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Accelerated environmental impacts are a growing concern in the modern world. Electric mobility and the transition to a cleaner energy matrix have become increasingly discussed topics. In this context, this work presents a framework for controlling an electric vehicle (EV)-charging station integrated into a microgrid application as a basis for creating the infrastructure integrated into a smart grid concept. Considering the electrification of the transportation sector future perspectives, a brief review is conducted on the impacts of EV fleet growth in different countries and how smart-charging technologies are identified as solutions for mitigating the negative effects of energy and power consumption associated with EV-charging stations. An analysis of the technical characteristics and the tools that enable the deployment of a fleet-charging operator are examined, specifically focusing on the communication protocol for EVs, such as the OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) parameterization/configuration. A new EV-charging station control method is proposed to manage the impacts of distributed solar photovoltaic generation and mitigate the effects of the duck curve. Finally, an integration architecture via IEC 61850 for these elements is proposed, in a practical implementation for variable power control, considering different strategies to deal with distributed generation impact using EV-fleet-charging power demand dynamic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault-induced delayed voltage recovery (FIDVR) occurs after a fault in the network with high penetration of induction motor (IM) loads. Load shedding (LS) is one of the appropriate methods to reduce the destructive effects of FIDVR on the network, and for this reason, the authors have previously presented three LS methods to deal with FIDVR. The first method uses the index of IM loads' power change. The second one is an optimization problem and the third method introduces indicators based on sensitivity analysis. The proposed methods obtain less LS amounts, also, the number of LS locations and moments of proposed methods are fewer than previous ones. However, these methods have different execution times which are related to the speed of the utilized processor; and the suitable method to deal with FIDVR must have the ability to shed the load in the initial moments of this phenomenon. Since the proposed LS methods are centralized, therefore, a central unit is required to monitor the network through the voltage and current sent through PMUs and the status of circuit-breakers, for detecting critical conditions and determining the amount and location of LS. Various states such as estimation of load parameters, detection of fault occurrence and clearance, detection of topology change, and voltage estimation process are also needed before the start of LS calculations, which are discussed in this paper. Also, the telecommunication required by this central unit is provided with a GOOSE message based on IEC 61850 standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an investigation into the virtualization of substation protection IED functions using a sophisticated co-simulation environment that integrates virtual intelligent electronic devices (vIEDs) with a real-time power grid simulation. Anchored by the IEC 61850 protocol, this study constructs a virtualized IED framework, emphasizing the encapsulation of protection schemes using the example of different types of overcurrent protection within a containerized vIED. Using open-source software, this study aims to replicate the communication and functional aspects of physical IEDs. This study uses a co-simulation environment that couples virtualized network components with a real-time power grid simulation to validate the vIEDs against real substation hardware. Simulation results from induced short-circuit events confirm the operational congruence of the vIEDs with their physical counterparts, demonstrating their potential to serve as cost-effective and adaptable testbeds for substation automation. This paper concludes that virtualized IEDs represent a cost-effective, flexible alternative for substation automation testing, with future research directed towards increasing the functional complexity and real-world applicability of these virtual systems.

The paper raises a variant of architecture of realization of logical line protection on the basis of implementation of modern technologies. The idea of development and implementation of digital substations, the core of which is the application of IEC 61850 standard, has been developing at a great pace in the world. The appearance of this standard in substations opens new ways of realization of protection of electrical installations. In this article we consider the method of construction of line protection using the method of logical selectivity, and as the main terminals are considered Sepam devices series 1000+, as one of the most widely distributed devices in the electric power industry of the Russian Federation, the basic support for the standard IEC 61850.

