A New Era for Decentralised Energy: Introducing CSA TS-117 Terminology Specification
Source: Sarah Pryor | · DECENTRALISED ENERGY CANADA · | August 8, 2023
Today marks a historic moment in the journey towards a unified and vibrant decentralised energy landscape in Canada. Decentralised Energy Canada is delighted to share a significant announcement that promises to propel the industry forward – the publication of CSA TS-117, the National Technical Specification for Terminology for the Decentralised Energy Industry in Canada.
In partnership with the Standards Council of Canada and with the invaluable support of Decentralised Energy Canada, CSA Group proudly unveils the first-of-its-kind technical specification, CSA TS-117. This comprehensive documentation addresses a longstanding need for a standardised vocabulary in the decentralised energy sector, fostering a shared understanding of key terms among industry players and stakeholders.
At the heart of the technical specification lies the recognition that clear communication is a cornerstone for the successful development and deployment of decentralised energy solutions. In an industry marked by innovation and diversity, having a common language ensures that concepts are accurately conveyed and ideas are seamlessly exchanged, ultimately driving collaboration and progress.
As President of Decentralised Energy Canada, Anouk Kendall played a pivotal role in this endeavour, reflecting our organisation's unwavering commitment to driving positive change in the decentralised energy landscape. Anouk’s leadership exemplifies the power of collaboration and shared vision in shaping the future of the industry.
CSA TS-117 is more than just a document – it is a catalyst for transformation. This technical specification not only establishes a solid foundation for a common terminology framework but also paves the way for the development of an accredited national standard. Through this harmonised language, we are poised to amplify our collective efforts, streamline innovation, and expedite the adoption of decentralised energy solutions across Canada.
Decentralised Energy Canada stands alongside CSA Group and the Standards Council of Canada in celebrating this significant milestone. We recognise that this achievement is a testament to the industry's commitment to progress, sustainability, and collaboration. As the decentralised energy landscape continues to evolve, CSA TS-117 will serve as a guiding light on our path towards a cleaner, resilient, and interconnected energy future.
List of Terms and Definitions in the Technical Specification:
This is a summary of the list of terms that are specified in the documentation. Please note that this is a summary and does not include the full details or nuances of the terminology. Please see below details on how to download the document for full details.
-
Ampacity — current-carrying capacity, expressed in amperes (A), of a wire, cable, device, circuit, or other equipment under a specified set of operating conditions.
Anti-islanding protection — a protection function or combination of protection functions that prevents distributed energy resources from supplying electricity to an unintentional island.
Automatic circuit recloser (ACR) — an overcurrent protection device that a) is used by the wires owner to detect faults on distribution system feeders; and b) can open and reclose after a specified time, allowing momentary faults to clear.
Battery-based micro-hydropower system — a micro-hydropower system that uses batteries for energy storage, usually in less than 5 kW capacities.
Bioenergy — renewable energy derived from biomass through conversion to biofuel.
Biofuel — fuel derived from biomass.
Biogas — gas resulting from the fermentation or gasification of biomass.
Biomass — renewable energy source in the form of material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formations or transformed to fossilized material.
Bonding — the electrical interconnecting of metallic parts or conductors in order to maintain them at the same potential and achieve a desired distribution of currents within a grounding system.
Cease to energize — the cessation of active power export from the distributed energy resource and the reduction of reactive power exchange below an allowed threshold. This could be momentary (i.e., a momentary cessation) or definite (i.e., a trip).
Clearing time — the time between the start of the abnormal condition and the moment when the distributed energy resource ceases to energize the distribution system.
Code — in an electric power system, the collection of rules concerning the rights and duties of the parties involved in a certain part of the electric power system (e.g., grid code, distribution code).
Cogeneration, or Combined heat and power (CHP) — the production of heat that is used for both nonelectrical purposes and the generation of electric energy.
Community energy — the delivery of community-led renewable energy, energy demand reduction, and energy supply projects, whether wholly owned and/or controlled by communities or through a partnership with commercial or public sector partners.
Community energy plan (CEP) — a process that considers energy early in the land use and infrastructure planning process, and identifies opportunities to integrate local energy solutions at a building or neighbourhood scale.
