At the VDE Congress “Schutz- und Leittechnik” 2026 (April 28–29, Leipzig), AUCOTEC will demonstrate how Engineering Base 2026 advances digital substation engineering in a truly data-driven way.

What to expect:

• Rule-based validation and creation of IEC 61850 objects directly within Engineering Base
• World’s first fully integrated IEC 61850 within a seamless engineering platform
• Two new assistants – the Rule Set Editor and the IED Assistant – guide users through configuration, validation and modeling processes.
• Greater efficiency, less complexity – one system across the entire lifecycle.

A data-centric model ensures consistency across decades – from planning to operation and maintenance.

In times of accelerated grid expansion and decarbonization, this structural approach makes the difference.

Meet our team in Leipzig and discuss how structured, standard-compliant engineering can reduce complexity in your substation projects.

Read the full Press Release here: https://lnkd.in/ddmH4uUN

How does Engineering Base transform classic workflows in plant and grid engineering?

“With IEC 61850 as an example: traditionally, implementing the standard is extremely time-consuming and error-prone, because many steps must be done manually. Engineering Base marks a real breakthrough here. Instead of manually transferring information, users work directly with intelligently linked data objects. The system automatically ensures consistency between circuit diagrams, device data, and communication models – enabling more efficient, error-free, and standardized processes.”

Why is Engineering Base the ideal platform for AI-driven approaches?

“Engineering Base provides the perfect foundation for AI. Because all engineering data exists in structured, object-based form, the AI can interact directly with it. This creates an intelligent interplay of automation, traceability, and integration.”

Was this also a key driver behind developing the AI DB Builder at SM Energy?

“Absolutely. Many utilities still struggle with scattered, unstructured legacy data – old drawings, PDFs, spreadsheets. Valuable knowledge often gets lost in the process. With the AI DB Builder, we wanted to close exactly this gap. Our AI extracts, classifies, and structures information automatically and transfers it into the Engineering Base data model. Static documents become living, reliable engineering data.”

What do you value most about collaborating with AUCOTEC?

“AUCOTEC is open to innovation and true partnership – something we deeply appreciate.
Technically, we benefit from one of the most advanced engineering platforms on the market; strategically, from AUCOTEC’s global reach. Together, we combine deep industry expertise with engineering excellence to accelerate the digital transformation of the energy sector.”

Where is the industry heading – and what role will AI play?

“The greatest potential lies in standardization and data governance. The combination of AI and Engineering Base creates a unified, trustworthy data foundation – essential for informed decisions, efficient operations, and new AI applications. Especially in maintenance and lifecycle management, I see huge opportunities: when real-time operational data is linked to engineering data, AI can predict maintenance, optimize systems, and continuously improve performance.”

Finally – what is your vision for the future?

“For us, AI is not simply a product to sell. It is a learning journey – for ourselves, for our customers, and for the entire industry. Together with AUCOTEC, we want to continue this journey consistently: technologically, internationally, and in genuine partnership – to make the energy infrastructure of the future more efficient, more interconnected, and more sustainable.”

• Engineering Base 2026 consistently advances the digital substation
• Greater efficiency, less complexity – one system across the entire lifecycle
• World’s first fully integrated IEC 61850 within a seamless engineering platform

Digital substations are not created by new buzzwords. They are built on clean data structures, consistent standards and tools capable of managing complexity. This is precisely where Aucotec will focus at the VDE Congress „Schutz- und Leittechnik“ (Protection and Control) on April 28 and 29, 2026 in Leipzig.

With the update to Engineering Base 2026, Aucotec presents a comprehensively enhanced platform: improved usability, increased automation and even greater flexibility in handling standards-compliant data models. At the core of the new version is rule-based validation and generation of IEC 61850 objects – directly within the platform.

Predefined rule sets support users in building structured and consistent, standards-compliant data models. Two new assistants – the Rule Set Editor and the IED Assistant – guide users through configuration, validation and modeling processes. Typical sources of error are reduced, workflows are standardized and engineering time is significantly shortened.

“With Engineering Base 2026, we make IEC 61850 not only integrable, but manageable,” explains Michaela Imbusch, Product Manager Power Transmission & Distribution at Aucotec. “Rule-based validation ensures that protection and control systems are modeled consistently from the outset – instead of being checked retrospectively.”

IEC 61850 fully integrated – without system discontinuities

In Leipzig, Aucotec will once again demonstrate the world’s first – and still unique – complete integration of IEC 61850 directly into plant engineering. Standards-compliant data models can be created without external tools, without XML exports and without media disruptions.