SecuriDN v. 0.1 is a tool for the representation of the assets composing the IT and the OT subsystems of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) control networks and the possible cyberattacks that can threaten them. It is part of a platform that allows the evaluation of the security risks of DER control systems. SecuriDN is a multi-formalism tool, meaning that it manages several types of models: architecture graph, attack graphs and Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBNs). In particular, each asset in the architecture is characterized by an attack graph showing the combinations of attack techniques that may affect the asset. By merging the attack graphs according to the asset associations in the architecture, a DBN is generated. Then, the evidence-based and time-driven probabilistic analysis of the DBN permits the quantification of the system security level. Indeed, the DBN probabilistic graphical model can be analyzed through inference algorithms, suitable for forward and backward assessment of the system's belief state. In this paper, the features and the main goals of SecuriDN are described and illustrated through a simplified but realistic case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are stealthy, multi-step attacks tailored to a specific target. Often described as 'low and slow', APTs remain undetected until the consequences of the cyber-attack become evident, usually in the form of damage to the physical world, as seen with the Stuxnet attack, or manipulation of an industrial process, as was the case in the Ukraine Power Grid attacks. Given the increasing sophistication and targeted nature of cyber-attacks, especially APTs, this paper delves into the substantial threats APTs pose to critical infrastructures, focusing on power grid substations. Through a detailed case study, we present and explore a 2-stage APT attack on an IEC 61850 power grid substation, employing a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testbed to simulate real-world conditions. More specifically, this paper discusses two significant experiments conducted to assess vulnerabilities in the control protocols used in IEC 61850 substations: IEC 60870-5-104 and IEC 61850. The integration of findings from these experiments revealed a number of previously undiscussed potential threats to power grid infrastructure that could arise from attacking one or more substations. To better address these potential threats, the paper proposes an extension to the Industrial Control System (ICS) kill chain that explicitly accounts for the consequences of attacks on the physical aspects of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an investigation into the virtualization of substation protection IED functions using a sophisticated co-simulation environment that integrates virtual intelligent electronic devices (vIEDs) with a real-time power grid simulation. Anchored by the IEC 61850 protocol, this study constructs a virtualized IED framework, emphasizing the encapsulation of protection schemes using the example of different types of overcurrent protection within a containerized vIED. Using open-source software, this study aims to replicate the communication and functional aspects of physical IEDs. This study uses a co-simulation environment that couples virtualized network components with a real-time power grid simulation to validate the vIEDs against real substation hardware. Simulation results from induced short-circuit events confirm the operational congruence of the vIEDs with their physical counterparts, demonstrating their potential to serve as cost-effective and adaptable testbeds for substation automation. This paper concludes that virtualized IEDs represent a cost-effective, flexible alternative for substation automation testing, with future research directed towards increasing the functional complexity and real-world applicability of these virtual systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtualization has emerged as a promising technological solution for electrical substations, driven by the convergence of information and operational technologies and the new requirements of cost efficiency and adaptability. Virtualization employs software to emulate hardware-level functionalities by means of an equivalent computing system. However, despite the promising potential that virtualization offers in driving cost efficiencies and enabling operational flexibility, there is a scarcity of techno-economic studies assessing its financial and societal impact. This paper proposes a novel, open-source cost-benefit assessment model based on net present value analysis (NPV) and system dynamics tailored to the case of protection, automation and control systems (PACs) in electrical substations. The model explores the capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX) of two alternatives: 1) traditional substations based on intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and 2) virtualized PAC functions based on hardware-independent implementations deployed in virtual machines or containers. The economic model is evaluated for a 30-year simulation through comprehensive, optimistic and pessimistic scenarios of virtualization adoption as well as sensitivity analyses of relevant functional cases covering reliability, redundancy, initial costs, and virtualization roll-outs. The findings indicate that virtualization presents a promising technology for substations, leading to reductions in both CAPEX and update costs of approximately 20% and 60%, respectively, compared to traditional substations. Similarly, from a societal perspective, virtualization can offer positive key performance indicators associated with system downtime reductions and savings in power consumption and, consequently, in carbon footprint. However, the technology maturity, roll-out strategy, software licensing, and maintenance schemes can hinder the overall cost savings and affect payback periods.