Community generation — energy that is distribution network-connected and provides benefits to communities. Community generation allows communities to directly participate in energy projects through full or partial ownership of the projects.
Conductor — a material used for the transmission of electrical, electromagnetic, or optical energy.
Converter — a device for changing one or more characteristics associated with electric energy.
Converter-based generator (CBG) — any generator, including doubly fed induction machines, that produces electrical power and is connected to the distribution network via a converter.
Grid-following CBG — a generator connected to the network through a converter with a power source that does not have the capability to actively assist the regulation of voltage and frequency of the network.
Grid-forming CBG — a generator connected to the network through a converter that can be controlled as a voltage source capable of controlling voltage and frequency of the network.
Grid-supporting CBG — a generator connected to the network through a converter with a power source capable of actively assisting the regulation of voltage and frequency of the network.
Cybersecurity — a body of technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs, data, and personal information from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. Cybersecurity includes both electronic security and physical security issues as they relate to cybersecurity protection.
Decentralized cybersecurity — the practice of protecting all digital assets serving at least a common function at each endpoint without relying on a traditional cybersecurity perimeter.
Degraded operation mode — the system operation mode when a system fails to meet the expected level of performance.
Demand response — all means employed to change the typical electrical power consumption profile of a given area. Changing the power consumption profile aims to meet needs in supply, additional services, and consumption optimization.
Dependability of protection — probability for a protection of not having a failure to operate under given conditions for a given time interval.
Digitization — the changing, transforming, or converting of an analogue system into a digital system.
Disconnecting means — a device or group of devices that allows the conductors of a circuit to be disconnected from their source of supply.
Distributed energy resource (DER) — 1) an electricity generation source, storage unit, or charge controller connected to the distribution network at a low or medium voltage level. The DER can include protection, control, and measurement units, and can be aggregated in an energy system. 2) a source of electric power, including controllable loads, that is not directly connected to a bulk power transmission system.
Distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) — a platform that helps mostly distribution system operators manage grids that are mainly based on distributed energy resources.
Distributed generation (DG) — electric generation facilities, including electric energy storage in discharge mode, that are connected to a distribution system through a point of common coupling (see Distributed energy resource).
Distributed supervisory control and data acquisition (DSCADA) — a system in which all the connected nodes within the system can exchange inputs and outputs directly with each other without a central supervisory control and data acquisition hub.
Distribution network — electrical components (including but not limited to poles, transformers, disconnects, relays, isolators, and wires) used for the purpose of distributing electrical energy from substations to customers.
Distribution system operator (DSO) — the party operating a distribution network.
Dynamic disturbance — a series of voltage and current changes in a microgrid that can last for a period of 50 ms to 2 s and are caused by one or a combination of the following:
a) an output of renewable energy sources reaching a sufficiently high proportion;
b) non-linear loads;
c) intentional islanding;
d) intermittency;
e) output power fluctuation of renewable energy resources; and/or
f) grid side faults.
Effectively grounded — see Grounded.
Electrical equipment — any apparatus, appliance, device, instrument, fitting, fixture, luminaire, machinery, material, or thing used in or for, or capable of being used in or for, the generation, transformation, transmission, distribution, supply, or utilization of electric power or energy and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, includes any assemblage or combination of materials or things that is used, or is capable of being used or adapted, to serve or perform any particular purpose or function when connected to an electrical installation, notwithstanding that any of such materials or things may be mechanical, metallic, or non-electric in origin.
Electricity exchange market — a trading platform that facilitates the process of reaching an agreement between electricity market participants, which can include suppliers, consumers, and wholesalers.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) — the ability of a piece of equipment or system to function satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment without introducing intolerable electromagnetic disturbances to anything in that environment.
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) — any electromagnetic disturbance, phenomenon, signal, or emission that causes or can cause an undesired response from electrical or electronic equipment.
Energy-intensive application — an electrical energy storage system application that is generally not demanding in terms of step response performances but with frequent and long charge and discharge phases at variable discharge powers.
Energy storage — a system capable of storing energy for use at a later time.
