What is IEC 61850 and how does it work?

• On process-bus level IEC 61850 replaces point-to-point copper wiring with Ethernet-based communication, reducing infrastructure and enabling more adaptable substation architectures.

• The standard defines three core communication services: MMS, GOOSE, and Sampled Values, each serving a specific role in substation automation.

• Interoperability between devices from different vendors is built in, eliminating the need for protocol converters and custom engineering.

• IEC 61850 is designed to evolve; Edition 1 and Edition 2.1 devices can coexist, which is critical for brownfield modernization projects.

• Native support for IEC 61850 in a SCADA/HMI platform, such as zenon, allows utilities to take full advantage of the standard without additional middleware.

Transitioning to a digital substation is a strategic shift that directly impacts reliability, safety, and capital expenditure. The standard delivers three core operational advantages:

• Interoperability. Before IEC 61850, substation equipment from different vendors used proprietary protocols. Integrating a Siemens relay with an ABB relay required protocol converters, custom engineering, and ongoing maintenance. IEC 61850 solves this by specifying a common data model and communication services. Any device that conforms to the standard can exchange information with any other conforming device.

• Reduced cabling and infrastructure. Conventional substations use copper wiring for every signal between devices. IEC 61850 replaces point-to-point wiring with Ethernet-based communication. This shrinks the physical footprint of substations, reduces material costs, and eliminates single points of failure inherent in hardwired systems.

• Future-ready architecture. The standard is designed to evolve. Edition 1 (published 2004) and Edition 2 (published 2011, with Amendment 2.1 following) are both in active use. A well-implemented IEC 61850 system accommodates devices from both editions, which is essential for brownfield modernization projects where legacy equipment must coexist with new installations.

Beyond the protocols themselves, IEC 61850 introduces a standardized engineering process and a common data model that change how substations are designed, built, and operated. The Digital Substations.

A unified data model and engineering process

IEC 61850 defines a Substation Configuration Language (SCL) that describes the entire substation: its primary equipment, protection functions, and communication networks, in a machine-readable format. This allows system integrators to:

• Import device capabilities directly from IED configuration files.

• Generate HMI and SCADA configurations automatically from the data model.

• Reuse standardized templates across multiple projects, reducing engineering time and errors.

This data-driven approach replaces manual point-to-point mapping and makes multi-vendor interoperability practical at scale.

When evaluating a SCADA/HMI platform for IEC 61850 projects, several capabilities determine how fully the standard's benefits can be realized:

• Native protocol support. The platform shall comprehensively implement the MMS Client Protocol. Additional availability of MMS Server and GOOSE (Publish/Subscribe).

• Certification. Independent certification, such as Edition 2 .1conformance testing by a recognized lab, provides assurance of compliance and interoperability.

• SCL engineering. The ability to import SCL files directly, automatically populate the HMI database, and generate visualizations from the data model eliminates manual mapping and reduces errors.

• Vendor independence. The platform must connect to IEDs from any manufacturer and support mixed Edition 1 and Edition 2.1 environments.

• Redundancy and availability. Support for PRP and HSR ensures that protection-critical communication survives a single network failure.

• Security. Integrated TLS encryption and authentication according to IEC 62351 protect data integrity and confidentiality.

• Scalability. The platform should scale from small distribution substations to large transmission fleets without architectural changes.

How does zenon implement IEC 61850?

zenon integrates IEC 61850 as a native capability, not as an add-on or middleware layer. It supports the most important station-level protocols: MMS Client, MMS Server, and GOOSE Publisher/Subscriber, and is certified to Edition 2.1 by DNV GL (tested against 1,000 concurrent IEDs). Below is a closer look at what that means in practice.

Native protocol support and certification

All Ethernet-based IEC 61850 services in zenon operate over PRP-redundant networks, ensuring zero-time failover. TLS encryption (IEC 62351-3) and ACSE authentication (IEC 62351-4) are built into the communication drivers.

Engineering efficiency

zenon reads SCL files directly from IEDs or engineering tools. The data model (logical devices, logical nodes, data objects) maps automatically to zenon variables, eliminating manual tag creation. For standardized projects, HMI elements such as single-line diagrams, alarm configurations, and measurement displays can be generated automatically from SCL files. This reduces project engineering time by up to 90% compared to manual methods.

Template-based engineering further accelerates deployment. Templates created for one substation can be reused across an entire fleet, ensuring consistency and reducing the risk of configuration errors. zenon's object-oriented engineering environment also supports both bottom-up (starting from existing devices) and top-down (starting from top-level system design) workflows.

Scalability and investment security

zenon scales from small installations with a few feeders to enterprise deployments managing hundreds of thousands of data points. Edition 1 and Edition 2.1 devices from any manufacturer can be integrated simultaneously within the same project. This protects existing hardware investments and allows utilities to modernize incrementally without replacing functioning equipment.

Long-term compatibility is built into the platform. COPA-DATA actively tracks the evolution of the IEC 61850 standard and provides ongoing support for new features as they are published. The platform's fully integrated engineering and runtime environment ensures that operational knowledge carries forward as the system grows.

Unified operation and lifecycle management

All IEC 61850 configuration, HMI development, and SCADA logic happen within a single engineering studio, eliminating the need to switch between tools. Operators see all substation data, whether arriving via MMS, GOOSE, DNP3, or other protocols, through a consistent HMI. The platform also includes integrated disturbance record management, commissioning support, and fast device replacement capabilities that minimize outage time during maintenance.