This article implements and validates the performance of a virtual intelligent electronic device (vIED) framework for digital substations using a real-time (RT) simulation environment. The work looks toward the future design of protection, automation, and control systems, an evolution of the digital substation design based on IEC 61850 and virtualization technology. An RT simulation setup was developed to speed up and enhance the deployment and maintenance of vIEDs with a novel well-defined test methodology. Several scenarios were tested by varying the number of vIEDs and relevant (communication, scalability, and functionality) configuration criteria. In addition, we assessed the efficiency of a software-defined communication network for the vIED framework and its adaptability to dynamic scaling of the network under transient data traffic loads. The tests demonstrated the efficient performance of vIEDs across various system configurations, particularly for requirements on the response time and network transfer latency. The findings showcase the significance of proper design and testing methodology that can be benchmarked against other virtualization platforms for substation systems.

In the quest of an efficient smart energy management system that can fulfill the power demand of consumers, researchers are focusing on smart power system which can integrate both conventional and renewable energy resources as well as production of clean energy. As a result, the concept of Internet of Energy (IoE) is developed which is similar to the perception of Internet of Things (IoT), which supports both energy and information flow. In this study, a systematic review of the current state-of-the-art of IoE and IEC 61850 has been presented, and it has identified the research gaps and opportunities for future development. The discussion unfolds by illuminating the evolution of smart grids and IoE, shedding light on the benefits and challenges inherent in employing IEC 61850 as a communication standard for IoE. Moreover, the potential application of IEC 61850 standard for enabling IoE in smart grids has been explored. Besides reviewing the trends and challenges of IoE and its key technologies, such as energy routers, power generation equipment, and energy storage devices; it also discussed how the IEC 61850 standard can facilitate the communication and interoperability among these technologies and provide a robust and flexible platform for the IoE. The outcome of this study show that IEC 61850 has a wide range of applicability and suitability for IoE, as it can support various functions and features of IoE, such as information modeling, data exchange, plug-and-play, fault detection, and intelligent control. This study also presents some examples of IEC 61850 based IoE systems, such as energy routers, wind and solar power plants, battery storage systems, and vehicle-to-grid systems. The comparison of this study with the equivalent studies shows that this study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of IoE and IEC 61850, and covers a wide range of topics and aspects of IoE and IEC 61850. This study also provides a critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of IEC 61850 for IoE, and proposes some directions for future research and development.

This paper introduces an innovative adaptive scheme for detecting and locating faults in DC-zonal shipboard microgrids (SBMGs). This scheme relies on the estimation of high-frequency impedance. The proposed scheme is implemented in an intelligent electronic device (IED) in which the Fast Fourier Transform is applied to obtain the high-frequency components of the current and voltage at each node. Then, these components are exchanged between the two IEDs that protect the same line by using IEC 61850 GOOSE-based communication system. The estimated high-frequency impedance of the line is calculated and compared to the prescribed settings to detect and locate the fault. After fault detection and localization, communication signals are exchanged between the two IEDs positioned at each end of the line. This exchange precedes the transmission of tripping signals to the relevant circuit breakers for the accurate isolation of the faulty line. The proposed protection scheme is tested through MATLAB/Simulink Ⓡ environment. The scheme can detect and locate the fault under different uncertainty conditions, such as fault impedances, various system configurations, changes in system loads and generations, multi-faults’ existence, contingency conditions, and the presence of noise on the communication signals. The results proved its efficient performance and superiority. The scheme can detect and locate the faults quickly and accurately within 0.125 ms.

