Core Information model for the IEC 61850 series |
Information |
IEC 61850-7-410 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 7-410: Basic communication structure – Hydroelectric power plants – Communication for monitoring and control |
Information |
IEC 61400-25-2 |
Wind turbines – Part 25-2: Communications for monitoring and control of wind power plants – Information models |
Information |
IEC 62541-1 IEC 62541-2 IEC 62541-3 IEC 62541-5 IEC 62541-8 IEC 62541-9 IEC 62541-10 OPC UA part 11 OPC UA part PLCopen |
OPC unified architecture OPC foundation open specifications for OPC UA parts 11 and PLCopen are not yet announced in the IEC SC 65E work program |
Information |
IEC 62325-450 |
Framework for energy market communications –Part 450: Profile and context modelling rules CIM information model (Market profiles) |
Communication |
IEC TR 61850-90-4 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 90-4: Network engineering guidelines Guidelines for communication within substation |
Communication |
IEC 61158 series IEC 61784-1 |
Industrial communication networks – Fieldbus specifications Industrial communication networks – Profiles – Part 1: Fieldbus profiles |
Communication |
IEC 62439 series |
Industrial communication networks – High availability automation networks Based on the ISO/IEC 8802-3 (Ethernet) technology |
Communication |
IEC 62541-4 IEC 62541-6 IEC 62541-7 |
OPC unified architecture IEC standards for OPC UA |
Communication |
IEC 61850-8-1 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 8-1: Specific communication service mapping (SCSM) – Mappings to MMS (ISO 9506-1 and ISO 9506-2) and to ISO/IEC 8802-3 IEC 61850 communication except Sample values |
Communication |
IEC TR 61850-90-1 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 90-1: Use of IEC 61850 for the communication between substations |
Communication, Information |
IEC TR 61850-90-2 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation |
Communication |
IEC 60870-5-104 |
Telecontrol equipment and systems – Part 5-104: Transmission protocols – Network access for IEC 60870-5-101 using standard transport profiles to connect to the Plant (standard transport protocol) |
Communication |
IEC 60870-5-101 |
Telecontrol equipment and systems – Part 5-101: Transmission protocols – Companion standard for basic telecontrol tasks to connect to the Plant (serial link) |
Communication |
IEC 60870-5-103 |
Telecontrol equipment and systems – Part 5-103: Transmission protocols – Companion standard for the informative interface of protection equipment to connect to protection Relays |
Communication |
IEC 61850-9-2 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 9-2: Specific communication service mapping (SCSM) – Sampled values over ISO/IEC 8802-3 IEC 61850 Sample values communication |
Communication |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 9-3: Precision time protocol profile for power utility automation |
|
Communication |
IEC 61968-100 |
Application integration at electric utilities – System interfaces for distribution management – Part 100: Implementation profiles |
Communication |
IEC 62351 series |
Power systems management and associated information exchange – Data and communications security Cyber-security aspects (see 4.10.4) |
Component |
IEC 60255 series |
Measuring relays and protection equipment |
Component |
IEC 61400 series |
Wind turbines |
Component |
IEC 60904 series |
Photovoltaic devices |
Component |
IEC 61727 |
Photovoltaic (PV) systems – Characteristics of the utility interface |
Component |
IEC 62446 |
Photovoltaic (PV) systems - Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance |
Component |
IEC 62282 series |
Fuel cell technologies |
Component |
IEC 60193 |
Hydraulic turbines, storage pumps and pump-turbines – Model acceptance tests |
Component |
IEEE Std 1547 |
Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems |
Coming standards
Layer |
Standard |
Title and comments |
Information |
IEC 61970-458 |
Energy management system application program interface (EMS-API) |
Information |
IEC 62325-351 |
Framework for energy market communications – Part 351: CIM European market model exchange profile |
Information |
IEC 62361-100 |
Power systems management and associated information exchange – Interoperability in the long term CIM information model (profiling rules) |
Communication |
IEC 61850-8-2 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 8-2: Specific communication service mapping (SCSM) – Mappings to Extensible Messaging Presence Protocol (XMPP) |
Communication |
IEC/IEEE 61850-9-3 |
Communication networks and systems for power utility automation – Part 9-3: Precision time protocol profile for power utility automation |
Communication |
IEC 62351 series |
Power systems management and associated information exchange – Data and communications security Cyber-security aspects (refer to 4.10.4) |
Mapping of standards
on the component layer

The Generation operation component architecture involves all Zones from Process to Enterprise levels, which may be interconnected through wires or communication.
The lower level components are easily identified as Generation related or not. The higher level components are more tightly integrated with Market, Asset Management and Transmission related components.
The Process level is populated with:
• electrical equipment, sensors and actuators (such as current and voltage transformers, breakers or switches);
• electro-mechanical machines with associated sensors and actuators (turbines and generators);
• industrial equipment with general purpose sensors and actuators (typically hydro or thermal plant).
The Field level is in charge of protection, monitoring and control. It is mostly based on PLCs, which can be replaced by IEDs for electrical equipment.
Above the DCS HMI, higher level components are to be integrated with Market, Asset Management and Transmission related components.
The Transmission EMS/SCADA system communicates with the Generation Management System RTU to implement the Secondary Generation Control
Mapping of standards
on the communication layer

The significant standard communication protocols used within a Generation management system, are the following:
• Field bus protocols are standardized within IEC 61158 series and IEC 61784-1.
• Mission-critical networks hosted in Station level rely on IEC 62439 series high availability automation networks.
• The communication standards of the IEC 60870-5 family (profiles 101 and 104 to connect to the Plant, profile 103 to connect to protection Relays).
• The messaging standard IEC 61968-100 for Enterprise and Operation level messages.
• The communication standards of the IEC 61850 family for IED components.
• The communication standards of the IEC 62541 family for OPC UA servers and clients.
Please refer to the cyber-security cross-cutting technology page to get more insights on where and how to apply the IEC 62351 series and/or other cyber-security mechanisms.
Mapping of standards
on the information layer

The information layer of Generation management is based on the following families of information models:
• Field device functions and interfaces are standardized within IEC 61131 series, with associated work in progress: IEC 61499 and IEC 61804 series.
• Plant electrical devices are standardized within the IEC 61850 series, with work in progress for other field devices: IEC 61400-25-2 for wind turbines, IEC 61850-7-410 for hydro power plants.
• Industrial plant information models are standardized in the following family: IEC 62264 series (ISA 95), IEC 61512 (ISA 88), IEC 61987 series and IEC 61360. Their relevance to the Generation management system is at the Station level.
Operation and Enterprise level information models are standardized in the CIM family: IEC 61968, IEC 61970, IEC 62325 series and IEC 62361. The relevance of IEC 61968 parts to Generation has not been formally assessed yet. Few parts are fully appropriate for Generation domain, but most parts can be extended to become relevant to Generation domain.