NETWORK /
22
/ JULY/AUGUST 2017
T
he days of substations
filled with copper cable
are coming to an end.
Smart grids need smart
communications, and peer-to-
peer communication within
and between substations is set
to quickly become business as
usual for UK power networks.
Facilitating this transition
is IEC 61850, a standard
launched in 2004 and updated
in 2011, which provides a new
approach to automation and
communication in substations.
IEC 61850 is a single pro-
tocol for substation automa-
tion that allows devices from
different vendors to talk to one
another directly over an Ether-
net connection that operates
in a similar way to a local area
network (LAN). It is divided
into several parts dealing with
issues such as data, com-
munications and compliance.
In this CPD-accredited article,
produced in association with
Schneider, Network looks at the
latest developments in peer-to-
peer communications for power
networks.
IEC 61850 and the revolution in
substation communications
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