Smart grid technology drives economic and social development but raises vulnerability to cyber threats due to digital substations’ growing reliance. To counter these risks, recent updates to communication standards, including encryption and authentication processes, have been integrated into the infrastructure. Notably, adhering to the IEC 62351 standard governing the GOOSE protocol for substation communication faces practical challenges due to conflicting time requirements with traditional security procedures. In this paper, we present an innovative geometric approach for GOOSE message authentication and encryption. Utilizing vector coordinate shifts, our method exhibits efficiency and speed of implementation, ensuring compliance with the protocol’s stringent time constraints. Importantly, unlike other approaches in the literature, our technique has the potential to be easily applicable and effective for a wide range of infrastructures without requiring the use or addition of specific hardware components or changes to the GOOSE message format, while guaranteeing high performances and computational simplicity. The paper is complemented by a simulation campaign on a digital substation model, assessing the approach’s performance and its efficacy in countering cyber threats.

Accelerated environmental impacts are a growing concern in the modern world. Electric mobility and the transition to a cleaner energy matrix have become increasingly discussed topics. In this context, this work presents a framework for controlling an electric vehicle (EV)-charging station integrated into a microgrid application as a basis for creating the infrastructure integrated into a smart grid concept. Considering the electrification of the transportation sector future perspectives, a brief review is conducted on the impacts of EV fleet growth in different countries and how smart-charging technologies are identified as solutions for mitigating the negative effects of energy and power consumption associated with EV-charging stations. An analysis of the technical characteristics and the tools that enable the deployment of a fleet-charging operator are examined, specifically focusing on the communication protocol for EVs, such as the OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) parameterization/configuration. A new EV-charging station control method is proposed to manage the impacts of distributed solar photovoltaic generation and mitigate the effects of the duck curve. Finally, an integration architecture via IEC 61850 for these elements is proposed, in a practical implementation for variable power control, considering different strategies to deal with distributed generation impact using EV-fleet-charging power demand dynamic management.

The effective operation of distributed energy sources relies significantly on the communication systems employed in microgrids. This article explores the fundamental communication requirements, structures, and protocols necessary to establish a secure connection in microgrids. This article examines the present difficulties facing, and progress in, smart microgrid communication technologies, including wired and wireless networks. Furthermore, it evaluates the incorporation of diverse security methods. This article showcases a case study that illustrates the implementation of a distributed cyber-security communication system in a microgrid setting. The study concludes by emphasizing the ongoing research endeavors and suggesting potential future research paths in the field of microgrid communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are increasingly integrated with Information Technology (IT) systems, blending Operational Technology (OT) and IT components. This evolution introduces new cyber-attack risks, necessitating specialized security measures like Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS). This paper presents our work on both developing an experimental protocol and conducting tests of various IDS types in a digital substation hardware in the loop (HIL) testbed, offering insights into their performance in realistic scenarios. Our findings reveal significant variations in IDS effectiveness against industrial-specific cyber-attacks, with IT-specific IDSs struggling to detect certain attacks and changing testlab conditions affecting the assessment of ICS-specific IDSs. The challenges faced in creating valid and reliable evaluation metrics underscore the complexities of replicating operational ICS conditions. This research enhances our understanding of IDS effectiveness in ICS settings and underscores the importance of further experimental research in HIL testlab environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection relays that incorporate advanced microprocessors are vital to electrical grids, providing fast and reliable responses to faulty conditions using efficient communication protocols. Instant detection and response to various faults are essential to minimise the risk of damage. Numerical relays can identify faulty conditions and trigger circuit breakers to open, thus preventing further damage to the system. Due to the lack of autonomous decision-making capabilities, existing numerical relays require manual reconfiguration in situations such as a change in network configuration and protection settings. These relays also do not have the ability to coordinate fault clearance when multiple sources supply power to the grid. A comprehensive overview of the research aimed at developing a multiagent system (MAS)-based adaptive protection relay will be provided by dividing it into separate articles such as firmware and hardware. This first part delves into the firmware aspects of this innovative relay, highlighting its adaptive capabilities and key considerations in its development. The second part will provide detailed design descriptions for the hardware features of the relay. An STM32MPU multicore advanced microprocessor is utilised to design and develop the adaptive numerical relay firmware. It incorporates several protection relay ANSI codes, communication protocols, and MAS-based adaptive protection schemes as part of the firmware.

