IEC 61850 and Relay Tester: Differences in Implementation in USA, China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand

IEC 61850 is a communication standard for power utility automation systems developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This standard defines the communication protocol for the exchange of information between devices used in substation automation systems. IEC 61850 simplifies substation design, reduces wiring, and improves system reliability.

The adoption of IEC 61850 has had positive effects on power systems around the world, including improved efficiency, enhanced data sharing, and increased system automation. Different countries have adopted IEC 61850 at varying speeds and have different approaches to implementing the standard, leading to some differences in their use of IEC 61850 in their power systems. Here are five main differences:

1. The use of relay testers: Relay testers are commonly used in China and Japan to test the functionality of relays and other protection devices. Relay testing is less common in the USA, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.

2. Implementation of IEC 61850 in legacy systems: In the USA, many power utilities are still using older SCADA systems and may only partly implement IEC 61850. In China and South Korea, there has been much investment in new substation automation systems with full implementation of IEC 61850.

3. Availability of technical expertise: Countries with more technical experts in IEC 61850, such as Japan, have been able to implement the standard faster and more effectively than countries with fewer experts.

4. Degree of standardization: Some countries, such as Japan, have developed their own interpretation of IEC 61850 and have modified the standard accordingly, while in other countries the standard is implemented as-is.

5. Degree of investment: Some countries, such as China, have invested heavily in IEC 61850, with a strong focus on increasing automation and improving system reliability, while other countries have been slower to invest in the standard.

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