Interoperability in Smart Grid using IEC 61850 standard: A power utility prospect

Interoperability is one of the important aspects to ensure the success of a Smart Grid implementation. Interoperability is defined as the ability of the devices and systems in a Smart Grid domain to be able to seamlessly communicate and exchange information with each other. As the public electric utility company in Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) believes that the interoperability of solutions from different vendors in Smart Grid domain using open standard is the way forward and has the promising potential to provide substantial cost savings in the near future. TNB has identified the IEC 61850 standard as the key enabler standard for this purpose and has included the standard as a part of the long term technology implementation plan under the TNB Technology Road Map (TRM). To ensure the successful implementation of IEC 61850 standard in a Smart Grid domain, TNB has embarked in several initiatives, such as the development of an IEC 61850 laboratory, new product acceptance process for IEC 61850 devices and in-house software applications for IEC 61850 substations. This paper will discuss TNB's expectation on IEC 61850 interoperability and highlights the findings which were observed during the execution of the initiatives above.