Electrical Substations

Breakers & Relays

Storm-Hardened Switchgear

How to protect electrical equipment from Mother Nature BY ROBERT A. MURPHY, Trayer Engineering Corporation The U.S. National Weather Service called Hurricane Sandy the most destructive storm of 2012’s unusually active Atlantic hurricane season. Sandy delivered unprecedented damage across a wide...

Substation Testing & Maintenance

The Role of Digital Twins in Substation Management and Grid Optimization

In recent years, digital twin technology has emerged as a game-changer in various industries, and the power sector is no exception. Digital twins are transforming how substations are managed by creating virtual replicas that provide insights into performance and potential issues. A digital...

Substation Protection

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Substations: Revolutionizing Long-Distance Power Transmission

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology revolutionizes long-distance power transmission, offering improved efficiency and reliability over traditional alternating current (AC) systems. This article explores the latest developments and applications of HVDC substations, providing a technical...

Substation Automation

Building a better world of smart structures on the smart grid

It is a truth universally acknowledged that billions of people around the world live in poverty. But does it have to be that way? Today’s technological progress means that tomorrow we will be able to produce more, more efficiently – lifting people above the breadline with accelerated...

Physical Security & Monitoring

Three Serious Questions to Ask Now About Condition Monitoring

While condition monitoring is becoming an integral part of daily power grid operations, there’s a huge difference between simply checking on assets and truly proactive intervention. When a ‘check engine’ light goes on in a car, taking the directive literally and opening the...

Lightning Protection

Lightning Discoveries & Technologies

How this phenomenon affects electric utilities BY JIM SIEBERT, FOX 26 Chief Meteorologist Advances in technology are helping scientists understand lightning in ways that were not possible a few years ago. Beforehand, meteorologists primarily studied lightning, focusing most of their efforts on...

Home Transformation Electrical Substations

Understanding the IEC 61850 Protocol in Substation Automation

The IEC 61850 protocol has become the global standard for substation automation, enabling high-speed communication, interoperability, and streamlined integration of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). It plays a foundational role in transforming traditional substations into digital substations that support real-time control, monitoring, and automation across the electrical grid.

What Is the IEC 61850 Protocol?

IEC 61850 is a communications protocol developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for automated substation systems. Unlike older legacy protocols...