Abstract The conventional power systems are evolving as smart grids. In recent times cyberattacks on smart grids have been increasing. Among different attacks, False Data Injection (FDI) is considered as an emerging threat that has significant impact. By exploiting the vulnerabilities of IEC 61850 Generic Object-Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE) and Sampled Values (SV) attackers can launch different FDI attacks. In this paper, a real-time set up capable of simulating FDI on GOOSE and SV protocols is developed to evaluate the impact of such attacks on power grid. IEC 62351 stipulates cybersecurity guidelines for GOOSE and SV, but only at communication or Information Technology (IT) level. Hence there is a need to develop a holistic security both at IT and Operation Technology (OT) level. In this regard, a novel sequence content resolver-based hybrid security scheme suitable to tackle FDI attacks on GOOSE and SV is proposed. Furthermore, the computational performance of the proposed hybrid security scheme is presented to demonstrate its applicability to the time critical GOOSE and SV protocols.

WAMPAC (Wide Area Monitoring Protection and Control) applications are becoming crucial for granting a stable operation of the electricity transmission grid. These systems use a set of sensors distributed between different electrical substations to gather real-time measurements from the field. These sensors are called Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs). Using the gathered data, different monitoring, protection, and control algorithms are run in a Phasor Data Concentrator (PDC) located in a central location. These algorithms close the loop via the generation of remedial commands, which are sent back to the field level with stringent delay, security, and reliability requirements. GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Events) protocol, defined by IEC 61850 (IEC stands for International Electrotechnical Commission), is used for that aim and also considers the option of sending these commands over IP networks (this option is called Routed-GOOSE). The present article proposes two alternatives for the tunneling of GOOSE frames over IP. Both options allow the decoupling of the transmission and the security aspects, thus increasing flexibility and allowing for easier deployment. The first option, called VX-GOOSE, is a combination of standard protocols, allowing the sending of these frames over UDP/IP tunnels. The tests that have been carried out demonstrate that, under certain network conditions, the transmission of GOOSE frames over UDP may fail, and in some extreme cases, even a whole burst of GOOSEs could be lost. This may have very bad consequences for a distributed electrical system. It should be noted that this limitation affects both VX-GOOSE and Routed-GOOSE. To overcome these limitations, the second option, called Simplemux blast mode, includes a novel mechanism that provides delivery guarantees and a reduced delay, with the counterpart of a certain degree of redundancy. As shown in the experiments, the incurred delays can be significantly reduced when remote locations are connected via unreliable networks, whereas the bandwidth increase caused by redundancy can be kept at reasonable levels. Finally, it should be remarked that although GOOSE is a relevant example use case, this approach can be applied in other fields where flows require very low delay and delivery guarantees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and connections in networked microgrids consisting of two or more interconnected microgrids is influenced by the dynamic behaviors of power markets, the demand and supply interactions between market participants, and the possibility of operating in the grid-connected or islanded modes. Protection zones in the above-mentioned scenarios are dynamic and should not be determined a priori. Also, fault currents will vary depending on the operating modes, online or offline status of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), variation of solar irradiation or wind speed, etc. This paper proposes a Centralized Intelligent Station-Level Protection (CISP) approach for the protection of various electric power equipment technologies in networked (interconnected) microgrids using adaptive protective relaying algorithms and a network theory-based zone selection algorithm. The proposed CISP approach utilizes wide area IEC 61869-9 Sampled Values (SVs) measurements and IEC 61850 Generic Object-Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE) messages, intelligently determines the protection zones, and automatically selects the protection algorithms to use in each of the protection zones based on the prevailing system topology and operating conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed CISP approach is demonstrated through real-time simulations using the RTDS®. The results obtained were promising for the various system configurations, operating conditions, and fault conditions considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a scheme for power swing detection and stability assessment for multi-machine power systems in addition to a brief survey on that topic. The scheme adopts smart grid perception. It is an asynchronous scheme that uses the rate of change of the angle of the generator bus voltage instead of synchronously estimating the absolute rotor angle