Conprove presented technical paper on Process Bus at the XXVIII SNPTEE in Recife

Conprove participated in the XXVIII National Seminar on Electric Power Generation and Transmission (SNPTEE), held in Recife (PE), one of Brazil’s most important power sector events. The company presented the technical paper “Recommendations for Implementing the Process Bus in Digital Substations in Light of CIGRE WG B5.69,” one of three papers approved by Conprove for the seminar.

The study analyzed the guidelines from CIGRE Working Group WG B5.69, which addressed best practices and technical recommendations for implementing the Process Bus in IEC 61850–based digital substations—a technology essential for modernization, interoperability, and efficiency of electrical systems.

The Process Bus is one of the pillars of electrical substation digitalization, replacing conventional physical connections with digital links that enable real-time transmission of measurement and control signals through Sampled Values (SV) and GOOSE messages.

This technological evolution delivered benefits such as reduced cabling costs, improved operational efficiency, and multi-vendor equipment integration. However, the paper also highlighted significant implementation challenges, including interoperability, cybersecurity, upfront costs, and time synchronization—especially under adverse network conditions.

The paper aimed to discuss practical and strategic recommendations for Process Bus adoption based on WG B5.69 guidelines, and to propose technical and methodological approaches that could guide utilities, manufacturers, and integrators in implementing safe, efficient, and standardized solutions.

Among the key topics covered:

• Economic analysis and Process Bus implementation costs
• Redundant network strategies to increase reliability
• Time synchronization via PTP (Precision Time Protocol)
• Cybersecurity for critical digital environments
• Interoperability among multi-vendor IEDs
• Testing and commissioning strategies, covering FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) and SAT (Site Acceptance Test)
• Technical training and asset management—critical success factors for digitalization

Process Bus adoption offered significant gains for the power sector, including:

• Reduced costs for physical infrastructure
• Greater efficiency and speed in information exchange
• Integration with emerging technologies and new equipment
• More secure and flexible real-time operation

However, the paper emphasized that technical and operational challenges—such as ensuring time synchronization, communication reliability, and cybersecurity—must be rigorously addressed during design, commissioning, and maintenance phases.

Conprove, a reference in testing and diagnostics for electrical systems and digital substations, offered complete solutions for monitoring, validation, and testing of IEC 61850 networks, fully meeting CIGRE technical recommendations and ONS requirements.

Among the solutions presented during the event:

🔗 CE‑RNET4 – Rack Tester

CE – RNET4

🔗 CE‑MNET4 – Compact Tester

CE – MNET4

These tools enabled validation, supervision, and continuous analysis of IEC 61850 network traffic, ensuring compliance, reliability, and security in Process Bus environments.

Conprove invited all power sector professionals and representatives to visit Stand 52 at SNPTEE 2025. The team was available to present the latest solutions in testing, diagnostics, and automation, strengthening technological evolution and interoperability of electrical systems in Brazil and worldwide.

The paper reinforced Conprove’s commitment to innovation, standardization, and technical advancement in the power sector, establishing the company as a leading reference in the practical implementation of CIGRE international recommendations and the IEC 61850 standard.