The Linux Foundation, through its initiative LF Energy, has announced the launch of SEAPATH 1.0, an open-source hypervisor designed for the automation of digital substations in accordance with the IEC 61850 standard. With this version, SEAPATH positions itself as an industrial solution that is secure, scalable, and real-time, enabling the virtualization of critical functions in electricity network management.
SEAPATH, which stands for Software Enabled Automation Platform and Artifacts (Therein), is part of the LF Energy Digital Substations Special Interest Group and has been developed to enhance the efficiency, interoperability, and cybersecurityCybersecurity solutions are essential in the digital age. of electrical infrastructure. Its adoption is key in the context of the energy transition, where electricity transmission and distribution networks must be modernized to adapt to more dynamic and decentralized flows.
A hypervisor designed for the needs of digital energy
The main focus of SEAPATH is the virtualization of applications known as VPAC (Virtualized Protection, Automation, and Control), providing a hardware and software-agnostic platform for implementing control systems in electrical substations. Its development has been driven by a diverse community of experts in embedded Linux, electrical engineering, IT, and cybersecurity, promoting convergence between operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT).
Key Features of SEAPATH 1.0
1. Open and Agnostic Architecture
- Hardware Independence: Compatible with x86 and ARM architectures, allowing installation on a wide variety of servers.
- Flexibility for Multiple Vendors: Ability to manage environments with heterogeneous virtual machines.
- Open Source: Licensed under Apache-2.0, facilitating adoption, customization, and integration into other projects.
- Integration with other LF Energy projects, such as CoMPAS, FledgePOWER, and OpenSCD, optimizing its implementation in digital substation automation systems.
2. Real-Time Performance and IEC 61850 Compliance
- Real-time execution capability, ensuring deterministic and high-performance operation.
- Support for time synchronization via NTP and PTP (IEEE 1588), essential for accuracy in electrical applications.
3. Resilience and Robustness for Critical Environments
- High availability and clustering, ensuring operational continuity in case of hardware or software failures.
- Distributed storage, replicating and synchronizing data from virtual machines to maintain their integrity.
- Automatic updates, allowing remote implementation of improvements without interrupting operations.
4. Automated Management and Infrastructure as Code
- Automated configuration through scripted tasks, reducing the margin for manual error.
- Remote and local management, with options to manage the system from anywhere on the network.
5. Security and Intensive Testing
- Continuous integration with over 700 daily tests, ensuring reliability in critical environments.
- Testing-based cybersecurity focus, ensuring that each requirement is validated with rigorous unit and latency tests.
SEAPATH in Action: Deployment in Digital Substations
The implementation of SEAPATH has already begun in testing and production environments. Companies such as GE Vernova, Alliander, ABB, Red Hat, and Enedis have evaluated its use in controlled environments, while RTE has already deployed SEAPATH in production with the support of Savoir-faire Linux.
In France, RTE has successfully operated its first digital substation based on SEAPATH for over a year, demonstrating that virtualization in the electricity industry is a viable reality. This experience has led the company to expand the use of SEAPATH to more installations, convinced that it is the best alternative for optimizing the management of Protection, Automation and Control Systems (PACS) in the electricity network.
From the industry, Welotec has also supported the project, highlighting that the digitalization of substations through open-source platforms like SEAPATH improves flexibility and reduces operational costs.
The Importance of Virtualization in the Energy Transition
The modernization of electrical substations through digitalization is a key factor in the energy transition. Current electrical networks must evolve to manage a greater number of decentralized generation sources, changes in energy flow patterns, and increased automation.
Alex Thornton, executive director of LF Energy, has pointed out that SEAPATH not only enables the addressing of these challenges but also provides a foundation for future innovations in the energy sector. The ability to manage substations in a virtualized manner increases flexibility, reduces costs, and improves the efficiency of the electricity grid.
A Growing Ecosystem and a Call to Collaboration
SEAPATH has been developed in collaboration with multiple stakeholders in the energy and technology sectors, including RTE, Alliander, GE Vernova, Savoir-faire Linux, Welotec, and Red Hat. The Technical Committee of SEAPATH, composed of experts from these organizations, ensures the evolution and maintenance of the project, guaranteeing its long-term stability.
Eloi Bail, chair of the SEAPATH Technical Committee, has emphasized the importance of open source in innovation and has invited more organizations to participate in the development of the project:
“With recent advances in AI and digitalization, it’s clear that open source is the key to accelerating innovation without increasing costs. SEAPATH is a clear example of how open collaboration can transform the energy industry.”
How to Join the SEAPATH Project
SEAPATH is designed to be adopted and extended by any organization interested in the digitalization of electrical infrastructure. Companies, institutions, and developers can participate in its evolution through various initiatives:
- Join the SEAPATH Technical Committee through its mailing list: SEAPATH-TSC
- Participate in the LF Energy community on Slack: LF Energy Slack
- Learn more about SEAPATH and its implementation in digital substations: SEAPATH at LF Energy
With SEAPATH 1.0, the digiitalization of electrical substations moves towards a future that is more secure, efficient, and adaptable to the challenges of the energy transition.