Digital Substation is an engineering publication focused on IEC 61850 automation, protection systems, and digital grid intelligence.
CIGRE Study Committee B5 has opened Working Group B5.90, tasked with writing the first dedicated guidelines for commissioning and testing of fully digital protection and automation control systems. The Terms of Reference, published in January 2026, cover FAT, SAT, and operational testing for IEC 61850 process bus architectures.
In 2023, fourteen European TSOs signed a common statement on IEC 61850 engineering and demonstrated a working proof of concept. Their five-step top-down process — backed by two new IEC technical reports — changes how utilities, IED suppliers, and tool vendors interact. Here is what they built and why it matters.
XML Schema validation checks structure — it cannot verify that a GOOSE subscription references a valid dataset or that a logical node contains required data objects. Object Constraint Language (OCL) fills that gap. IEC TS 61850-6-3, published in 2025, defines how OCL rules should be written and applied to IEC 61850 XML files, laying the groundwork for consistent, formal SCL validation across tools.
CIGRE announced the creation of new working groups in study committees B3, B4, C2 and C6.
CIGRE announced the creation of new working groups in a number of study committees.
CIGRE Study Committee B3 will include a new working group - Impact of NCIT applications on HV Gas Insulated Switchgear (WG# B3.39). This subject has not yet been covered by any of CIGRE activities.
CIGRE announced the establishment of new working group as a part of B5 technical committee (Relay protection and automation). New working group will be established in 2014.