Transmission & HV Substation Automation
Smart grids will depend on interoperable and advanced SAS for a reliable and secure energy supply in the future.What is Substation Automation?
Substation automation is the act of automatically monitoring and controlling an electrical substation by integrating substation equpiment, intelligent instrumentation and control devices, to have better control over the power distribution grid and reduce the number and duration of outages. Like most power systems, including generation plants and industrial facilities, substations are usually automated with a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System). Most commonly, RTUs (remote terminal units) are installed on site to collect data from substation equipment, sensors and IEDs (intelligent electronic devices) and transfer this data to a substation or control center SCADA, which visualizes the data and reports failures to the operator.
Through the SCADA system, the operator can remotely monitor the entire substation network, send direct commands to the RTU, or define automation functions with a PLC to enable automated reactions against system failures.
Since full substation automation requires IEDs, communications protocols, and other devices and technologies to work together, it is also often referred to as substation integration. The term “instrumentation and control (I&C) system” on the other hand, exclusively comprises devices that monitor, control, and protect the power system.
Why Automate Your HV Substation?
Advantages with iGrid T&D
Why Automate Your HV Substation?
- Use automation functions to react instantly and reduce the need human supervision
- Use advanced protection schemes to improve the reliability of your substation network
- Locate failures within your network, safe time and minimize outage duration
- Send remote commands and react to outages
- Prepare for and minimize outages and minimize with redundant networks
- Improve the flexbility of your energy grid to react to fluctuating power generation and demand
- Record events in real-time, to know exactly what happened and when it happened
- Improve your working efficiency by facilitating system intervention and maintenance
- Control the performance of your substation devices, prevent failures and optimize your network design and operation
Advantages with iGrid T&D
- iGrid Protocol Suite: Modbus, IEC61850, IEC60870-5- 101/102/103/104, DNP3, OPC, DLMS, Profibus and many more
- Fully interoperable solution for simple retrofits and open network architectures – all of our devices and software applications can communicate with the iGrid protocol suite, allowing you to connect to any device on the network using multiple communication media
- Highly flexible, secure and scalable solutions, adaptable to any system requirements/ network topology
- Simple migration to IEC 61850 – use any of our products as client or server and map any protocol onto IEC 61850, relying on the iConfICD tool for simple configurations and SCL file imports
- Internal PLC based on IEC 61131–3 for advanced automation functions and logical schemes, programmable with our free iConf tool
- Advanced network redundancy based on RSTP, HSR and PRP (IEC 61850)
- Highly scalable and customizable SCADA for single substations or entire grids (control center edition),
- High precision time management based on PTP or NTP to prevent any data losses
Substation Automation, the Key to Smarter Grids
Substation automation is a topic that is rarely addressed by popular media, yet it is the backbone of the often discussed “Smart Grids”, which will play a central role in our energy future. As key points to control the transmission and distribution networks, the worldwide development of substation automation systems will determine our ability to confront future energy challenges and stabilize the electrical grid.
Considering the ongoing digitization and recent trends, a future in which every piece of electric equipment will be carrying some type of setting and require remote control might be a lot closer than we may expect. In order to manage such a large number of data points and interconnect several actors and intelligent devices from different vendors within one electrical grid, substations will need to be controlled with advanced and interoperable automation systems that operate reliably.
It is thus no surprise that grid automation has signficantly evolved over the last decade, from legacy protocols and old, centralized RTUs with high I/O capabilities, all the way to the newest technologies based on distributed IEC 61850 and IP technology.
The difficulties lie in integrating this new technology in older substations, where old and new devices have to coexist and communicate with each other. Examples of this can be new control centers that have to communicate with old automation systems or newly installed IEDs (intelligent electronic devices such as protection relays, meters…), which must connect to old systems at the substation or the control center.
Adptable and User-friendly Solutions for Flexible Designs and Simple Retrofits
Solutions by iGrid T&D have been designed for exactly this kind of challenges. Developed explicitly for substation automation, all devices devices and software systems, comprising RTUs, gateways, I/O extension units and SCADA system, provide a unique range of communication protocols and connectivity options.
The devices can use almost all protocols to both collect and transfer data from and between devices and entities.
Amongst others, the communication protocols include:
Master/Slave IEC 60870–5‑101 | Master/Slave IEC 60870–5‑104 |
Master/Slave Modbus TCP/UDP and JBUS (master) | Master/Slave ModbusRTU |
Master/Slave DNP3.0 (serial, UDP, TCP) | Master IEC 60870–5‑103 |
Master IEC 60870–5‑102 | Master DLMS |
Master Profibus DP | Master Spabus, Mlink, Procome |
Master IEC 62056–21 | SNMP Agent/Manager |
IEC 61850 MMS Client/Server | IEC 61850 GOOSE Publisher/Subscriber |
OPC UA |
Our solutions can also communicate through technologies from other industries like mySQL, web services and OPC UA.
Furthermore, the devices have communicated with equipment from numerous different vendors in a broad variety of applications. We have connected it all: new and old systems, Ethernet and serial, IEC 61850 and old legacy protocols (like SPA-bus), SCADA systems and intranets, generation and energy market.
It is our priority at iGrid T&D to support the development of your substation automation systems and prepare your staff in a simple yet technologically sound way. For this reason, we used our know-how to design hardware that can be easily adjusted to your needs with our free iConf tool. iConf now also includes the powerful iConfICD tool, which has been particulary designed to facilitate the configuration of IEC 61850 devices.
With our state-of-the-art products we want to make the transition to advanced automation systems as smooth as possible. Our solutions ensure that you no longer need to worry about interoperability and network inefficiencies. Our RTUs and gateways can communicate using numerous protocols via Ethernet or serial connections and integrate seamlessly with our intuitive software solutions, which come with all functionalities you need.
Not only retrofits are facilitated with our products. It also becomes easy to react to any kind of network change (big or small) and to set up open and scalable network architectures.
Our devices are already configurable and versatile by design, but we also provide further product configurations and tailored services upon request.
Time Management
All iGrid solutions are capable of high precision time-synchronization (<1ms) via PTP or NTP and carry internal Real-Time Clocks with a an accuracy of 1ppm. This allows to keep on recording events with a micro-second time stamping accuracy, even when connection to the time source (masterclock) is lost, permitting to trace failures back meticulously.
Network Redundancy
All iGrid solutions can provide advanced redundancy networks like RSTP, HSR & PRP (IEC 62439–3) to minimize network downtime and maximize reliability and availability:
- Modern substation automation without packet losses and latencies
- Invisible to the application and usable by most industrial Ethernet protocols
- For applications requiring high availability and quick switchovers

