IEC 61850 - A New Era for Substation Automation

The electric industry has undergone a radical transformation in recent decades, challenged by the growing demand for energy, the need for greater efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy sources. This context creates the conditions for a constant evolution of the technologies and systems used in electrical substations.

The past: Proprietary systems and limitations.

Before the arrival of the IEC 61850 standard, electrical substations were characterized by high fragmentation and a strong dependence on proprietary systems. Each equipment manufacturer had its own communication protocols and data formats, making interoperability between different devices difficult. This situation created a series of limitations, among which the following stood out:

• High complexity in system integration: The integration of new equipment or the expansion of an existing substation was a costly and time-consuming process that required extensive adaptation of the existing systems.

• Difficulty in managing the equipment lifecycle: The obsolescence of equipment and the lack of availability of spare parts made it difficult to update and maintain the substations.

• Limitations in flexibility: The rigid structure of proprietary systems made it difficult to adapt to new needs and technologies.

IEC 61850: A Unifying Standard

In this scenario, the need for an international standard emerged to enable open and efficient communication between the various devices of a substation. The IEC 61850 standard, published at the end of the 20th century, became the global reference for electrical substation automation.

This standard defines a set of communication protocols and a common data model, allowing devices from different manufacturers to interoperate transparently. Thanks to IEC 61850, it is possible to:

• Simplify system integration: The implementation of new equipment and the expansion of substations become faster and more cost-effective.

• Increase flexibility: Standardization facilitates adaptation to new technologies and the integration of advanced features.

• Improve reliability: Redundancy and fault tolerance are enhanced by interoperability and standardization.

• Reduce operating and maintenance costs: The simplification of systems and ease of management help reduce long-term costs.

The digitization of substations

IEC 61850 has been a key catalyst in the digitization of electrical substations and has laid the foundation for the implementation of new technologies and applications, such as:

• Advanced protection systems: It facilitates the implementation of faster and more accurate protection schemes, improving the safety and availability of the electrical system.

• Process automation: Standardization enables the automation of repetitive tasks and the optimization of operational processes.

• Integration of renewable energy sources: It helps integrate variable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, by enabling seamless communication between inverters and the substation control systems.

• Data analysis: The large amount of data generated by the devices in a substation can be analyzed to gain valuable insights into the system's condition and optimize its operation.

• Cybersecurity: The standard has established a framework for communication security, enabling the implementation of more robust protection measures against cyberattacks.

Improvement of reliability and resilience

IEC 61850 has significantly improved the reliability and resilience of electrical substations by enabling:

• Redundancy in communication systems: The standard allows for the configuration of redundant communication systems, using protocols such as PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) and HSR (High Availability Seamless Redundancy). This ensures that communication remains stable even in the event of a failure in one of the links.

• Diversity of suppliers: By promoting interoperability, it reduces dependence on a single supplier, allowing the use of components from different manufacturers and thus increasing the system's resilience to potential hardware or software failures.

• Fault detection and isolation: Its communication protocols allow for the rapid detection and isolation of faults, minimizing the impact on the system's operation.

• Automatic restoration: The automation of restoration processes allows for faster and more efficient service recovery after an interruption.

Success story: UTE and the implementation of IEC 61850 (1)

The Uruguayan electric company UTE is a prominent example of the successful implementation of the IEC 61850 standard. In its 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, UTE aims to modernize the infrastructure for electricity distribution and transmission, and part of this involves the adoption of the IEC 61850 standard. UTE has made significant investments in modernizing its substations, including the implementation of IEC 61850-compatible equipment and the upgrade of control and protection systems.

This experience demonstrates that the implementation of IEC 61850 can generate significant benefits for electric companies, both economically and technically. Additionally, the adoption of this standard contributes to the sustainability of the electrical system by enabling the integration of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency.

In its December 2019 report, UTE indicates that it has an electricity matrix made up of:

· Wind Energy: Approximately 1,500 MW installed.

· Solar Photovoltaic Energy: Around 230 MW.

· Biomass: Around 200 MW authorized for the transmission grid.

· Thermal Backup: 530 MW through a Combined Cycle Power Plant.

· Interconnections: New interconnections with Brazil totaling 620 MW (550 MW in Melo-Candiota and 70 MW in Rivera-Livramento).

As of this date, approximately 98% of the energy generated in Uruguay comes from renewable sources.

Training in IEC 61850

On August 15 and 16, we organized a workshop on IEC 61850 for UTE, in collaboration with Nokia, where we delved into the fundamentals of this standard and its relevance in the digitization of electrical substations. The benefits of standardization were highlighted to ensure interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers, reducing costs and facilitating implementation. Additionally, key protocols (GOOSE, SV, PTP) and redundancy technologies (PRP, HSR) were explored, which enable robust and synchronized real-time communication. Through a practical session with real equipment, the knowledge gained was consolidated, demonstrating the applicability of the standard in real substation scenarios.

Figura 1: Esquema de conexiones utilizado durante pruebas de laboratorio

At Isbel, we continue to actively work alongside electric companies in adopting this technology, offering solutions and services that facilitate the transition to smart and efficient substations.

References:

(1) Current situation, recent evolution, and perspectives of UTE.

https://www.ute.com.uy/sites/default/files/noticias/Situaci%C3%B3n%20actual%20evoluci%C3%B3n%20reciente%20y%20perspectivas%20de%20UTE.pdf

By:

Rodrigo Zerpa, Product Line Analyst.

Rodrigo is a Telecommunications Engineer with a master's degree in Business Management. He has more than 10 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, with a particular focus on projects for electric companies. He has held roles in sales engineering and the commercial area, and is currently focused on pre-sales functions.