New Ethernet Technologies for Substation Automation

One of the most crucial issues in the field of substation automation is the use of Industrial Ethernet. Compared to earlier communication systems, such as the DNP and IEC 60870-5 protocols, Ethernet has its base not in the industrial sector but in the office environment. To be fully usable in the fields of substation and factory automation, it requires additional features in the following areas: (1) reliability (2) hardness suitable for substation environment conditions (3) power supplies suitable for substations (4) services enabling short response times (5) redundancy during the last ten years, the enormous progress made in these areas has led to the decision to include Industrial Ethernet in the IEC 61850 project. Ongoing development in the fields of Industrial Ethernet will lead to new, comprehensive solutions using IEC 61850, especially in the field of process-bus applications.