PLC Automation
All iGrid solutions can execute logical/mathematical functions and automation sequences with super high speeds thanks to their PLC capabilities.
The integrated PLC is highly scalable and has been applied in all kinds of fields to solve a broad variety of challenges.
iConfPLC
User-friendly and graphical programming module (editor) for automation sequences and PLCs based on IEC 61131–3.
Secure Products for Transmission & HV Distribution Substations
Thanks to our commitment to advanced substation automation, all devices and software systems by iGrid T&D provide an extensive range of functionalities and characteristics to overcome present and future challenges in the most efficient ways.
Although we are happy to support our customers, iGrid T&D is not a service-based business. Instead, we strive to provide state-of-the-art technology that enables our customers to set up, operate and maintain advanced automation systems by themselves.
Substation Gateway, HMI, SCADA, Grid Control Center Software..
iControl SCADA
- Scalable and interoperable in multiple architectures
- For all levels, from Substation Gateway to Control Center
- With all important features and characteristics
iGW-VM
- Highly scalable and powerful gateway software for any server running on Windows or Linux.
- communication front-end for siwtchgears, transformers and other equipment
Substation RTU, Gateway, Bay Controller, Distributed I/O..
iRTU, iRTUcompact
- Internal I/O, serial, GPRS & Ethernet interfaces
- All-in-one devices with advanced functions for SAS
iGW, iGWlite
- Serial, GPRS & Ethernet interfaces
- Handy devices with advanced functions for SAS
iRTUe
- Remote I/O units for advanced SAS networks
- IEC 61850 GOOSE communication


State-of-the-Art R&D and Advanced Engineering & Product Development
International R&D
- Inhouse R&D on the forefront of smart grid technology, enriched by numerous international and academic project
Engineering & Development Services
- Advanced and customized application engineering and product development for specific client needs.
World-wide Compliance and Interoperability
Thanks to our experiences with electrical systems and substations in a variety of industries all around the planet, our products have been prepared for high-demanding requirements and standards, guaranteeing a peaceful approval process for any project in any country. Our certifications range from EMC compatibility and communication protocol standards like IEC 61850 to cyber security means and have been asserted by third party certification bodies like DNV GL/ KEMA.
HV Substation Automation System Architecture
Example schema