value for stability assessment. Therefore, it does not require phasor measurement units (PMUs). Instead, it uses commercially available intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). It introduces a new application of the multicast Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) protocol or its routable version (R-GOOSE) to reflect the disturbance in the power grid on the transmission pattern of data packets over the grid data network. In this scheme, the angle change information is transmitted in the form of GOOSE packets simultaneously from the IEDs that readily measure the angles of the affected generators. On the other hand, the detecting device identifies the stability status of each affected generator. The proposed scheme is validated by simulating disturbances on the IEEE 39-bus system. The results show that the scheme can discriminate between stable and unstable swings. In addition, the loss of synchronism of the unstable generator is predicted ahead of its occurrence by enough time to take an appropriate action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-voltage distribution lines lack efficient monitoring. With the massive proliferation of distributed energy resource supply, it is necessary to establish an effective monitoring system for low-voltage distribution lines to ensure the electrical safety and continuity of power supply services. This paper proposes monitoring system for low-voltage distribution lines based on the Internet of things (IoT) technology. An IoT based monitoring system contains a large number of low-voltage monitoring terminals, different manufacturers, and different types of terminal equipment to solve the interconnection problem of information interaction. This paper first analyzes the terminal functional communication requirements based on IEC 61850 standards. Further, the information models required by the electrical volume collection and non-electric quantity collection functions are studied. The information modeling for different types of monitoring terminal equipment is presented and thus provide the configuration suggestions. The monitoring terminal based on the information model developed in this paper is applied in a university campus to realize the monitoring of low-voltage lines and distributed power supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection relays that incorporate advanced microprocessors are vital to electrical grids, providing fast and reliable responses to faulty conditions using efficient communication protocols. Instant detection and response to various faults are essential to minimise the risk of damage. Numerical relays can identify faulty conditions and trigger circuit breakers to open, thus preventing further damage to the system. Due to the lack of autonomous decision-making capabilities, existing numerical relays require manual reconfiguration in situations such as a change in network configuration and protection settings. These relays also do not have the ability to coordinate fault clearance when multiple sources supply power to the grid. A comprehensive overview of the research aimed at developing a multiagent system (MAS)- based adaptive protection relay will be provided by dividing it into separate articles such as firmware and hardware. This first part delves into the firmware aspects of this innovative relay, highlighting its adaptive capabilities and key considerations in its development. The second part will provide detailed design descriptions for the hardware features of the relay. An STM32MPU multicore advanced microprocessor is utilised to design and develop the adaptive numerical relay firmware. It incorporates several protection relay ANSI codes, communication protocols, and MAS-based adaptive protection schemes as part of the firmware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern power systems are rapidly transitioning towards a fully digital substation paradigm. Based on the IEC 61850, a common communication protocol between the different intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) promises a significant enhancement in terms of efficiency and interoperability. In this context, synchronization represents a crucial aspect as it allows us to rigorously compare measurements taken at the same time in different locations. In this paper, we consider a measurement chain for synchrophasor estimation based on digital inputs: an instrument transformer, a stand-alone merging unit (SAMU) and a phasor measurement unit (PMU). Both the SAMU and the PMU are equipped with independent synchronization sources. In case the SAMU loses its synchronization, the final measurement result would be considered invalid until a complete restoration of the SAMU synchronization status. In view of a longer continuity of operation, this paper proposes an alternative approach to evaluate the PMU Time Quality in real-time. This approach allows for continuing crucial monitoring and control operations, such as state estimation and fault detection, even in the presence of temporary loss of synchronization. A characterization, in both simulated and experimental conditions, proves the potential and reliability of the proposed approach. In the considered test case, the come-back within a sufficient time quality is correctly detected in less than 200 s, while waiting for the full restoration of the SAMU time reference would cost several minutes.