Electrical energy storage (EES) — an installation that can absorb electrical energy, store it, and release it for a certain amount of time during which energy conversion processes might be included.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) — a software package that manages a company’s processes by integrating all functions including human resources management, accounting and financial management, decision-making support, sales, distribution, procurement, and e-commerce.
Exporting — injecting power into the distribution system through the point of common coupling.
Extra-low voltage (ELV) —
1) for AC circuits, any voltage not exceeding 30 V AC.
2) for DC circuits, any voltage not exceeding 60 V DC.
Fault ride-through (FRT) — the ability of a generating unit or power plant to stay connected during specified faults in the electric power system.
Flood hazard zone — a spatially delineated area designated in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada or applicable local legislation as being subjected to a flood hazard.
Fuel cell system — a system consisting of one or more fuel cells and associated equipment that produces usable electricity.
Generating plant, or Generating station — a group of generating units, including auxiliaries, connected to one point of connection.
Generation facility — a facility for generating electricity or providing ancillary services other than ancillary services provided by a transmitter or distributor through the operation of a transmission or distribution system, and includes any structures, equipment, or other things used for that purpose.
Generating unit switch — a switch installed electrically close to the terminals of each generating unit of the generating plant for protection and disconnection of that generating unit.
Generation forecast — a forecast of the expected production of the distributed energy resources in the microgrid.
Generator —
1) an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
2) any individual who owns or operates a generation facility.
Grounded — the condition of being electrically connected to the earth through a grounding electrode or through an extended conducting body.
Effectively grounded — the condition of being permanently connected to the earth through a ground connection of sufficiently low impedance and having sufficient current-carrying capacity to prevent the buildup of voltages that can result in undue hazard to connected equipment or to persons.
Grounding system — an interconnected system of grounding electrodes, grounding conductors, and bonding conductors designed to provide an acceptable connection between an electrical system or component and the earth.
Harmonic — a component of order that is more than one of the Fourier series of a periodic quantity.
High voltage (HV) —
1) pertaining to all equipment, materials, and things subject to the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I and
a) for AC circuits, any voltage exceeding 1000 V AC; or
b) for DC circuits, any voltage exceeding 1500 V DC.
2) pertaining to all equipment, materials, and things considered part of a power system greater than 70 kV.
Home energy management system (HEMS) — a technological platform that allows users to monitor energy use, generation, and storage at a residence, and to control and/or automate energy use according to occupant preferences.
Horizontal separation — the horizontal distance between two items of underground plant as measured between the vertical planes passing through the nearest adjacent surfaces.
Hydrokinetic power system — a system operating as an interconnected or stand-alone system, and consisting of one or more hydrokinetic turbines that convert the kinetic energy of flowing water into electrical energy.
In-plant point of coupling (IPC) — a point on a network inside a system or an installation that is electrically nearest to a particular load or at which other loads are or could be connected.
Interactive inverter — an inverter with an AC output intended for use in parallel with an electric utility or other electricity supply authority network, regardless of whether the inverter injects net power into the utility or supply network.
Interactive system — a power production system that operates in parallel with and can deliver power to another system, such as a supply authority system.
Interconnection — the result of the process of electrically connecting a distributed energy resource system in parallel to a distribution network.
Distributed energy interconnection — the result of the process of connecting distributed energy resource systems in parallel to distribution networks.
Interconnection system — the collection of interconnection equipment and functions used to interconnect (a) DER unit(s) to the point of DER connection.
Interface protection — the combination of protection relay functions that opens the interface switch of a generating unit and prevents its closure, whichever is appropriate, in the case of
a) a fault on the electric power network;
b) an unintentional islanding situation; or
c) voltage and frequency being outside continuously operating ranges.
Interface switch — a circuit breaker, switch, or contactor installed in the producer’s network for the purpose of separating the part(s) of the producer’s network containing at least one generation unit from the distribution network.
Interruptible load — a load of particular consumers that, according to contract, can be disconnected by the supply undertaking for a limited period of time.
Inverter — power conversion equipment consisting of an electronic static converter that changes DC electrical power to AC electrical power.
Inverter-based resource (IBR) — similar to Converter-based generator, but explicitly includes storage.
Island —
1) that portion of a distribution system that is energized by one or more distributed energy resources through their point of common coupling(s) while that portion is separated electrically from the rest of the distribution system.
