New Control Platform Based on IEC 61850-3 with the EA 2000 Controller
With PLCnext Technology, Phoenix Contact positions itself as a provider of a uniform, secure, and future-proof platform that merges automation and telecontrol technology, supporting the digitalization and transformation of critical infrastructures.
In automation and control technology, there are clear differences between PLC systems and telecontrol units: while PLCs are primarily used for local, real-time control tasks with deterministic behavior and very short cycle times, telecontrol systems serve to monitor and control spatially distributed systems over WAN-based communication structures with higher latency. Accordingly, requirements differ: PLCs focus on process reliability, whereas telecontrol technology focuses on availability, transmission security, encryption, and redundancy.
Phoenix Contact addresses these previously separate worlds with PLCnext Technology through an integrated platform that combines PLC and telecontrol functionalities on a single hardware basis. Through an open, app-based architecture, the controller can be flexibly expanded with industry-specific telecontrol protocols such as IEC 60870-5-101/104, IEC 61850, and DNP3. This ensures that regional and normative requirements of the energy and infrastructure sectors are fully covered.
A central use case is the integration of renewable energies. PLCnext enables the combination of local plant control and direct connection to grid control systems. This allows requirements such as feed-in management, remote controllability, and grid stability to be implemented efficiently and in a future-proof manner.
In the field of cybersecurity, Phoenix Contact meets the highest international standards. The PLCnext Controller is certified according to IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2 and implements multi-level security mechanisms: system protection, encrypted communication (TLS according to IEC 62351), and role-based access control. The telecontrol protocols are also certified accordingly, creating a consistently secure overall system.
The combination of an open platform, certified security, and modular expandability enables the economical modernization of existing plants and flexible adaptation to future requirements, particularly in critical infrastructures and smart grid applications.
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