The conventional power systems are evolving as smart grids. In recent times cyberattacks on smart grids have been increasing. Among different attacks, False Data Injection (FDI) is considered as an emerging threat that has significant impact. By exploiting the vulnerabilities of IEC 61850 Generic Object-Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE) and Sampled Values (SV) attackers can launch different FDI attacks. In this paper, a real-time set up capable of simulating FDI on GOOSE and SV protocols is developed to evaluate the impact of such attacks on power grid. IEC 62351 stipulates cybersecurity guidelines for GOOSE and SV, but only at communication or Information Technology (IT) level. Hence there is a need to develop a holistic security both at IT and Operation Technology (OT) level. In this regard, a novel sequence content resolver-based hybrid security scheme suitable to tackle FDI attacks on GOOSE and SV is proposed. Furthermore, the computational performance of the proposed hybrid security scheme is presented to demonstrate its applicability to the time critical GOOSE and SV protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital substations, also referred to as modern power grid substations, utilize the IEC 61850 station and process bus in conjunction with IP-based communication. This includes communication with switch yard equipment within the substation as well as the dispatch center. IEC 61850 is a global standard developed to standardize power grid communications, covering multiple communication needs related to modern power grid substations or digital substations. Unlike the legacy communication standards, IEC 60870-5-104 and DNP3, IEC 61850 is specifically designed for IP-based communication. It comprises several communication models and supports real-time communication by introducing the process bus to replace traditional peer-to-peer communication with standard network communication between substation equipment and the switch yard. The process bus, especially Sampled Measured Values (SMV) communication, in modern power grid substations relies on extremely accurate and synchronized time to prevent equipment damage, maintain power grid system balance, and ensure safety. In IEC 61850, time synchronization is provided by the Precision Time Protocol (PTP). This paper discusses the significance and challenges of time synchronization in IEC 61850 substations, particularly those associated with PTP. It presents the results of a controlled experiment that subjects time synchronization and PTP to cyber-attacks and discusses the potential consequences of such attacks. The paper also provides recommendations for potential mitigation strategies. The contribution of this paper is to provide insights and recommendations for enhancing the security of IEC 61850-based substations against cyber-attacks targeting time synchronization. The paper also explores the potential consequences of cyber-attacks and provides recommendations for potential mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issues of low efficiency, poor security, insufficient compatibility, and difficulties in traceability associated with high-voltage electric energy metering (HVEEM) device verification methods, this paper proposes a design scheme for a remote verification system (RVS) of such devices based on a power cloud platform (PCP). The system adopts the concept of "high-precision local sampling + remote cloud verification" and develops a local acquisition device with compatibility and high precision to achieve fast acquisition of local electrical parameters. The IEC 61850 communication modeling is utilized to establish unified communication standards between the local device and the PCP. The PCP provides two verification methods: physical error verification based on a multi-channel standard and digital verification based on an improved Backpropagation (BP) neural network simulation model. Leveraging the advantages of power cloud technology, the system enables functions such as electrical energy calculation, remote intelligent error verification, cloud storage, condition monitoring, and early warning. Through testing and application, it has been demonstrated that the system achieves an integration accuracy level better than 0.02. It also exhibits good security, compatibility, and traceability of measurement values while attaining a high level of informatization and intelligence. Particularly, the system shows promising prospects for the remote and efficient verification of large-scale and multi-type high-voltage metering devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing Overcurrent Protection Function (OCPF) of distribution systems can be coordinated for all fault current values involving single feeders. However, it is vulnerable to Multiple Feeder Faults (MFF), which involve at least two feeders simultaneously, leading to the incoming feeder relay trip faster than the faulted feeder relays. In this case, all feeders connected to the power transformer are de-energized, even the healthy ones, directly impacting the network reliability, service quality and availability of the electricity utilities and ultimately leading to outage costs for the customers. In light of this, an IEC 61850-based OCPF scheme with the directional element is proposed to support existing OCPF to deal with MFF and encompass the integration of distributed generation, and can be directly implemented in the digital substations without requiring further equipment installation. Moreover, a hardware-in-the-loop platform is developed for testing the interoperability of the proposed scheme with multi-vendor protection relays, which can also assist electricity utilities in the validation of their protection and control schemes based on their requirements before the field implementation. Test cases are specifically elaborated to study the interoperability of the proposed scheme with three real devices—whose configuration details are also provided to aid protection engineers—in a real distribution system under different conditions such as switching operations, MFF types, resistance, location, and integration of distributed generation. The results show that the proposed scheme manages to enhance the selectivity and reliability of the digital substation protection system, hence representing a valuable complement to existing OCPF schemes.

