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Our Training Tiers

Our IEC 61850 training is interactive and takes an iterative approach, with each Tier building upon the previous one. We remove the complexity of IEC 61850 and present the information in a concise manner from the perspectives of users, asset owners and system integrators, which allows the material to be easily understood. We utilize visualizations and analogies that help in articulating the concepts of IEC 61850, without getting lost in the weeds.

TIER I

Fundamentals & Principles of IEC 61850

3
24
  • Background Information & Basic Concepts
  • Data Models
  • Communication Services (GOOSE, Sampled Values, MMS)
  • Specification and Engineering Processes
  • Network Architecture & Time Synchronization
  • Testing & Commissioning Principles

The objective of this training course is to gain a fundamental understanding of IEC 61850 so users are comfortable with the concepts of the standard. This course consists of 3 days of classroom sessions, which cover IEC 61850 theoretical information in a direct manner that is easily understood, regardless of the participants prior IEC 61850 knowledge or experience.

Tier I provides the underlying frameworks including the data modelling, communications, testing and networking aspects in preparation for Tier II and Tier III, which bring these concepts into practice.

TIER II

Advanced IEC 61850 Training with Hands-on Digital Substation Workshop

3
10
14
  • Advanced aspects of IEC 61850, including Sampled Values, GOOSE, MMS and Testing / Commissioning
  • Sampled Values Hands-On Workshop
  • GOOSE Hands-On Workshop
  • MMS Hands-On Workshop (Data Model, Reporting, Control Models)

The objective of this 3-day course to build on the fundamentals covered in Tier I and for participants to gain configuration experience in IEC 61850’s key mechanisms. Classroom sessions cover advanced theoretical aspects and participants configure a range of IEDs from major vendors in our Mobile Digital Substation in the hands-on workshops. These workshops include configuration and testing of Sampled Values, GOOSE and MMS communications.

Tier II covers the bottom-up configuration of these IEC 61850 IEDs, including process bus, and is a pre-cursor to Tier III training.

TIER I & II

Fundamentals & Principles of IEC 61850 + Advanced IEC 61850 Training with Hands-on Digital Substation Workshop

5
24
16
  • Background Information & Basic Concepts
  • Data Models
  • Communication Services (GOOSE, Sampled Values, MMS)
  • Specification and Engineering Processes
  • Network Architecture & Time Synchronization
  • Advanced aspects of IEC 61850
  • Sampled Values Hands-On Workshop
  • GOOSE Hands-On Workshop
  • MMS Hands-On Workshop (Data Model, Reporting, Control Models)
  • Testing & Commissioning

Most Popular & Best Value!

This 5-day training course covers everything in the Tier I and Tier II training, including classroom and hands-on workshop sessions. The Sampled Values, GOOSE and MMS workshops are completed by participants after the corresponding classroom sessions each day. In these workshop sessions, participants configure real IEDs, including process bus, from a wide range of major vendors in our Mobile Digital Substation.

TIER I & II

Introduction to vPAC system with hardware in loop testing with Real Time Simulators + Advanced Hands-on training on Visualized Protection and Control System

New Program

2
10
6
  • Introduction to vPAC Fundamentals and Principles
  • Overview of Centralized vs. Virtualization Environments for Protection, Control, and Substation Automation
  • Exploring vPAC Architecture
  • Introduction to the vPAC Alliance and Industry Collaboration (https://vpacalliance.com/)
  • Testing and Simulation with vPAC Using IEDScout and Test Sets
  • Refresher on IEC 61850 Standards and IEEE 1588 PTP Protocol
  • Fundamentals of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Testing using real time simulations
  • Real-Time Modeling for Digital Substation Simulations
  • Developing and Executing Real-Time Simulation Test Scripts

Supported Vendors:

  • Virtualization Servers: Advantech, DELL, Crystal
  • Real time simulators: RTDS, GTNET, Typhoon
  • Protection & Control: ABB SSC600
  • PTP Clock: Microchip GridTime 3000
  • Network Analyzer: Allegro

This course provides participants with a detailed understanding and practical skills in Virtual Protection and Control (vPAC) systems and advanced digital substation technologies. It covers the principles, benefits, and architecture of both centralized and virtualized protection systems. Participants will also learn about the transition to virtualization in substation environments. The course introduces the vPAC Alliance and emphasizes industry collaboration.