Why to Opt for Substation Automation Solutions by iGrid T&D?
Our Data Acquisition, Control and Supervision systems can not only handle a broad variety of protocols and architectures but also provide numerous other technological features and functionalities like high precision time stamping and PLC programming.
As a client you can benefit from getting a scalable and interoperable solution that will be easy to use and tailored to your needs. Rest assured that you will benefit from its flexibility and cost savings throughout the entire project.
Solution Benefits & Functions
A‑Level certified IEC 61850 compliance
Data Collection and Supervision
Tailored solutions according to your needs
State-of-the-art IEC 61850 technology
Customized training & support
Remote maintenance/ testing
Reliable and efficient protection functions
Improved reliability & security
Automatic (busbar) line coloring
Simple connection between IED and substation HMI
PRP network redundancy
Simple device set-up/ deployment
Graphical visualization of measurements & data
Remote substation monitoring and control
Fault diagnostics
Simple retrofits
Full interoperability
Optimized efficiency and productivity
High-speed, intelligent interlocking with GOOSE
Local & global alarm generation
Minimize outages
Role-based access control
Complex logic schemes
High-precision timestamping and event recording
Fault location detection
Automatic switching sequences
No need for auxiliary relays and hardwired interfaces
PLC automation with IEC 611313
Engineering & maintenance cost reduction
iControl or 3rd party SCADA
Customized solution
Automatic interlocking supervision
Intelligent zoom on one-line diagram
Automatic data storage
Supervisory control
Reduced space for human error
Comissioning cost reduction
Reduced wiring
Our SAS Solutions
- Substation RTUs
- BCUs (Bay Controller Units)
- Substation Gateways
- Substation SCADAs
- Control Center SCADAs
- Remote & distributed I/Os
- IEDs/ Smart Relays by Thytronic
Sleep Peacefully with Expert Cyber Security
iGrid T&D enforces several layers of security measures guided by the propositions of the IEC 62351 standard to protect its devices from all kinds of threats.
Our hardened devices feature Role Based Access Control (RBAC) to avoid intrinsic risks such as security holes and unauthorized actions by authenticated users.
In addition to end-to-end encryptions via TSL/SSL, HTTPS, SSH and standard procedures for VPNs (e.g. OpenVPN), its communication can also be secured with network control methods such as firewalls, IP filters, ACL or TCP port blocks.

Hot-Standby Redundancy
All of our products can operate in hot-standby redundancy mode:
- Hot-standby server/device is updated continuously
- Clients and IEDs automatically switch to the hot-standby server
- Serial loop redundancy (hot standby gateway acts as a (virtual) serial port to arrive to disconnected devices)
iConf Tool
iConf has been specifically developed for electrical applications, saving you lots of time and money throughout the control system set-up and maintenance tasks, whilst also minimizing your project risks. You can use the software tool to configure all igrid devices and software systems as well as design IEC 61850 projects, to up and download your configurations, and create your own templates.
Full Independence for an Open Architecture
All iGrid products support several types of communication media, such as wireless (GPRS/ 3g, 4g), VSAT, analog radio, Ethernet or Serial, and can communicate with the entire iGrid T&D protocol suite. Thanks to our experiences with devices from almost all known vendors and our pledge for standard protocols, we can ensure the seamless integration of our products with any third party devices.
Related Projects
HV Substation Automation SCADA
HV Substation Automation SCADA
In this project iRTU units and iControl SCADA are used to automate a HV substation which supplies electrical energy several pumping stations at 20 KV. The project involved data collection from smart meters via Modbus RTU and protocol conversion from IEC 60870–104 to IEC 60870–101.
HV Substation Automation Products

iGW‑S Substation Gateway
Powerful and reliable substation gateway, able to run either in standalone or redundant modes, with an embedded Ethernet switch (4 ports) and IEC 61850 client and server capabilities.

iControl SCADA
High-performance SCADA for the visualization and control of substation data. It is able to run either in client/server or standalone modes, providing advanced functionalities such as hot-standby redundancy, automatic line coloring, events notification (via e‑mail and sms), SQL logging, and reports generation.

iRTU – With I/Os for Direct Data Acquisition
Compact and scalable bay controller which can act as IEC 61850 client or server, featuring configurable I/O boards for direct data acquisition, high-precision timestamping and an optional Ethernet switch for additional Ethernet ports.
iRTUe – Remote I/O Extensions
iGWs, iRTUs and third party master units can be freely extended by connecting one or several iRTUe.
They are IEC 61850 (GOOSE) compliant and come in many configurations such as 48 DI, 16 relays, 16 AI, 24 DI + 8 relays, 24 DI + 8 AI or 8 relays + 8 AI.
iGrid Solutions and Applications

Automation with IEC 61850
The IEC 61850 standard is enabling new oportunities for vendor interoperability and advanced substation automation. Find out how you can take advantage of IEC 61850 with easy-to-use and adaptable solutions for a simple migration or retrofit.

HV Substation Automation
Powerful substation automation systems often handle numerous communication protocols and media within one network, which can result in expensive and complex projects. Avoid these problems with interoperable technology and smart configuration tools.

MV Distribution Grid Automation
It is often difficult to find the exact solution you need in a MV application, leading to higher costs than necessary. With our scalable and adaptable solutions you will be able to only pay for what you really need, without comprimising on quality or security.

Photovoltaic Power Station
Using an open and scalable SCADA system to monitor and control a PV plant comes with many benefits on several levels. Find out how advanced communication technology affects PV operation, maintenance, system design, investment security, profits…
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