The trend of transforming substations into smart automated facilities has led to their swift digitalization and automation. To facilitate data exchange among equipment within these substations, the IEC 61850 standard has become the predominant standard. However, this standardization has inadvertently made these substations more susceptible to cyberattacks, which is a significant concern given the confidential information that is transmitted. As a result, cybersecurity in substations is becoming an increasingly critical topic. IEC 62351 standard provides guidelines and considerations for securing the IEC 61850 messages to mitigate their vulnerabilities. While securing Generic Object-Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) messages has received considerable attention in literature, the same level of scrutiny has not been applied to Sampled Value (SV) messages despite their susceptibility to cyberattacks and similar frame format. This paper presents the impact of replay and masquerade attacks on SV messages. It also develops a scheme for securing SV messages against these attacks. Due to high sampling rate and time critical nature of SV messages, the time complexity of security scheme is critical for its applicability to SV messages. Hence, in this work, SV emulators have been developed in order to send these modified secure SV messages and investigate their timing performance. The results show that the proposed scheme can mitigate replay and masquerade attacks on SV messages while providing the necessary high sampling rate and stringent timing requirements.

Data centres are becoming an increasingly important part of our society’s infrastructure. The number of data centres is growing constantly, making growing the gross level of electrical energy consumption. At the same time, the rapid spread of sophisticated electrical devices as well as other automation systems in general produces an opportunity for making data centres an attractive player in the constantly designing energy market. But for this, new advanced technologies must be applied to solve the problems of complexity and heterogeneity in various types of data centre design. A new concept, which is based on the automated generation of a digital twin (DT) system, directly from its schematic representation is presented in this paper. A DT is a virtual version of an object or system, designed to aid decision-making and virtual commissioning through simulation, machine learning, and reasoning. In the scope of current work, the IEC 61850 standard is chosen as a starting point for a multi-step generation of the DT combining simulation model and decentralized control logic. As a result, the designed DT “clone” of an electrical system consists of the SIMULINK model of the electrical system plus the automatically generated control application (based on the IEC 61499 standard).

The wide propagation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure integrated into the energy distribution network poses numerous challenges for the engineering and control of the latter: the load dynamic characteristics become more unsteady, requiring more advanced control, predictions, and virtual commissioning. One step toward the automation of the design and simulation of new charging stations can be reached through the integration of the EV-specific standards and protocols with other widely spread electrical standards and, thereby, improving the compatibility between standards, increasing the reuse of the intelligent work results, and promoting the development of EVs’ infrastructure. A method for virtual commissioning of electrical charging stations is proposed, implemented, and tested in a form of a software tool in which the electrical system description from the widely used IEC 61850 standard is used as an input. The designed tool builds a digital twin of the charging station that consists of its Simulink model as well as two automatically generated communication code primitives using the open charge point protocol for control and management purposes over the autogenerated model. The generated digital twin can be used for virtual commissioning purposes. The application of the method is illustrated in a case study.