Hands-on sessions will focus on testing and simulating vPAC functionalities using tools like IEDScout and test sets. Participants will explore vPAC server solutions from Advantech, Dell, and Crystal, along with the ABB SSC600 platform for protection and control. These sessions will help them validate and simulate real-world applications while distinguishing between centralized and virtualized protection approaches.

The course also covers advanced techniques essential for digital substation automation. It includes a refresher on IEC 61850 standards and IEEE 1588 PTP protocol to strengthen key concepts. Participants will learn hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) fundamentals and use devices like RTDS, GTNET, and Typhoon to integrate real hardware into simulation environments. Practical sessions will include real-time simulation modeling and the application of Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for accurate time synchronization. Additionally, the course teaches the development and execution of test scripts, with hands-on use of the Allegro network multimeter tool for diagnostic capabilities.

TIER III

IEC 61850 Project Realization Including the Specification, Design, and Testing Aspects

3
6
18
  • Specification Process using Helinks STS system configuration tool
  • Design & Configuration Process, including communications configuration using Helinks STS and various IED configuration tools
  • Testing & Commissioning Process using contemporary IEC 61850 tools

The objective of this 3-day course is for participants to complete the full specification, design, configuration and testing of a demo IEC 61850 project, which allows participants to gain an insight into every aspect of an IEC 61850 implementation. This course builds on the content and experiences in Tier I and Tier II, preparing attendees for their participation in the end-to-end implementation of digital substations (specification, design and configuration, commissioning, testing).

During the course participants gain experience in studying IEC 61850 technical specifications on IEDs (PICS, MICS, TICS, PIXIT) to understand limits, which could be imposed in real applications. They implement specific protection and control functions (eg. breaker failure, reverse interlocking, bus transfer scheme, switchgear interlocking, etc.) and integrate IEDs in process control system using IEC 61850 services.

Targeting Technicians & Operators

Testing & Troubleshooting | Hands-On | 3-Day Training

New Program

3
12
12
  • Focused on testing and troubleshooting techniques
  • Understanding fundamentals of IEC 61850’s test and simulation modes using laymen’s terminology
  • Gaining familiarity with new “testing tools” such as network analyzers, network taps, etc.
  • Systematic approach to isolating issues to either MMS, GOOSE, SV, PTP, networking configurations, and/or wiring

Testing & Troubleshooting IEC 61850

Just as physical power systems require proficiency with a multimeter to troubleshoot problems, digital power systems require proficiency with software tools. This course strives to equip those who work in the field to become comfortable with the means and methods to better identify the “where” of a problem.

As a contrast to our other courses that place a heavy focus on the vendor’s devices configuring a digital substation, this course prioritizes skills necessary to isolate problems that may arise when deploying IEC 61850 based substations. The hands-on training workshops reinforce key concepts in the standard by highlighting symptoms and having the participants investigate using software tools to provide the context.

Our Add-on Modules

Our IEC 61850 Tier I, Tier II and Tier III training can be extended with add-on modules, which cover more detail and additional topics. Contact us if you are interested in course add-on modules.

Add-on Module

DNP3 Basics

1
8
  • Background Information & Basic Concepts
  • Protocol Applications and Usage
  • Message Structure, Services and Data Objects
  • Conformance Subsets
  • Cyber-Security Mechanisms
  • Configuration File Format
  • IEEE Std 1815.1 Mapping

Participants will learn the fundamentals of the most widely-used utility communications protocol in North America, including its message structure, services, data objects, conformance subsets, options, cyber-security mechanisms, configuration file format, and an overview of the IEEE Std 1815.1 mapping between DNP3 and IEC 61850.