Functional data models of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) are directly linked to their physical hardware. Changes are centrally traceable, and all disciplines – from primary engineering to substation automation – work simultaneously on a shared data foundation.

“IEC 61850 has long been the DNA of modern substations,” says Imbusch. “With our full integration, we bring this DNA directly into the engineering system. This reduces complexity and creates genuine transparency across all disciplines.”

Structure instead of manual consolidation

Many bottlenecks in engineering are not caused by a lack of expertise, but by a lack of structure: data is consolidated manually, standards are not implemented consistently and changes are identified too late.

Engineering Base addresses these structural weaknesses with a central, data-driven model. Standards such as IEC 61850 and IEC 81346 are applied integratively – not merely documented, but actively embedded within the system.

This is particularly crucial in the context of decarbonization and accelerated grid expansion. Digital substations increasingly rely on servers and data buses rather than purely physical wiring. Document-based tools are losing relevance in such environments. Engineering Base enables purely alphanumeric detail definitions, without the mandatory need to draw circuit diagrams.

“A substation operates for decades,” emphasizes Imbusch. “A data-centric model ensures that information does not become static in folders, but remains consistent and up to date throughout its lifecycle.”

Engineering with future-proofing

With Engineering Base, Aucotec pursues a holistic approach for Power Transmission & Distribution – from primary technology to control systems, from planning to maintenance. Instead of isolated documents, a consistent digital twin is created: modular, scalable and usable across the entire lifecycle.

The 2026 update reinforces this claim by delivering greater automation, enhanced model quality, reduced coordination effort and a significantly streamlined system landscape.

At the VDE Congress 2026, Aucotec will therefore present more than a software update – it will demonstrate a structural contribution to the future of digital substations: efficient, standards-compliant and consistently data-driven.

Hosted by Aker BP, the event brought together industry experts for two intensive days of exchange, real-world insights and forward-looking technological perspectives at the company’s Stavanger offices. Seven companies – Aker BP, Aibel, Equinor, Kongsberg Maritime, ABB, Topsoe and, last but not least, Engineering Base developer AUCOTEC – contributed their views on current challenges and solution strategies related to the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

From AUCOTEC’s perspective, particular emphasis was placed on strategic developments in Plant Engineering and the Oil & Gas environment. Key industry trends were discussed, including the end-to-end use of consistent engineering data, the growing importance of standardized data models and the need for integrated platforms to manage complex, multidisciplinary projects. One message became clear: future-ready engineering requires the seamless alignment of technology, processes and global collaboration.

Another focal point was the product strategy surrounding the 2026 release of Engineering Base. Topics such as Global Engineering Management (GEM), performance enhancements and the targeted use of artificial intelligence in engineering illustrated how data-driven working methods can be further professionalized. AI is not viewed as an isolated feature, but as an intelligent component of integrated workflows – from data validation to project control.

A live demonstration provided hands-on insight into how modern standards such as DEXPI 2.0, CFIHOS and IMF elevate interoperability and data quality to a new level. Particularly in demanding offshore environments, a consistent and standardized flow of data has become a decisive success factor.

With the launch in Stavanger, AUCOTEC and its partners have established a communication platform that can serve as a key driver for innovation and collaboration in the Norwegian market. The feedback from participants clearly demonstrated the strong demand for dialogue, standardization and technological advancement – and Engineering Base plays a central role in this development.

"The first Engineering Base User Forum in Norway was a success, and I am especially happy about the open atmosphere and the participants’ willingness to share knowledge and experiences across companies,” states Anders Høie, General Manager of AUCOTEC Norway. “I know almost all of the participants, and I am impressed by their level of expertise and their ambitions for Engineering Base in Norway.”

To meet the rising global demand for its licensing portfolio of sustainable solutions, JM recognised the need to evolve its engineering strategy, making it more scalable, more consistent, and more collaborative to drive greater efficiency. At the heart of this transformation lies a strategic partnership with Aucotec and its integrated platform, Engineering Base, which is becoming a catalyst for operational excellence.

Engineering smarter, faster – with confidence

Faced with rising project volumes and a constrained supply of skilled engineering talent, Johnson Matthey turned to Engineering Base to streamline workflows and elevate both quality and reliability. “Scaling up with the same team meant we had to engineer smarter,” explains Chris Heaton, Director of Engineering Management at Johnson Matthey. “Engineering Base has enabled us to dramatically reduce manual data handling and eliminate many of the inconsistencies that previously slowed us down.”

