Control and automation of power system substation using IEC61850 communication

Automation of control and management of a power system substation is becoming more and more popular. Overcoming the initial hiccups in its acceptance due to higher costs and apprehensions on reliability, more utilities and industries are keen in exploring this option now. In the scenario of high pressure to improve the efficiency and productivity of the power system substation, substation automation is proving to be a cost-effective solution. With the modern protection relays becoming more powerful, being integrated with more functions, they have the potential to play a key role in implementing control & automation in substations. Finalization of the new communication protocol, IEC61850, for intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), automation and control has become possible, which, when implemented can ensure a reliable and efficient power system. This paper discusses the scope of the new communication protocol for substation IEDs, IEC61850 and explains the implementation of few control and automation applications presented in the standard