Add-on Module

Cyber Security

0.5
4
  • Security Tutorial
  • Protocol Descriptions
  • Security Applications
  • DNP3 Secure Authentication (DNP3-SA)

This course provides an overview of applying cyber-security in the power industry through a description of the security addition to DNP3, including its capabilities, requirements, options, test procedures and compliance. Concepts explained include authentication, authorization, encryption, layers, role-based access, message integrity, and certificates.

Add-on Module

DA/DER

1
8
  • Smart Grid Use Case Analysis via Standardized Methodologies & Templates
  • Smart grid requirements and conceptual models
  • Smart grid use case methodology
  • Technical and functional requirement definition
  • Real-world smart grid use case examples

Participants will learn the opportunities in applying today’s technologies to the distribution network through Distribution Automation (DA) and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). Discusses a wide range of applications from traditional Volt-VAR and remote switching up to self-healing, renewables firming, and microgrids. Covers the IEEE Std 1547 and its mapping to DNP3.

Add-on Module

IEC 61850 Specification Workshop

3
24
  • Combination of training and consulting services
  • Develop an initial draft of the user’s IEC 61850 system specification
  • Generate templates using HELINKS system specification tool (SST)
  • Modelling of GOOSE/SV/MMS applications
  • Break-out sessions covering the principles of the IEC 61850 system specification process

The IEC 61850 Specification Workshop is a combination of training and consulting services, with the objective to develop an initial draft of the user’s IEC 61850 system specification, including the SSD file and associated bay templates using the HELINKS system specification tool (SST) functionality. This workshop includes the modelling and templating of the various PAC schemes, including the GOOSE/SV/MMS applications. The goal is to produce an IEC 61850 system specification that is “ready” for refinement and eventually deployment as part of the user’s top-down process.

While developing the system specification, we have break-out sessions to teach/remind participants of the principles behind the top-down process and the functional naming methods that HELINKS implements to create the customized IEC 61850 system specification and associated bay templates. In terms of the process development, this workshop facilitates/moderates these break-out sessions so users can start defining a customized top-down specification and engineering process. At the completion of this workshop, attendees will be prepared to commence the top-down IEC 61850 specification and engineering process using the vendor-agnostic HELINKS templates. Further, the users will have a better understanding of the top-down process so appropriate workflow processes can be developed to support this. After the completion of the course, the attendees will be given an “IEC 61850 Specification Checklist” that can be used as a reminder when deploying IEC 61850 based systems.

Add-on Module

Ethernet Networking & Time Synchronization

New Program

1
5
3
  • Introduction to Ethernet communications
  • Communication redundancy using PRP/HSR/RSTP
  • Network architecture, reliability, maintainability and scalability
  • Process & station network bandwidth calculations
  • VLAN and multicast MAC filtering
  • Time synchronization with PTP (IEEE 1588 / IEC 61588) and profiles
  • Time synchronization architectures

This course aims to provide a deeper level of understanding of Ethernet networking and Ethernet-based time synchronization via PTP for participants already familiar with IEC 61850-based systems. Participants will learn about the relevant redundancy and traffic management concepts, configure substation-class Ethernet switches and clocks, and then observe the behavior of IEC 61850 IEDs.

Discover the best training options for you.

Hands-on training allows your team to work with the real devices in our Mobile Digital Substation. Public training is open to everyone, while private would only include your team. Local training is done on-site and in person, while virtual training would be held online.

We are happy to provide personalized training recommendations and a quote.
Please enter your email and you will receive a customized PDF training proposal.

If you would like to get started or inquire about a more customized training plan that fits your needs:
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Custom Training

Our standard training courses and add-on modules are targeted towards utilities, integrators, EPC firms, consultants, manufacturers, and standards development organizations. All our courses are tailored to the specific audience. This includes targeting the classroom and hands-on sessions according to the specific goals and experience level of the participants. If the standard courses and add-one modules do not meet your unique requirements, we can provide a quotation for customized training covering any topics related to IEC 61850, Digital Substations, Testing and Commissioning, Grid Modernization, Distribution Automation (DA), Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and Cyber Security.

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