News ArchiveWhy It Is Important to Be Ready for Digitalization While Still Supporting Legacy TechnologyWhy It Is Important to Be Ready for Digitalization While Still Supporting Legacy Technology
Digitalization in substations is not a distant goal—it is a present-day necessity for utility operators aiming to enhance reliability, safety, and real-time responsiveness. As IEC 61850 adoption grows and redundant Ethernet architectures like PRP/HSR become standard, systems must be future-ready without sacrificing compatibility with existing infrastructures.
Discover how aligning your time distribution strategy with digitalization goals will help build resilient, scalable substations for the future—without leaving anyone behind.
A Brief History of Time Synchronization Standards in the Energy Sector
Time synchronization has always been important in the energy sector, ensuring coordinated protection, automation, and control. Older implementations relied on dedicated synchronization cabling such as IRIG B or PPS signals which provided sufficient accuracy for analog systems and early digital relays. Also, NTP were used for the synchronization of network components. However, the increasing integration of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), higher demands for precision, and the advent of the smart grid led to the need for more robust, precise, and scalable solutions.
IEC 61850, first published in 2003, brought a revolutionary change by introducing a standardized communication protocol for substation automation systems. Its enhancement with IEC 61850-9-3 in 2016 introduced the PTP power utility profile, supporting sub-microsecond time synchronization using Ethernet networks. With this, the focus shifted from external timing signals to Ethernet-based time distribution, a key enabler of digital substations.
The Benefits of Adopting New Standards — And the Risks of Delay
Adopting IEC 61850 and modern technologies like Precision Time Protocol (PTP) with PRP/HSR redundancy offers utilities a range of significant advantages. By enabling synchronization accuracy better than 100 nanoseconds, PTP drastically improves timing precision—an essential factor for the protection, automation, and control of digital substations.
In addition, PRP and HSR ensure redundancy and resilience by allowing seamless failover in the event of a network issue, thereby enhancing overall system availability. These technologies are also highly scalable, making it easier to deploy and manage time synchronization across large and complex substation architectures using standard Ethernet infrastructure.
However, delaying the adoption of these standards can lead to substantial risks. Utilities may face limited diagnostic capabilities and ongoing interoperability issues when integrating new components with outdated systems. Incompatibility with future upgrades can create long-term integration barriers, while continued reliance on obsolete protocols increases cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Furthermore, manual workarounds and fragmented systems often result in operational inefficiencies and higher chances of downtime—costing both time and resources.
Digitalization in substations: What the Industry Needs to Get Right
Despite the clear benefits, the transition to digital substations comes with its own set of challenges. Many substations still operate with a mix of infrastructure, where legacy equipment is unable to interface with modern protocols. This creates a need for solutions that can accommodate both old and new technologies simultaneously.
Additionally, utilities must ensure that time synchronization systems support seamless migration, minimizing the risk of downtime or operational disruption. The long lifecycle of installed assets—often exceeding 15 years—means that any new solution must be compatible and future-proof for the long term. Furthermore, compliance with evolving cybersecurity standards such as IEC 62443 is essential to protect critical infrastructure.
To address these challenges effectively, hybrid synchronization solutions eliminate the need for compromise and bridge the gap between legacy and modern protocols. These solutions must also provide redundant and secure time sources to enhance system reliability and include built-in diagnostic and probing functions to monitor synchronization quality continuously.
How the DTS 4163.grandmaster Bridges the Gap
The DTS 4163.grandmaster is engineered precisely for this hybrid era. As a PRTC-compliant PTP grandmaster with support for PRP and HSR, it delivers sub-100ns precision over Ethernet and full compatibility with IEC 61850-9-3 and C37.238 profiles. At the same time, it offers:
- Legacy outputs: IRIG-B (DCLS and AM), PPS, 10 MHz, DCF, and serial telegrams.
- Flexible input options: GNSS, PTP client and frequency-based sources.
- Form factor adaptability: Rack and DIN rail options for varied installation needs
This combination allows the DTS 4163.grandmaster to function as a reliable anchor point for both modern and legacy infrastructures, enabling a phased and non-disruptive digital transformation.
Digitalization is redefining the operational paradigm in substations and power utilities. While the transition brings undeniable advantages, it must be approached with care. Supporting legacy systems during the shift to IEC 61850 and Ethernet-based time distribution is not just practical—it is essential. The DTS 4163.grandmaster is a future-proof solution that enables utilities to embrace digitalization without abandoning reliability, precision, or existing investments.
Visit our website to learn more about the DTS 4163 or get in touch directly with us.