2) the condition in which a portion of the distribution system is energized by one or more distributed energy resources through their point of common coupling(s) while that portion is separated electrically from the rest of the distribution system.
Intentional island — an island that results from planned action(s) of automatic protections or deliberate action(s) by the responsible network operator, or both, in order to keep supplying electrical energy to a section of an electric power system.
Unintentional island — an island that is not anticipated by the relevant network operator.
Isolated microgrid, or Stand-alone microgrid — a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources forming a local electric power system at distribution voltage levels that is not capable of being connected to a wider electric power system.
Live — electrically connected to a source of potential difference or electrically charged to have a potential that is significantly different from that of the surrounding earth.
Load forecast — an estimate of the expected load of a network at a given future date.
Load profile — the curve representing supplied electric power against time of occurrence to illustrate the variance in a load during a given time interval.
Lockout — the placement of a lock on an energy-isolating device in accordance with an established procedure.
Low voltage (LV) —
1) pertaining to all equipment, materials, and things subject to the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I a) for AC circuits, any voltage not exceeding 1000 V AC; or b) for DC circuits, any voltage not exceeding 1500 V DC.
2) pertaining to all equipment, materials, and things considered part of a distribution network 1 kV or less.
Main switch — a switch installed as close as possible to the point of connection for protection against internal faults and disconnection of the whole plant from the distribution network.
Mandatory operation — the continuous exchange of active current and continuous reactive current of distributed energy resources with the distribution system.
Medium voltage (MV) — pertaining to all equipment, materials, and things considered part of a distribution network greater than 1 kV and less than or equal to 70 kV.
Microgrid — a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources with defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity and can operate in both grid-connected and island mode.
Microgrid energy management system — a system operating and controlling energy resources and loads of the microgrid.
Micro-hydropower system — a system with a rated output of 100 kW or less and operating as an interconnected or stand-alone system while consisting of one or more hydraulic turbines that convert energy derived from flowing and falling water primarily by utilizing the available head difference.
Momentary cessation — temporarily cease to energize a distribution system while connected, in response to a disturbance of the applicable voltages or the system frequency, with the capability to immediately restore output to pre-disturbance conditions with an active power ramp rate when the applicable voltages and the system frequency return to within defined ranges.
Momentary closed transition — the momentary interconnection (≤ 100 ms) of a distributed energy resources system to the distribution system with the purpose of transferring load from the distribution system to the DER and then operating in stand-alone (i.e., emergency) mode or transferring load from the DER back to the distribution system.
Nominal value — the value of a quantity used to designate and identify a component, device, equipment, or system.
Nominal voltage — a suitable approximate value of voltage used to designate or identify a system.
Non-isolated microgrid — a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources with defined electrical boundaries forming a local electric power system at distribution voltage levels that can be connected to a wider electric power system.
Normal operation — the operation of a program or activity without significant changes that would impair its ability to meet its objectives.
Over-voltage ride-through (OVRT) — the ability of a generating unit or power plant to stay connected during a limited duration rise of system voltage.
Parallel operation — the simultaneous energization of a point of common coupling by the distribution system and the distributed energy resource system.
Penetration levels (high/low) — the aggregate capacity of distributed energy resources connecting to a particular feeder or section of a distribution system. This Document intentionally uses qualitative DER penetration level qualifiers (high/low penetration). The wires owner will define the aggregate capacity for each section of their distribution system that determines whether the penetration level is either high or low.
Permissive operation — an operating state in which the distributed energy resource rides through a disturbance in the system voltage or frequency in either mandatory operation or momentary cessation mode.
Point of common coupling (PCC) —
1) pertaining to all equipment, materials, and things considered part of a distribution network; the point on the distribution system that is electrically closest to the power producer’s facility and where other customers are connected or can be connected.
2) pertaining to all equipment, materials, and things subject to the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I; the point where the supply authority’s system is connected to the power producer’s facilities or conductors.
Point of distributed energy resource connection — the point where the distributed energy resource is connected to a different system. This can be the same as the point of common coupling or, in the case of a stand-alone system, it can be the point at which the stand-alone network or load is connected to the distributed energy resource.
