Substation Automation, Protection and Control Based on IEC 61850

A special issue of Automation (ISSN 2673-4052). This special issue belongs to the section "Automation in Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 2618

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Edith Cowen University, Perth, Australia
Interests: digital substation; artificial intelligence as applicable to high-voltage power equipment; asset management of electrical equipment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Introduction of IEC 61850 standard, Substation Automation System (SAS) has significantly transformed the secondary systems architecture within substations. Given the number of topologies and communication protocols applicable to intelligent digital substations, they could be a good fit to replace copper wires in conjunction with the use of Non-Conventional Instrument Transformers (NCITs). This approach would enable operators to address challenges related to legacy protocols while carrying out smooth network operation and isolating a faulty incomer or feeder. SAS based on IEC 61850 will make it easier to perform fault diagnostics, achieve faster project completion and mitigate environmental problems associated with leaked oil or SF6 gas. However, IEC 61850 communication protocols are not without challenges specifically related to latencies, redundancies, end-to-end (ETE) delays, time synchronization, cyber threats and the application of appropriate topologies to the right network.

This Special Issue on SAS is well timed, as it will provide multiple benefits to substation operators for the accurate protection and reliable condition monitoring of secondary systems.

Dr. Shantanu Kumar
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • IEC 61850
  • digital substation
  • non-conventional instrument transformer

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 506 KB  
Article
Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation in Digital Substations Based on a Control Model for Communication Systems: An Experimental Validation
by Oscar A. Tobar-Rosero, Ivar F. Gomez-Pedraza, John E. Candelo-Becerra, Juan D. Grajales-Bustamante and Fredy E. Hoyos
Automation 2026, 7(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation7030068 - 30 Apr 2026
Abstract
The increasing digitalization of electrical substations, enabled by IEC 61850-based architectures, has improved operational efficiency while expanding the cyber attack surface. This paper introduces a standards-aligned cybersecurity risk mitigation model specifically designed for digital substations and mapped to representative attack scenarios. The model [...] Read more.
The increasing digitalization of electrical substations, enabled by IEC 61850-based architectures, has improved operational efficiency while expanding the cyber attack surface. This paper introduces a standards-aligned cybersecurity risk mitigation model specifically designed for digital substations and mapped to representative attack scenarios. The model integrates preventive, detective, and application-level controls derived from NIST SP 800-82r3, IEC 62443, and ISO/IEC 27019, and is validated in a laboratory process-bus environment. A baseline risk assessment identified four high-risk scenarios in the studied digital substation architecture. For validation, a selected subset of controls was experimentally evaluated against two representative attack vectors, namely false data injection (FDI) on GOOSE messages and denial-of-service (DoS) against PTP synchronization. For the remaining scenarios, the post-mitigation effects were reassessed analytically based on control coverage, architectural exposure, and standards-aligned cybersecurity reasoning. The experimental validation demonstrated that both empirically tested high-risk scenarios (FDI on GOOSE and DoS on PTP) were effectively mitigated, reducing their residual risk to moderate and low levels, respectively. For the remaining two scenarios, a post-mitigation analytical reassessment based on control coverage and architectural exposure suggested a consistent risk reduction trend, although without direct experimental confirmation. Under this combined empirical–analytical assessment, the number of high-risk scenarios decreased from four to one, corresponding to a 50% experimentally validated reduction in high-risk exposure, complemented by an analytical reassessment of the remaining scenarios. These results provide quantitative evidence about the effectiveness of the model, even with partial implementation. The scientific contribution of this study lies in integrating multistandard cybersecurity requirements into an operational mitigation model tailored to IEC 61850 substations, combined with experimental risk quantification in a realistic process-bus testbed. The proposed model offers practical guidance for utilities and establishes a scalable foundation for advancing cybersecurity in critical power infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Substation Automation, Protection and Control Based on IEC 61850)
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37 pages, 20692 KB  
Article
Integration Method for IEC 61850 into Legacy and Modern PLC Systems
by Arthur Kniphoff da Cruz, Christian Siemers, Lorenz Däubler and Ana Clara Hackenhaar Kellermann
Automation 2026, 7(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation7010007 - 1 Jan 2026
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Abstract
In the classic energy sector, as well as in the manufacturing and process industries, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems are used for electrical substation control. However, PLCs frequently do not support the communication protocols defined on the standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850. [...] Read more.
In the classic energy sector, as well as in the manufacturing and process industries, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) systems are used for electrical substation control. However, PLCs frequently do not support the communication protocols defined on the standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850. Therefore, this paper presents a vendor-independent method for the integration of Protection and Control (P&C) Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), components of the substation bay level, in PLCs from the substation station level. The method can be used with legacy and modern controllers that offer an open communication interface, where the use of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is supported. Since many legacy systems offer an open communication interface, this method makes it possible to reuse PLCs, bringing cost efficiency and ecological benefits. The method can be used in a single or redundant way since redundancy is always required in power distribution control. A prototype was developed for the integration over IEC 61850 Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS), and its functional validation is presented in this paper. This solution, besides reducing hardware and software acquisition costs, also contributes to a reduction in electronic waste (E-Waste) and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Substation Automation, Protection and Control Based on IEC 61850)
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42 pages, 3983 KB  
Systematic Review
IEC 61850 GOOSE: A Systematic Literature Review on the State of the Art and Current Applications
by Arthur Kniphoff da Cruz, Ana Clara Hackenhaar Kellermann, Ingridy Caroliny da Silva, Jaine Mercia Fernandes de Oliveira, Marcia Elena Jochims Kniphoff da Cruz and Lorenz Däubler
Automation 2026, 7(2), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation7020062 - 17 Apr 2026
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Abstract
To develop secure, fast, and interoperable smart substations, it is vital to understand the current situation and potential future directions of the technologies involved. This study presents the evolution and state of the art of the Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) communication [...] Read more.
To develop secure, fast, and interoperable smart substations, it is vital to understand the current situation and potential future directions of the technologies involved. This study presents the evolution and state of the art of the Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) communication protocol, defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61850 standard. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. This included journal articles published from 2004 to 2025 and conference papers from 2020 to 2025, written in English within Engineering. Only studies primarily focusing on GOOSE, citing it at least ten times, and indexed in the Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science databases were included. The quantitative analysis used SciMAT software, complemented by a qualitative analysis. Due to the bibliometric and thematic nature of this review, potential biases were considered at the review level rather than by applying a formal study-level risk-of-bias tool. The final analysis comprised 82 journal articles and 84 conference papers. The results offer a comprehensive mapping of GOOSE research evolution, identify nine main challenges and limitations from the last 22 years, and highlight current research directions. The literature reveals methodological heterogeneity, a predominance of simulation-based approaches, and limited large-scale empirical validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Substation Automation, Protection and Control Based on IEC 61850)
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