New update: IEC 61850-7-6 Edition 2.0

On December 6, 2024, the second edition of the IEC TR 61850-7-6 standard was published. This Technical Report focuses on the definition of application profiles and specifies a methodology for defining Basic Application Profiles (BAP), either in textual documents using office tools (Edition 1, 2019) or in a machine-processable SCL format (current edition).

What are BAPs and why are they important?

BAPs allow for the definition of specific subsets of the relevant features of the IEC 61850 standard, designed to be used as building blocks in substation specification. In this way, they optimize the interaction between protection and control functions that are common in substations.

By clearly defining the data model, communication services, and engineering conventions, BAPs ensure that device integration is scalable and interoperable, even when devices come from different manufacturers. These profiles aim to reduce complexity and facilitate interoperability within their specific scope during the engineering stages and throughout the substation's lifecycle.

What's new in Edition 2.0:

1. Methodology for creating BAPs in SCL: New objects have been introduced to describe BAPs in SCL, located in a specific namespace (IEC 61850-6-100), covering both the functional description (IEC TR 61850-90-30) and the application profile (IEC 61850-7-6).
2. Introduction of the .ASD file extension: To implement and support BAPs in SCL, the .ASD (Application Specification Description) file has been introduced. It serves as a specification template for a single elementary application. This .ASD file represents a conceptual description of an application, without being tied to a specific device, and can be instantiated in .SSD and .SCD files according to project needs.
3. New engineering tool: The creation of a BAP template will be carried out using an SCL engineering tool capable of creating application templates and, optionally, accessing a user-specific function library. The tool functions required for these actions are introduced under a new tool role, dedicated to the creation of user-specific profiles, called CDT (Concept Definition Tool).
4. New Annexes with Specific Use Cases: The new Annexes F and G list specific use cases for the new SCL objects related to BAPs and describe the functions that a CDT tool must fulfill.
5. File conformance requirements: Engineering tools can now verify the conformance of SCL files (ICD, SSD) with BAP templates (ASD). This includes the ability to identify differences between the BAP instantiation in SCL and the original template, thereby validating actual implementations against the designed profiles.
6. References between SCL BAP and non-SCL descriptions: Although performance requirements or conformance tests are not intended to be directly integrated into SCL files, new possibilities are opened by allowing references between BAPs in SCL and non-SCL descriptions in textual, graphical, or IEC 61131 formats.

Benefits for the electrical industry

1. Guaranteed interoperability: By standardizing application specifications, BAPs minimize the risks of incompatibilities between devices and systems.
2. Reduced complexity: By defining specific subsets, project implementation is simplified, lowering costs and configuration times.
3. Scalability and flexibility: BAPs adapt to different project contexts, enabling modular configurations and future expansions without complications.

If you're interested in implementing these improvements in your projects or need technical guidance on how to leverage the new features of the standard, contact us today. Our team of specialists is ready to support you in your projects. Don’t get left behind in the evolution of digital electrical substations!