COPA-DATA will put software-defined grid automation in the spotlight at CIGRE Paris Session 2026, where the company plans to show how vendor-independent tools can help utilities modernize adoptiong substation automation with advance cybersecurity and move toward software-defined power systems.
As utilities step up investment in grid modernization, renewable integration and digital infrastructure, software is rapidly becoming a core enabler of the energy transition.
At this year’s CIGRE Paris Session, running from August 23 to 28 at the Palais des Congrès, COPA-DATA will demonstrate how its zenon software platform helps transmission and distribution operators modernize grid operations with more flexibility, interoperability and long?term independence.
The power sector is in the middle of a historic transformation. Aging infrastructure, rising electricity demand, large-scale renewables, stricter cybersecurity rules and growing talent shortages are forcing utilities to rethink how they design, operate and maintain their networks.
COPA-DATA argues that the answer lies in software-defined automation. By decoupling automation software from proprietary hardware, utilities can modernize substations step by step, standardize engineering across mixed-vendor fleets and prepare for future operating requirements without ripping out existing investments.
At the COPA-DATA booth, visitors will be able to see the software behind modern substations in action. Demonstrations of the zenon platform will cover every stage of substation modernization, from legacy environments to fully digital and virtualized architectures.
Highlights include:
- Substation automation with vendor-independent HMI, SCADA and gateway functionality for IEC 61850-based digital substations
- Top-down engineering using the new IEC 61850 Configurator in zenon 16
- Software-defined and virtualized architectures, including concepts for virtual Protection, Automation and Control (vPAC), virtual HMIs and virtual RTUs
- Grid operation and control through integrated Distribution Management System (DMS) capabilities for multi-site substations and renewable asset management
- Cybersecurity-ready automation, helping utilities comply with evolving rules such as NIS2, CRA, IEC 62443, IEC 62351 and NERC CIP
- IIoT services and operational intelligence, including MQTT connectivity, device management, dashboards and fleet-wide reporting
A central theme at the stand will be modernization without vendor lock-in. Many utilities operate substations built over decades with equipment from multiple vendors and technology generations, making upgrade projects complex and costly.
COPA-DATA’s approach focuses on software-enabled operations rather than stretching proprietary hardware lifecycles.
As a vendor-independent platform, zenon allows utilities to integrate legacy assets alongside modern IEC 61850 systems, standardize engineering workflows, introduce virtualization where it makes sense and retain the freedom to choose the hardware that fits their operational needs.
The platform supports deployment across Windows, Linux, virtualized setups and containerized environments, giving operators scope to evolve their automation architecture as technology and regulatory demands change. That flexibility is aimed at utilities that need to balance reliability, security and innovation in increasingly dynamic grids.
Throughout CIGRE 2026, COPA-DATA’s energy automation specialists will be on hand to discuss practical strategies for:
- Modernizing existing substation fleets
- Implementing IEC 61850-based digital substations
- Introducing software-defined automation and virtualization
- Standardizing engineering across heterogeneous infrastructures
- Strengthening OT cybersecurity
- Using IIoT services to turn operational data into actionable insight
Visitors can explore interactive demos, see what’s new in zenon 16 and talk through real-world modernization roadmaps tailored to transmission and distribution needs.
Leadership Comments
“The real bottleneck of the energy transition is no longer renewable generation – it’s the grid. Utilities that combine grid expansion with intelligent, software-driven operations will be the ones that build resilient, secure and future-ready energy systems,” says Stefan Hufnagl, Specialist Industry Management Energy at COPA-DATA Headquarters.
Jürgen Resch, Director Industry Management Energy, adds that grid modernization “is about creating an open, software-defined foundation that allows utilities to evolve at their own pace while protecting existing investments,” rather than simply replacing old hardware or adding more capacity to an increasingly decentralized grid.
The company will welcome visitors at booth #125, Level 1, during CIGRE Paris Session 2026 from August 23 to 28 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.