Power conversion equipment (PCE) — an electronic static converter that changes electrical power from one form to another with respect to waveform, voltage, current, or frequency.
Power-intensive application — an electrical energy storage system application that is generally demanding in terms of step response performances and with frequent charge and discharge phase transition, or with reactive power exchange with the electric power system.
Power producer — a legal entity responsible for a distributed energy resources system that is interconnected to the local distribution system for the purpose of generating electric power.
Power quality — characteristics of the electric current, voltage, and frequencies at a given point in an electric power system that are evaluated against a set of reference technical parameters
Power system stability — the capability of a power system to regain a steady state, characterized by the synchronous operation of the generators after a disturbance because of, as an example, a variation of power or an impedance.
Production test, or Routine test — a test to verify the operability of every unit of interconnect equipment manufactured for customer use. Production tests assume the equipment has met the applicable type test requirements and are conducted as factory tests. Production tests are performed to verify manufacturers’ default settings.
Protection scheme — protection functions (including associated sensors, relaying, and power supplies) intended to protect a distribution system or interconnection equipment.
Protection system — an arrangement of one or more pieces of protection equipment and other devices intended to perform one or more specified protection functions.
Random separation — the variable separation that results when supply and communication cables are installed in a common trench at approximately the same depth with no effort to provide a fixed or minimum separation.
Rapid voltage changes (RVC) — transitions that might last several cycles in RMS voltage between two steady-state conditions while the voltage stays within the thresholds defined for voltage swells and dips.
Readily accessible — able to be reached, entered, or influenced without difficulty, obstruction, or the use of special means.
Regeneration — reversing the action of generation such that energy is returned to the system either by electricity power converters or motoring of rotating generation.
Reliability — in an electric power system, the probability that the electric power system can perform a required function under given conditions for a given time interval.
Reliability of protection — the probability that a protection can perform a required function under given conditions for a given time interval.
Renewable energy — primary energy with a source that is constantly replenished and will not become depleted.
Renewable energy system — all interconnected equipment, up to and including the system disconnecting means, that converts renewable energy into electrical energy.
Reverse current — the flow of direct electric current in a reverse direction or of alternating current in phase opposition to normal.
Safety margin — the margin required to ensure safety in all possible operation scenarios.
Secondary injection capability — the field calibration and/or verification of protective relay functions.
Secondary network — a distribution system configuration that provides low-voltage service to customers from a secondary voltage cable network typically supplied from multiple transformers connected to different feeders.
Sectionalizing — the process of dividing a distributed network into sections in order to avoid total system shutdown due to faulty section(s).
Security — the ability of an electric power system to operate in such a way that credible events do not give rise to loss of load, stresses of system components beyond their ratings, bus voltages or system frequency outside tolerances, instability, voltage collapse, or cascading.
Security of protection — the probability of a protection not having an unwanted operation under given conditions for a given time interval.
Selectivity of protection — the ability of a protection to identify the faulty section and/or phase(s) of a power system.
Separation — the distance between the nearest points of two objects, where both objects are fixed.
Service, Consumer’s — that portion of the consumer’s installation from the service box or its equivalent up to and including the point at which connection is made to the supply service.
Service, Supply — any one set of conductors run by a supply authority from its mains to a consumer’s service.
Short-time withstand current — the current that a circuit or a switching device in the closed position can carry during a specified short time under prescribed conditions of use and behaviour .
Solar photovoltaic system — a renewable energy system that converts solar energy into electrical energy.
Stability zone — the operating area situated within the stability limits of the system state variables.
Stability, Electric power system — the capability of a power system to regain or to retain a steady-state condition, characterized by the synchronous operation of the generators and/or a steady acceptable quality of the electricity supply after a disturbance due to, as an example, a variation of power or an impedance.
Stability, Microgrid — the capability of a microgrid to regain a steady state after being subjected to a disturbance without involuntary load shedding.
Stabilized — the maintenance of the distribution system voltage in its normal range of amplitude and frequency for 5 min, or a time agreed upon with the wires owner, following a disturbance.
Stand-alone system — a system that supplies power independently of a supply authority’s electrical production and distribution network.
Steady-state — RMS voltage assessed over contiguous 10 min intervals.
