Digital Substation Architecture: 5-Day Advanced Technical Training Course

Course Overview

This advanced Digital Substation Training provides comprehensive knowledge of modern substation automation, IEC 61850 communication architecture, process bus technology, and cybersecurity. This intensive 5-day program covers digital transformation strategies, IEC 61850 protocol, GOOSE messaging, sampled values, substation configuration language (SCL), and implementation best practices for utilities and industrial power systems.

Who Should Attend This Digital Substation Course?

• Substation Automation Engineers and protection engineers

• System Integration Engineers working with IEC 61850

• Project Managers overseeing digital substation projects

• SCADA and communication engineers in utilities

• Commissioning Engineers for digital substations

• IT/OT Professionals in power system cybersecurity

• Consulting Engineers designing modern substations

Course Objectives

Participants will master digital substation architecture, IEC 61850 communication protocol, station bus and process bus implementations, GOOSE and Sampled Values applications, SCL file configuration, digital protection schemes, testing methodologies, and cybersecurity for substation automation systems.

Day 1: Digital Substation Fundamentals and IEC 61850 Overview

Morning Session: Introduction to Digital Substations

Topics Covered:

• Digital substation definition and evolution from conventional systems

• Technology drivers: interoperability, reduced wiring, enhanced functionality

• Digital transformation benefits: TCO reduction, faster commissioning, improved reliability

• Comparison: conventional copper-wired vs. digital Ethernet-based substations

• Global deployment experiences and implementation challenges

• Smart grid integration and future trends

Afternoon Session: IEC 61850 Standard Structure

Topics Covered:

• IEC 61850 standard overview and parts (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 90 series)

• Communication requirements for substation functions

• Abstract Communication Service Interface (ACSI)

• Specific Communication Service Mapping (SCSM)

• Configuration language (Part 6 - SCL)

• Edition 1 vs. Edition 2 enhancements

• Routable protocols: IEC 61850-90-5 for wide area applications

Workshop:
Understanding IEC 61850 architecture and practical applications.

Day 2: IEC 61850 Data Modeling and Communication Services

Morning Session: Information Modeling

Topics Covered:

• Object-oriented data model hierarchy: Server, Logical Device, Logical Node

• Logical Nodes (LN) structure: XCBR, MMXU, PDIS, PTOC

• Data objects and attributes with functional constraints

• Common Data Classes (CDC) definitions

• Standard vs. custom logical node creation

• Virtual IED concept and applications

Afternoon Session: Communication Services

Topics Covered:

• Client-Server services: GetDataValues, SetDataValues, Control models

• Reporting mechanisms: Buffered and Unbuffered Reports

• GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Event) for fast peer-to-peer messaging

• Sampled Values (SV) for digitized voltage and current signals

• Time synchronization: SNTP and IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP)

• GOOSE message structure, retransmission, and timing requirements

Practical Session:
Protocol analysis using Wireshark with IEC 61850 plugins to examine GOOSE and report traffic.

Day 3: Substation Configuration Language and Engineering

Morning Session: SCL Files and Configuration

Topics Covered:

• Substation Configuration Language (SCL) file types: SSD, ICD, SCD, CID, IID

• System Specification Description (SSD) structure

• IED Capability Description (ICD) format

• Substation Configuration Description (SCD) - complete system configuration

• Configuration workflow and tools

• Virtual wiring through SCL configuration

Afternoon Session: Engineering Workflow

Topics Covered:

• Digital substation engineering process: top-down and bottom-up approaches

• Signal mapping and dataset configuration

• GOOSE publisher-subscriber setup

• Report configuration and optimization

• Multi-vendor integration challenges and interoperability testing

• Configuration file management and version control

Hands-On Exercise:
Creating and editing SCL files, configuring GOOSE subscriptions, and signal mapping.

Day 4: Process Bus and Digital Protection

Morning Session: Process Bus Technology

Topics Covered:

• Process bus architecture eliminating conventional CT/VT copper wiring

• Merging Units (MU) for analog-to-digital conversion

• Sampled Values (IEC 61850-9-2LE) protocol

• Non-Conventional Instrument Transformers (NCIT): Electronic CT/VT

• Point-to-point vs. shared SV architectures

• Time synchronization requirements: IEEE 1588 PTP implementation

• Benefits: reduced wiring, improved accuracy, flexible reconfiguration

Afternoon Session: Digital Protection Schemes

Topics Covered:

• Protection using GOOSE and Sampled Values

• Distributed protection architectures

• Busbar, transformer, and line protection with digital communication

• Circuit breaker failure protection via GOOSE

• Interlocking and control schemes

• Redundancy mechanisms: network redundancy (PRP, HSR per IEC 62439)

• Synchrophasor applications (IEC 61850-90-5)

Case Study:
Complete digital bay design with process bus and GOOSE-based protection coordination.

Day 5: Testing, Commissioning, and Cybersecurity

Morning Session: Testing and Commissioning

Topics Covered:

• Digital substation testing methodology

• IEC 61850 conformance and interoperability testing

• GOOSE and Sampled Values verification procedures

• End-to-end protection testing with digital communication

• Network performance testing: latency, bandwidth, packet loss

• Timing verification for PTP synchronization

• Troubleshooting tools: protocol analyzers, IEC 61850 test sets

• Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)

Afternoon Session: Cybersecurity

Topics Covered:

• Cybersecurity threats to digital substations

• IEC 62351 security standards: authentication, encryption, access control

• Network segmentation and defense-in-depth architecture

• Firewall rules and intrusion detection systems

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) implementation

• NERC CIP compliance requirements

• Security monitoring and incident response

• Secure remote access and patch management

Advanced Topics

Emerging Technologies:

• Artificial Intelligence and predictive maintenance

• Digital twins and cloud-based monitoring

• Software-Defined Networking (SDN) for substations

• Migration strategies from conventional to digital substations

Final Project and Assessment

Capstone Design Project:
Complete digital substation design including single-line diagram, IEC 61850 logical node allocation, GOOSE/SV mapping, SCL configuration, network architecture, protection schemes, cybersecurity design, and testing plan.

Assessment Activities:

• Written examination on IEC 61850 and digital concepts

• SCL configuration practical exercise

• GOOSE communication design project

• Cybersecurity assessment

• Group presentation

• Professional Certificate in Digital Substation Architecture

Course Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Participants will design digital substation architectures using IEC 61850, configure GOOSE and Sampled Values, manage SCL files, implement process bus technology, design cybersecurity solutions, test and commission digital systems, integrate multi-vendor IEDs, and plan conventional-to-digital migrations.

Training Methodology

Expert instruction with hands-on laboratory exercises using real IEDs, live protocol analysis, SCL configuration workshops, real-world case studies, vendor demonstrations, and interactive troubleshooting sessions.

Course Materials

Comprehensive handbook, IEC 61850 standards excerpts, SCL templates, network design templates, testing procedures, cybersecurity guides, protocol analyzer software, and professional certificate.

Prerequisites

Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, understanding of power system protection, knowledge of conventional substation automation, basic networking concepts (TCP/IP, Ethernet), and familiarity with protection relays.

Keywords: digital substation, IEC 61850 training, substation automation, GOOSE protocol, sampled values, process bus, SCL configuration, merging unit, digital protection, smart substation, IEC 61850 communication, substation cybersecurity, intelligent electronic devices IED, station bus, IEC 62351, time synchronization, substation networking, IEC 61850 engineering, smart grid technology