IEC CIM architecture for Smart Grid to achieve interoperability International CIM

This paper describes IEC CIM architecture and demonstrates how this architecture fits into Smart Grid architectural principles: loose coupling, shallow integration and layered approach. The CIM architecture is traced back to UN/CEFACT modeling methodology, Zachman formal architectural framework and Open-EDI model to ensure reusability and repeatability of its design solutions. It maps the CIM architecture layers with the Interoperability Framework to illustrate the interoperability character of the architecture. To demonstrate how the above architecture works in practice to achieve interoperability, the paper describes International IEC CIM Interoperability test in March this year especially concentrating on the testing of IEC 61968 interfaces. Multiple vendors: TIBCO, Oracle, Alstom, IBM, Telvent, GE, Siemens and others were interoperating by implementing CIM compliant SOA based integration.