Note: Intervals with voltage interruptions of any duration are excluded.
Supply authority — any person, firm, corporation, company, commission, or other organization responsible for an electrical power distribution network that connects to a consumer’s service.
Switch — a device for changing the electric connections among its terminals.
Synchronization — the process of matching the frequency of a generator or other source to a running network.
System operator — any party responsible for safe and reliable operation of a part of the electric power system in a certain area and for connection to other parts of the electric power system.
Total harmonic distortion (THD) — the square root of the sum of squares of harmonic frequency amplitude signals, expressed as a percentage of the fundamental frequency amplitude signal.
Transfer trip — a remote signal directed from an upstream device to command the interconnection system to disconnect from the distribution system.
Transient disturbance — in the context of microgrids, a sudden and severe voltage and current change caused by switching of generation or load, unintentional islanding, or faults, characterized by large magnitude and phase changes and continuing for a period of 0 to 50 ms.
Transient stability — power system stability in which disturbances could have large rates of change and/or large relative magnitudes.
Transmission line — a supply line used for transmitting bulk electrical energy between power stations, switching stations, or substations.
Trip — a disconnection from the distribution system.
Type test — a test performed on a representative unit that can be conducted in a factory or at a testing laboratory. Unless otherwise specified, equipment is installed per the manufacturer’s specification and operated under nominal operating conditions. Unless otherwise specified, type tests can be carried out in any sequence.
Under-frequency load shedding (UFLS) — the process of deliberately disconnecting pre-selected loads from a power system in response to under-frequency condition in order to maintain the active power balance of the remainder of the system.
Under-voltage load shedding (UVLS) — the process of deliberately disconnecting pre-selected loads from a power system in response to under-voltage condition in order to maintain the active power balance of the remainder of the system.
Under-voltage ride-through (UVRT) — the ability of a generating unit or power plant to stay connected during a limited duration dip of system voltage.
Unwanted operation of protection — operation of a protection either without any power system fault or other power system abnormality, or for a system fault or other power system abnormality for which that protection should not have operated.
Utilization equipment — equipment that utilizes electrical energy for mechanical, chemical, heating, lighting, or similar useful purposes.
Utilization voltage — the phase-to-phase or phase-to-neutral voltage at the points where utilization equipment is connected to the power supply.
Vertical separation — the vertical distance between two items of underground plant, measured between the horizontal planes passing through the nearest adjacent surfaces.
Virtual power plants — a group of energy resources that are generally decentralized and coordinated to provide services (i.e., power and/or energy) to the network by behaving in whole or in part like a power plant.
Voltage — RMS voltage-to-ground, unless otherwise specified.
Voltage deviation — the difference between the supply voltage at a given instant and the declared supply voltage.
Voltage dip — a sudden voltage reduction at a point in an electric power system followed by voltage recovery after a short time interval, from a few periods of the sinusoidal wave of the voltage to a few seconds.
Voltage fluctuation — a series of voltage changes or a continuous variation of the RMS or peak value of the voltage.
Voltage interruption — a reduction of the RMS supply voltage of all phases to less than 10% of the nominal voltage.
Voltage swell — a sudden increase of voltage at a point in an electrical system followed by voltage reduction after a short period of time from a few cycles to a few seconds.
Voltage transformer — a device used to transform the potential (voltage) of a circuit to a range more useful for measurement or control.
Voltage unbalance — a condition in a polyphase system in which the RMS values of the phase element voltages (fundamental component) or the phase angles between consecutive phase element voltages are not all equal.
Wind turbine — mechanical equipment that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy, and includes all electrical components and circuits within the wind turbine structure.
Wind turbine generator (WTG) system — a system that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy.
Wires owner — the legal entity responsible for the distribution system.
How to Download the Official Documentation:
To gain access to the document, you will need to hold a CSA Store account, and download the document from their product store. The document is free to download as a PDF and you must have Adobe Reader or Adobe Suites access.
Visit the product on the CSA Store.
Add the product to your cart.
Login or create an account.
Once complete, visit your ‘CSA On Demand’ portal.
Click ‘My Library’
Click the title of the document you wish to download.
On the right sidebar, click ‘Download PDF’.