The energy transition is in full swing, with renewable energy sources being deployed at record rates. But the increased use of intermittent energy like wind and solar power brings new challenges—particularly the need for fast, reliable deployment of modern substations to keep clean energy flowing smoothly across the grid.
At the heart of today’s grid modernization efforts are digital substations, and Hitachi Energy is at the forefront with two key tools that make deployment and maintenance of these systems more efficient and secure: PCM600 and IET600. These tools have now made history by becoming the first to achieve IEC 61850 Edition 2.1 conformance certification, a significant achievement in substation automation technology.
1. What are PCM600 and IET600?
PCM600 is our configuration tool for protection and control devices (IEDs) and Process Interface Units (PIUs). It helps engineers manage and configure protection and control equipment quickly, securely, and efficiently.
IET600 is a vendor-agnostic IEC 61850 System Configuration Tool to define the data exchange between electronic devices in electrical substations.
In 2024, both PCM600 and IET600 passed rigorous conformance testing to become the first tools certified under the new IEC 61850 Edition 2.1 standard—a major milestone that demonstrates our leadership in developing cutting-edge substation technologies.
2. Why is IEC 61850 Edition 2.1 important?
IEC 61850 Edition 2.1 (formally known as Edition 2 Amendment 1) introduces several enhancements that are key to building high-quality, future-proof substation automation systems. Some of the major benefits this new edition brings include:
• Enhanced supervision of real-time GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Event) and Sampled Value messages for mission-critical operations.
• Seamless integration of devices from different standard editions into one unified, interoperable system.
• Strengthened cybersecurity features for secure communication of sensitive data.
The Relion series protection and control IEDs and PIUs complete our offering of IEC 61850 Edition 2.1 conformance certified devices and tools to build systems benefitting from latest standard enhancements.
A new era of interoperability
The certification of PCM600 and IET600 doesn’t just validate the tools themselves; it highlights their interoperability—the ability to exchange configuration files with tools from other vendors. This means that users can build systems that combine Hitachi Energy devices with products from other manufacturers, providing greater flexibility and choice for utilities, system integrators, and end-users.
Interoperability, enabled by the IEC 61850 standard, benefits the entire lifecycle of a substation—from initial engineering through commissioning, maintenance, and future upgrades. With PCM600 and IET600, these tasks become simpler, faster, and more efficient.
3. Streamlined engineering and maintenance
With its modern interface, PCM600 version 3.1 allows engineers to quickly configure key parameters and troubleshoot potential issues.
On the other hand, IET600 offers intuitive graphical interfaces to configure substation single-line diagrams and communication networks. In addition to handling IEC 61850 engineering tasks, IET600 also simplifies VLAN configuration, helping engineers manage traffic in complex substation setups. It even offers tools for configuring Hitachi Energy’s MicroSCADA SYS600 database and gateway.
ITT600 SA Explorer, the feature-rich IEC 61850 system testing tool, completes our IEC 61850 tool in supporting integrators and end-users to easily and efficiently test and maintain IEC 61850 substation automation systems.
4. A legacy of innovation
Hitachi Energy has long been a pioneer in substation automation. In fact, back in 2016, PCM600 and IET600 were the first tools to receive IEC 61850 conformance certification. Now, eight years later, they continue to set the standard, being the first to achieve Edition 2.1 certification. This underscores our commitment to continuous innovation and reliability in developing a portfolio of IEC 61850-compliant devices and tools.
The latest certification was awarded after thorough testing by DNV Netherlands B.V., conducted on behalf of the UCA International Users Group.
5. Ensuring cybersecurity in digital substations
As the grid becomes more digital, cybersecurity becomes an essential priority. With IEC 61850 Edition 2.1, PCM600 and IET600 take cybersecurity to the next level. The standard now covers cybersecurity measures much more comprehensively, enabling secure data exchange across a wide variety of devices and vendors. In an increasingly interconnected grid, this enhanced security is crucial for protecting sensitive substation communications.
6. A bright future for digital substations
As the energy industry continues to evolve, the need for seamless, interoperable communication is more important than ever. The IEC 61850 Edition 2.1 certification of PCM600 and IET600 cements Hitachi Energy’s role as a leader in developing the digital substation solutions needed to support the clean energy transition.
With these tools, our experts are helping utilities and system integrators create resilient, secure, and future-ready power systems—advancing a more sustainable energy future for all.