From complexity to clarity

Previously, JM’s engineering landscape was highly fragmented, and processes relied heavily on document-based handovers and the deep expertise of individuals. This made scaling complex and knowledge transfers inefficient. “Engineering Base enabled us to centralize our knowledge and standardize workflows,” states Heaton. “We now have a scalable setup that’s easier to onboard, easier to manage, and easier to grow across business locations.”

Laying the foundation for global best practices

The use of Engineering Base within JM’s licensed sustainable solutions is just the beginning. There are already plans to extend Engineering Base to additional licensed technologies, with the goal of establishing it as a department-wide engineering platform.

“As one of the world’s leading licensors of chemical process technology, it’s essential that our engineering capabilities match the pace and sophistication of the innovations we deliver,” says Mark Sutton, Engineering Director and COO Licensing at Johnson Matthey. “Engineering Base has become a cornerstone of our digital strategy, empowering us to deliver best-in-class projects to our partners, while equipping our teams for the future of engineering: data-driven, integrated, and intelligent.”

Trusted partnership to drive innovation

Johnson Matthey and Aucotec are fully committed to continuously enhancing engineering approaches to meet future demands in the clean energy sector. “We’re proud to support such a pioneering technology leader,” says Uwe Vogt, Board Member at Aucotec AG. “This partnership is founded on mutual trust and a shared drive to push the boundaries of innovation, today and in the net-zero future.”

• No external tools, no media disruptions: first complete integration of IEC 61850 into an end-to-end engineering platform
• More efficient, more secure and ready for the future: shorter engineering times, maximum interoperability and a streamlined IT landscape for grid operators and planners
• AI-driven engineering with SM Energy: the AI DB Builder automates the creation of standard-compliant protection and control technology models

At the CIRED 2025 international conference being held in Geneva, Switzerland on June 16 – 19, Aucotec AG will be presenting the complete integration of IEC 61850 into its own Engineering Base cooperation platform. This groundbreaking development makes digital substation engineering more efficient, consistent and future-proof. Aucotec is now carrying out this full integration within a data-driven environment in close collaboration with European customers and grid operators.

Independently of CIRED, Aucotec’s close cooperation with technology partner SM Energy shows how an AI-driven solution for automated implementation of standard-compliant protection and control technology models works. Using Engineering Base as a basis, the Brazilian company has developed the AI DB Builder.

Seamless integration of IEC 61850 – consistently throughout a platform for the first time

Digitalization and decarbonization of power grids set new demands on the planning and operation of modern substations. In this new era, it is servers and data bus systems that handle the exchange of information, while traditional, document-based tools are increasingly reaching their limits. This has led to the IEC 61850 standard establishing itself as the key basis for digital substations.

Managing this transition in an efficient, future-proof way calls for platforms that are able to map the standard’s full potential on a technical level. And this is precisely what Aucotec has achieved with Engineering Base: Engineering Base is the world’s first platform to allow IEC 61850-compliant data models to be modeled directly without the use of external tools and to be linked to the product aspect, i.e. the hardware world. The entire definition process is centralized, compliant with standards and free of media disruptions – from the data object through to the finished configuration.

The next step in energy infrastructure

"At CIRED, we will be demonstrating what digitalization in engineering really looks like," says Michaela Imbusch, Product Manager Power Transmission & Distribution at Aucotec. "Not only does our full integration save time, it also provides the technical foundation for end-to-end data models and interoperability: this is the next step in energy infrastructure. Engineering Base is the first system to meet all requirements throughout the entire substation life cycle."

All disciplines, from primary equipment to control technology, work in parallel and in a centralized form using the same data. Dedicated libraries, change tracking and a uniform database ensure excellent efficiency and maximum transparency. The close link between the functional model and the actual hardware significantly streamlines the system landscape, freeing up IT resources.

The AI DB Builder: intelligent data modeling

The AI DB Builder developed by SM Energy is a prime example of this new flexibility and automation. It is still being offered as a custom solution at present, yet it already shows what innovations could be expected from Engineering Base in the future. The AI DB Builder extracts technical information from engineering documents then translates it into object-oriented models within Engineering Base. As a result, all sorts of different data sources – e.g. for grid structure or protection concepts – are converted into structured engineering data in an automated process.

