Overview
IEC TR 63631-1:2026 is the first part of the IEC's technical report series on Decentralized Multiple Energy Systems (DMES). This document provides a comprehensive overview of DMES, including general features, representative cases, and key technologies. It systematically examines the current landscape of standards relevant to DMES and identifies existing gaps and standardization needs for future development. The analysis is structured from several perspectives: the equipment layer, the communication layer, the information layer, the management system layer, and the application layer.
By focusing on efficient integration across electricity, heat, cooling, gas, and hydrogen, DMES maximize operational efficiency, system flexibility, and energy sustainability. This document is vital for stakeholders in energy system planning, infrastructure development, industrial management, and policy-making, serving as a foundational reference for strategic decision-making regarding multiple energy carrier integration.
Key Topics
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General Features of DMES
- Integration of various energy forms (electricity, heat/cold, gas, hydrogen, etc.)
- Decentralized structure enabling independent or grid-connected operation
- Multi-layer architecture: equipment, communication, information, management system, application
- Heterogeneous information flow and advanced operation management
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Typical Application Cases
- Industrial parks, commercial centers, residential areas, and infrastructure (airports, wastewater plants)
- Demonstrated benefits: energy cost reduction, increased renewable utilization, lower carbon emissions
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Technical Framework and Key Technologies
- Equipment Layer: Solar panels, wind turbines, CHP units, energy storage, smart meters, sensors
- Management System Layer: Energy management and trading platforms; advanced scheduling algorithms; multi-energy flow calculation
- Application Layer: System planning/design, operations, maintenance, evaluation, and market transactions
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Standards Analysis and Identification of Gaps
- Review of existing standards supporting DMES
- Identification of unmet needs in equipment specification, interoperability, multi-energy optimization, and data management
Applications
IEC TR 63631-1:2026 is broadly applicable across various sectors aiming for efficient and sustainable energy integration:
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Urban and Industrial Infrastructure
- Smart cities and eco-communities relying on integrated electricity, gas, heating, and cooling for optimized energy management
- Industrial parks implementing distributed energy systems for resilience and efficiency
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Commercial and Residential Developments
- Deployment in commercial centers, office buildings, and housing developments to reduce operational costs and emissions through multi-energy coordination
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Remote and Off-grid Solutions
- Enabling rural or remote locations to operate resilient, self-sufficient energy systems independent of large-scale grids
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Policy and Regulatory Development
- Informing energy regulators and policy-makers about technical requirements, gaps, and compliance considerations for multi-carrier energy systems
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Research and Technology Development
- Guiding R&D on advanced control strategies, interoperability, and digital platform integration within DMES
Related Standards
For stakeholders and technical experts working with DMES, several related international standards and resources complement IEC TR 63631-1:2026:
- IEC 62913 series - Generic framework for functional requirements in smart grid systems
- IEC 61850 - Communication networks and systems for power utility automation
- IEC 62351 - Security standards for power system communication protocols
- IEC 61970/61968 - Common Information Model (CIM) for energy management
- ISO/IEC 30141 - Internet of Things (IoT) reference architecture
- ISO 50001 - Energy management systems – requirements and guidance
Additional Resources
- IEC Electropedia (www.electropedia.org) - Comprehensive terminology for electrotechnology
- IEC Webstore (webstore.iec.ch) - Access to current IEC standards and technical reports
IEC TR 63631-1:2026 provides essential guidance for organizations seeking to leverage decentralized, multi-energy solutions and sets a clear direction for future DMES standardization activities worldwide.