Developer Builds Python-Based IEC 61850 GOOSE Substation Protection Simulator

A power engineering graduate has built an end-to-end Python pipeline simulating IEC 61850's GOOSE protocol, which allows substation protection devices to communicate over a network instead of traditional hardwired connections. The project comprises three components: a publisher-subscriber relay-breaker pair exchanging GOOSE trip messages, fault simulation logic using pandapower that automatically triggers trip signals when fault current exceeds a threshold, and a live Streamlit monitoring dashboard displaying relay status, event logs, and fault graphs. GOOSE messaging in real IEC 61850 networks operates in under 4 milliseconds, making it suited for time-critical protection events. The developer noted that simulating fault currents before triggering protection logic provided practical insight into relay coordination that textbooks alone cannot convey. As power grids increasingly integrate renewables and automation, IEC 61850-based protection systems are becoming industry standard, making hands-on experience with the protocol increasingly valuable.