This automatically creates device models, IEC 61850 data structures, connection information, signal definitions and more, thereby bridging the gap between traditional documentation and the requirements of modern station automation. Thanks to the open architecture of Engineering Base, the AI DB Builder can be seamlessly integrated into the digital engineering process. Doing so means that protective functions, interlocking logics and IED structures are automatically created, validated and associated with the actual hardware – all without any errors and in record time.

Benefits for operators and planners

"Engineering Base gives us the infrastructure we need to enable automated, standard-compliant mapping of complex processes," explains Renata Fernandes, CTO at SM Energy. "The combination of Engineering Base and AI DB Builder offers tangible benefits for grid operators and engineering offices alike: significantly shorter engineering times, fewer manual errors, full compliance with standards and future-proof workflows – including direct implementation of protection concepts and interlocking logics."

The development of the AI DB Builder follows an open, modular approach that fits seamlessly into the architecture of Engineering Base.

Europe-wide implementation by grid operators

Aucotec is now carrying out the complete integration within a data-centric environment in close collaboration with European customers and grid operators, and has incorporated it directly into the new version of Engineering Base this year. Although IEC 61850 is not yet mandatory for grid operators, emerging industries such as renewable energy production are already required by law to have the necessary certification. This means grid operators will also be legally obliged to address the matter sooner or later. Protection and control engineers who already work with Engineering Base are actively involved in shaping the digitalization of German and European power grids.

"Engineering Base is the first system to meet all requirements throughout the entire substation life cycle – from the initial project idea through detailed planning to operation and maintenance," says Michaela Imbusch, Product Manager for the Power Transmission & Distribution sector at Aucotec. All disciplines, including protection and control technology, can make simultaneous use of the extensive possibilities offered by the platform. Dedicated libraries, fast object searches and transparent change tracking ensure that all data is kept up-to-date, centrally available and consistent.

50 years in just one system

"While document-based tools inevitably reach their limits over a period of 50 years, Engineering Base’s data-centric model keeps all plant information dynamic and up-to-date," emphasizes Imbusch.

IEC 61850 now effectively forms the DNA at the heart of modern digital substations. This standard goes far beyond the simple description of devices, also including specifications for their communication channels. As a result of the increasing digitalization of substations and the pressure to decarbonize at a rapid pace, the demands on the planning process for these plants are also growing at an exponential rate. In the digital substation of the future, servers and data bus systems will handle the exchange of information. As a result, document-based tools that still rely on conventional circuit and terminal block diagrams are becoming less relevant.

"Engineering Base is completely data centric, meaning not a single circuit diagram has to be drawn," explains Imbusch. "The IED functionalities and hardware are linked directly in alphanumerical form – without the need for any coordination between different tools." This reduces complexity, speeds up planning and minimizes transmission errors.

Significantly streamlined system landscape

By directly linking the functional data models (IEDs) and the corresponding hardware in this way, Engineering Base manages to significantly streamline the system landscape and ease the IT workload to lasting effect. "Our cooperation platform is the single source of truth for primary and secondary equipment as well as protection and control technology," explains Imbusch. "Only one system needs to be learned and all data is consolidated in transparent form within a single software solution."

Added to which, Engineering Base is the only system in the world capable of implementing all internationally required standards down to the finest detail: from IEC 81346 and 81355 governing the structuring of plants and documents through to IEC 61850 for device description and communication in substations.

Future-proof engineering with IEC 61850

Thanks to Aucotec’s cooperation platform, companies are already ideally equipped to ensure future-proof and efficient planning, execution and long-term operation of their plants. As Imbusch concludes: "Our complete integration of IEC 61850 into Engineering Base saves time, simplifies processes and provides a lasting safeguard for plants against future requirements. That’s what we call pure digitalization."

• Centralized data platform: Aucotec’s Engineering Base optimizes engineering and maintenance processes and preserves valuable know-how.
• Next-level digitalization: SAP integration and AI-driven workflows increase transparency, reduce errors, and improve data quality.
• Driver of innovation: Engineering Base enables significant advancements in technological development.

Specializing in gases, heating and cooling, and sustainable mobility, the Westfalen Group has put its trust in the Engineering Base cooperation platform from Aucotec. This is mainly due to the platform’s ability to serve as a single source of truth for end-to-end, error-free planning and documentation.

