LF Energy has released version 1.0 of LF Energy SEAPATH, an open source software hypervisor designed for IEC 61850 Digital Substation Automation Systems. Version 1.0 is the first fully production ready version of SEAPATH, merging the two prior branches of the software into one and providing support for multiple operating systems including Debian and Yocto.

SEAPATH is an ecosystem of open source digital substations technologies for both software and hardware to host and run vPAC (Virtualized Protection, Automation and Control) applications for the power grid industry. It is a collaborative project at the convergence of IT/OT, bringing together a diverse community of experts spanning embedded Linux, IT, DevOps, cybersecurity, and electrical engineering.

SEAPATH is a best-of-breed technology that combines mature, existing open source components to create a robust, hardware- and software-agnostic solution that meets deterministic performance expectations (real-time) of its use cases. The primary use case is to provide complex, dynamic, and adaptive automation functions at grid nodes and edge, as well as enhanced orchestration from central systems, in a flexible and scalable manner. It provides a virtualized environment for future-proof PACS (Protection, Automation and Control Systems) for primary and secondary substations.

The project has been developed according to cybersecurity best practices, and utilizes state-of-the-art continuous integration with over 700 daily tests to ensure, for example, that a virtual intelligence electronic device (vIED) meets the desired criteria in terms of latency, determinism, and robustness. It is viable in both critical and non-critical applications.

The primary contributing organizations to SEAPATH are RTE, Alliander, GE Vernova, Savoir-faire Linux, Welotec, and Red Hat. The Technical Steering Committee that oversees the governance of the project is made up of representatives of GE Vernova, RTE, Savoir-faire Linux, Schneider Electric, and Welotec. The mix of electrical utilities, vendors, service providers, and hardware providers contributing to the project ensures a reliable open source code base that is supported by a growing ecosystem of commercial and support offerings.

SEAPATH has already been deployed both in test environments by GE Vernova, Alliander, ABB, Red Hat, Enedis, and others, as well as in production by RTE with the support of Savoir-faire Linux. These deployments have provided tremendous value in terms of improved substation performance, and demonstrated the effectiveness and robustness of the solution. With the release of version 1.0, it is expected that more production deployments will occur in the near future.

“Digitalizing electrical substations is a key opportunity, and challenge, that will have an enormous impact on improving the efficiency of the grid, and is essential to achieving the objectives of the energy transition,” said LF Energy Executive Director Alex Thornton. “The SEAPATH community has built an incredible solution that not only addresses many of the challenges with substation virtualization, but provides a framework on which to build future innovations in this area.”