IEC 61850-6:2009

Overview

IEC 61850-6:2009 defines a standardized configuration description language (commonly called SCL - Substation Configuration Language) for exchanging communication-related configuration data in electrical substations. The standard specifies an XML-based file format to describe IED (Intelligent Electronic Device) capability descriptions, IED instance parameters, communication system configurations, switchyard/function structures, and the relations between these elements. Its main purpose is vendor-neutral data exchange between IED engineering tools and system engineering tools to ensure interoperability across manufacturers - a core building block for substation automation and the Smart Grid.

Key topics and requirements

• SCL object model: standardized representation of the substation, product (IED) model, and communication system model to enable consistent data exchange.
• File types and XML schema: defines SCL file types (ICD, SCD variants) and normative XML schema for machine-readable configuration files.
• Engineering process support: mechanisms for configuration data exchange between IED configurators and system configurators, handling of IED modifications and project transfers.
• Communication and data modeling: support for communication endpoints, access points, control blocks (reports, GOOSE, sampled values), redundancy and data flow modeling.
• Data type templates: standardized templates for logical node types, data objects and data attributes to harmonize semantics.
• Security and access: schema elements for authentication and server/access-point definitions (as part of communication section).
• Conformance and tooling: includes an SCL Implementation Conformance Statement (SICS) to help test and certify tool compliance.
• Evolution and clarifications: this edition adds functional and engineering-process extensions aligned with IEC 61850‑7‑2 and IEC 61850‑7‑3 and includes clarifications and corrections.

Applications

• Exchange of IED capability descriptions between vendor tools and system integrators.
• Creation and distribution of system configuration descriptions for substation automation (SA) projects.
• Automated generation of device configuration files, commissioning workflows, and interoperability tests.
• Modeling of switchyard/function structures, communication topology and data flows for protection, control and monitoring systems.
• Enabler for Smart Grid projects requiring multi-vendor integration and lifecycle engineering.

Who uses this standard

• Utility protection and control engineers
• IED manufacturers and OEMs
• System integrators and substation automation vendors
• Tool vendors (IED configurators, system configurators)
• Commissioning and testing teams working on Smart Grid and substation automation deployments

Related standards

• IEC 61850 family (overall substation communication model)
• IEC 61850‑7‑2 and IEC 61850‑7‑3 (logical node and naming semantics) - functional extensions in IEC 61850‑6 align with changes in these parts.

Keywords: IEC 61850-6, SCL, Substation Configuration Language, IED configuration, XML schema, substation automation, Smart Grid, interoperability, engineering tools.