APPLICATION OF OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE FOR ENGINEERING AND TESTING OF IEC 61850 SYSTEMS IN POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

Modern relay protection and control systems in power utility objects represent complex software and hardware systems specialized for real-time operation. They are characterized by the integration of a large number of communication protocols and devices, with a predominant application of concepts defined by the IEC 61850 standard series, serving as the foundation for building a global Smart Grid. Throughout all phases of the development and integration of such systems, engineers face the complexity of implemented technologies and a multidisciplinary approach. Therefore, it is essential to facilitate their work, whether it involves engineering, testing during construction (FAT and SAT), or maintenance. There are specialized tools available on the market that can significantly assist, but they are often expensive and narrowly focused. An alternative solution is the development of custom software tools that automate engineering processes and streamline workflow. Since IEC 61850 system resources are fundamentally designed for machine processing, their interpretation is not straightforward for manual analysis. As a result, scripts and helper software tools can facilitate data analysis, visualization, and the identification of key information within large datasets, optimizing and accelerating engineering tasks. The rapid advancement of high-level programming languages and open-source software libraries in recent years has enabled the swift and efficient development of tailored tools for engineers. This paper analyzes available open-source libraries, showcases their applications, and discusses their benefits, as well as potential risks and limitations that such solutions may impose.