Abstract—Technological evolution in the field of electrical substation automation has driven the development of increasingly robust communication protocols aimed at the monitoring, control, and efficient operation of devices in critical environments. In this context, the incorporation of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), advanced digitalization, high-precision synchronization systems, and adaptive cybersecurity approaches has reinforced the need to ensure interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers and to reduce dependence on proprietary solutions. This article presents an analysis of the primary research trends related to communication protocols used in electrical substation automation. Using an approach that combines bibliometric tools and a scoping review, the Modbus, DNP3, IEC 60870 protocols, and, notably, the IEC 61850 standard proposed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) are examined. The latter, with its object-oriented architecture and support for protocols such as Generic Object-Oriented Substation Events (GOOSE), Sampled Values (SV), and Manufacturing Message Specification (MMS), has transformed the way Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) communicate in modern power systems, enabling applications such as real-time protection, distributed control, and microgrid integration. The results provide an updated overview of technological developments in this area, highlighting both the benefits of standardization and digitalization, as well as the challenges associated with scalability, cybersecurity, and integration with smart grids. Finally, the advantages and limitations of the protocols, research trends focused on convergence with IoT, and the role of simulators as key tools for training, design, and validation of solutions based on the IEC 61850 standard are highlighted.

 

Keywords—communication protocols, electrical substations, IEC 61850, simulation tools, substation automation


Cite: Diego Giral-Ramírez, Luis Noguera-Vega, and Fernando Martínez-Santa, “Analysis of Communication Protocols in Electrical Substations: Trends, Standards, and Simulation Tools with an Emphasis on IEC 61850," Journal of Communications, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 70-88, 2026.

Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).