It is essential for players in the energy sector (generation, transmission, distribution) who wish to implement reliable, scalable infrastructures that comply with smart grid requirements.

History and objectives of the IEC 61850 standard

Published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the IEC 61850 standard aims to standardise communication between devices (IED - Intelligent Electronic Devices) in electrical substations and energy automation systems.

Its main objectives:

Promote interoperability

between equipment from different vendors

Reduce engineering costs

through centralised configuration

Accelerate data exchange

via an object-oriented model

Ensure scalability

of electrical installations

The standard is now used worldwide and also covers areas beyond substations, such as wind power (IEC 61400-25) and hydraulics (IEC 61850-7-410).

The key components of the standard

IEC 61850 stands out for its innovative architecture and fundamental concepts:

Object-oriented data model

allows each component (circuit breaker, relay, etc.) to be described in a standardised way

SCL (Substation Configuration Language) description language

XML file describing the system structure, facilitating interoperability

Communication services (GOOSE, MMS, SMV)

ensure fast and reliable exchanges between equipment

Real-time operation

enables critical responses in milliseconds

Client/server and publish/subscribe support

flexible architectures for different types of applications

Benefits for integrators and manufacturers

Implementing the IEC 61850 standard in your projects allows you to:

Reduce wiring costs

through network communication

Improve reliability

through deterministic data exchange

Standardise projects

even with multiple vendors

Facilitate maintenance

and system evolution

Reduce commissioning

time

IEC 61850 standard use cases

IEC 61850 is used in a wide range of critical applications:

Digital transformer substations

control and monitoring of primary and secondary equipment

Renewable production

interconnection of production units (wind, hydraulic) via IEC 61850-7-420 and IEC 61400-25

SCADA systems

real-time information exchange with IEDs

Smart grids

dynamic management of energy flows

Compliance testing

IED simulation platforms

straton: an IEC 61850-compatible software solution

The straton software natively integrates the IEC 61850 standard, both as a server (IED) and as a client, and offers complete tools for developing and testing compliant applications.

Integrated SCL editor

GOOSE/MMS/SMV visualisation and simulation

Customisation of data profiles

Virtualisation of an IEC 61850 IED in a simple PC or container

Complete support for the standard and regular updates

Thanks to its flexibility and compliance with standards, straton enables rapid integration of the IEC 61850 standard into your equipment or test benches, whether for embedded or virtualised projects.

Would you like to integrate IEC 61850 into your projects?

Our team supports you in your automation and energy communication projects with a proven and scalable software solution.

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