Conference Tutorials

Tutorial 1

Title: IEC 61850 Process Bus: From Sensors to System Testing

Day: Tuesday, November 10

Time: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Format: Lecture & Live Demonstration

Presenters:

• Stéphan Picard, Senior Engineer Digital Power Systems, BBA
• Pascal Francis-Mezger, Application Engineer, OMICRON

Description

This tutorial provides a structured, end-to-end introduction to IEC 61850 process bus architectures. The focus is on measurement acquisition, data transport, integration, and testing considerations in a multi-vendor environment.

Building on this foundation, the tutorial introduces the merging unit (MU), with an overview of how analog signals are digitized, time-aligned, and published as IEC 61850 Sampled Values (SV) on the substation network. Emphasis is placed on data generation, enabling a clear understanding of how measurement information is communicated.

To ensure deterministic and resilient data delivery, the tutorial covers the communication infrastructure supporting the process bus. This includes network redundancy using PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol), with attention to architecture and failure scenarios, as well as time synchronization using IEEE 1588 PTP, highlighting accuracy requirements and typical substation time distribution schemes.

Who Should Attend

This tutorial is ideal for substation automation, protection, control, and communications professionals who need a practical understanding of IEC 61850 process bus systems, particularly in multi-vendor and interoperability environments. It is also relevant for vendor application and support engineers involved in the design, integration, commissioning, or testing of digital substations.

Topics Include

• Process-bus overview (System-Level View)
• Measurement Layer (Digital Sensors)
• Merging Unit: Data Acquisition and Publishing
• Sampled Values: Data Transport Mechanism
• OMICRON DANEO to analyze SV streams
• Multi-vendor Integration and Interoperability
• Communication Infrastructure (PRP)
• Time Synchronization (PTP)
• End-to-End Data Flow Validation and Comparison
• OMICRON CMC 500 for closed-loop testing

Tutorial 2

Title: Configuration and System-Based Testing of Centralized Protection and Control

Day: Wednesday, November 11

Time: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Format: Lecture & Live Demonstration

Presenters:

• Kohl Stammers, OMICRON
• Weiduo “Winnie” Yuan, Siemens

Description

OMICRON and Siemens co-host this tutorial on the configuration and system-based testing of a centralized protection and control device. The tutorial will focus on configuring a single device to perform multiple coordinated functions, including transformer differential, busbar differential, centralized line differential, and feeder protection.

After a brief introduction to centralized protection architecture, the tutorial will examine the configuration workflow, including measurement assignments, protection zones, breaker information, and trip logic. A live demonstration will then show how the complete protection scheme can be validated using a system-based testing approach. Rather than testing individual protection elements independently, test quantities will be derived from a power-system model to evaluate coordinated performance under realistic fault conditions.

The test setup will produce mixed measurement outputs, including conventional CT/VT signals, IEC 61850 Sampled Values, and LPIT-based measurements. This hybrid arrangement reflects the architectures utilities may encounter when modernizing existing substations or transitioning toward fully digital systems.

Who Should Attend

This tutorial is ideal for protection, control, substation automation, and commissioning professionals involved in the design, configuration, testing, or modernization of protection systems. It is particularly relevant for engineers working with centralized protection architectures, IEC 61850-based systems, hybrid substations, and utilities transitioning from conventional to fully digital protection and control environments.

Topics include

• Introduction to centralized protection and control architecture
• Configuration of transformer, busbar, line, and feeder protection
• Assignment of measurements, protection zones, and trip logic
• System-based testing using a power-system model
• Mixed conventional CT/VT, Sampled Values, and LPIT measurements
• Validation of selectivity and coordinated protection performance
• Test mode and simulation workflows
• Live demonstration and Q&A

Tutorial 3

Title: NERC CIP-015-1: Internal Network Security Monitoring for Digital Substations

Day: Thursday, November 12

Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Format: Lecture & Instructor Demonstration Labs

Presenter:

• Steel McCreery, OMICRON Electronics Canada

Description

Traditional perimeter security is no longer sufficient to detect sophisticated cyber threats operating within trusted Operational Technology (OT) networks. NERC CIP-015-1 introduces new requirements for Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM), requiring utilities to detect anomalous activity inside the Electronic Security Perimeter.

This 1.5-hour tutorial provides a practical understanding of the technical and operational requirements of CIP-015-1 and a demonstration of OMICRON’s StationGuard and GridOps INSM solution for the IEC 61850 Digital Substation.

Who Should Attend

This tutorial is ideal for cybersecurity professionals and protection, control, and telecommunications engineers involved in the design and/or deployment of IEC 61850 digital substation systems who need an overview of how to comply with CIP-015-1.

Topics Include

• Overview of NERC CIP-015-1 requirements and implementation timeline
• Detecting anomalous network activity
• Selecting strategic monitoring locations within the substation architecture
• Event correlation, alerting, evidence retention, and incident response considerations
• Demonstration of passive network monitoring and anomaly detection using real IEC 61850 network traffic

Presentations

From Complexity to Consistency: Reframing Fault Response Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources

• Bogdan Kasztenny, SEL

Differential Protection of a 315 kV Underground Cable Section Using an OCT Merging Unit: Interoperable Architecture and Test Program

• Bénédict Mercier, Hydro-Québec

Generator Protection System Commissioning Experiences

• Joshua Hughes, Qualus

Translating from Telecom PTP Profile to Power PTP Profile for GNSS-Backup

• Tahmina Roque, Meinberg
• Doug Arnold, Meinberg

Line Differential: Advantages and Challenges

• Abdellah Benmissoum, Brosz Engineering

Case Study: ATCO OMRH P&C Panel and Protection Refurbishment

• Omar Idrees, ANDRITZ Canada Inc.

High-Density Coordination (HDC) at Toronto Hydro and Field Validation Test of Recloser Controller

• Amy Sinclair, SEL / Ravinder Sawhney, Toronto Hydro

Europe at a Turning Point: Navigating the New Realities of the Electricity System - Current challenges experienced in Europe, particularly in Belgium and Germany.

• Olivier Feix, Elia Group / 50Hertz

The Swing of Things - Strategies for NERC PRC-026 Compliance

• Dave Hesch, Hydro One Networks / Daniyal Qureshi, Hydro One Networks

Welcome Reception

Where: Sportsnet Grill - located inside the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel, with views into Rogers Centre

When: November 10, 2026

Time: 5-7 pm

Networking Reception

Where: Northern Lights Ballroom, same Event Venue, the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel

When: November 11, 2026

Time: 5:30-7:30 pm

Our Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Subscribe now for notifications to stay up to date with the event!