Transparency and efficiency in engineering

The spectrum of products and services offered by the Westfalen Group is increasingly focused on sustainable energy solutions, particularly hydrogen. To streamline internal processes, the company was looking for a software solution that would provide optimum support for both the maintenance and engineering of its own production sites. "We wanted to establish a centralized data storage system that would create transparency throughout the entire life cycle of our plants and allow easy redlining," explains Laurent Wauters-Herlyn, Head of Strategy & Innovation for Production & Engineering at the Westfalen Group. "All relevant disciplines were to be consolidated on a common software platform rather than using multiple solutions."

The solution: Engineering Base as a centralized data platform

During the software selection process, Aucotec’s Engineering Base emerged as the ideal solution. The platform integrates CAD, E-CAD, process engineering and EI&C engineering into a central data model, enabling consistent, error-free planning. "Engineering Base links all relevant data in a central environment," continues Wauters-Herlyn. "The capability for AI-driven optimization was another crucial factor. Demographic changes pose the challenge of preserving knowledge over the long term while unlocking further efficiency potential.”

Westfalen expects implementation of the Aucotec platform to bring significant efficiency gains and additional benefits:

• Engineering: 11% reduction in costs
• Maintenance: 15% less planning effort
• Minimization of errors thanks to centralized data storage
• AI-driven engineering based on preserved knowledge resources

Integration with SAP and continued growth

With the planned switch to SAP S/4 HANA, Westfalen sees the integration of SAP with Engineering Base as a promising opportunity. "The potential link-up with SAP further increases efficiency and enables seamless digital documentation," remarks Wauters-Herlyn.

By opting for Engineering Base, Westfalen has embraced an innovative and sustainable solution that not only meets current requirements, but also actively addresses future challenges in the energy sector. "We are proud of our collaboration with Westfalen and grateful for the trust placed in our data-centric platform," explains Stefan Wedderkopp, Global Sales Director Process Plants at Aucotec. "Engineering Base not only assists companies with digitalization, it also enables them to strategically optimize their processes and future-proof them."

• Strategic Contract: Aker BP chooses Aucotec’s Engineering Base to implement Engineering Design Data Management (EDDM) for the Yggdrasil development project.
• Driving Innovation: Engineering Base delivers a ready-to-deploy platform for seamless, data-driven workflows.
• Future-Proof Operations: The collaboration enables true As-Built data models and digital twins, like Aker BP’s Cognite Data Fusion, for safer, more efficient offshore operations.

Aker BP, a leader in Norway’s oil and gas sector, has selected Aucotec as one of its’ partners in the digital infrastructure of the Yggdrasil development. At the core of this decision is Engineering Base, a proven cooperation platform that helps to enhance operational efficiency and accelerates modification processes. Engineering Base has out-of-the-box capabilities to meet the demands of large-scale, complex projects like Yggdrasil with minimal customization.

Engineering Base: Key part of Yggdrasil digital infrastructure

Located in the Norwegian North Sea, Yggdrasil is the largest ongoing oil and gas development in Norway. The Yggdrasil area will play an important part of Aker BP’s future production from 2027. Given the project’s scale and complexity, seamless collaboration across teams and contractors is essential—a challenge met by Engineering Base.

By consolidating and validating vast amounts of engineering and Life Cycle Information (LCI) data, Engineering Base ensures that all stakeholders work from a unified, reliable data foundation. This data foundation also enables numerous AI-powered downstream processes on the platform. The platform delivers:

• Efficiency: Automated data integration accelerates workflows and minimizes errors.
• Safety: Real-time data enhances operational security and streamlines maintenance.
• Data quality: Workflow automation reduces manual effort, and improve quality of data

With comprehensive Change Management capabilities Engineering Base allows modifications to be seamlessly integrated into the As-Built model, ensuring data integrity throughout Yggdrasil’s lifecycle.

Shaping the future of digital operations

“With Yggdrasil, Aker BP is setting a new standard through remote operations, periodically unmanned and unmanned installations, low activity set offshore and new technology. Availability of data is an important basis for this operations strategy. EDDM will serve as a foundational solution supporting both Life Cycle Information (LCI) and engineering data, thus driving operational excellence in Yggdrasil. Aucotec and its ready-to-deploy functionality in Engineering Base empowers us to centralize and optimize engineering data immediately,” says Lars-Erik Ydstie, Vice President Digital Yggdrasil at Aker BP.

Uwe Vogt, Member of the Executive Board at Aucotec, adds: “We are proud to support Aker BP in this groundbreaking project. Engineering Base demonstrates how proven, data-driven solutions can transform the energy and process industries.”