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High-Accuracy Time Synchronization for Power Utility WAN/LAN

Learn how high-accuracy time synchronization enables reliable protection, automation, and communications across modern power utility networks. This course explains the technologies, protocols, and network architectures used to deliver resilient and precise timing from substations to utility-wide communication systems.

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  • Instructor 1
    Davy Haegdorens
  • Instructor 2
    Guilhermme Lisboa
  • Level
    Beginner
  • Study time
    ~ 1 hour
  • Video time
    44 min
  • Lessons
    7

Certification included

Earn a certificate upon successful course completion to showcase your skills.

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About This Course

Target Audience

Prerequisites

Related Courses

About This Course
Accurate time synchronization has become a foundational requirement for modern electric utilities. Applications such as protection systems, SCADA, synchrophasors, metering, digital substations, and wide-area communications all depend on a common and highly accurate time reference to operate safely and reliably.

In this course, you'll explore why precise timing is critical for utility operations and how Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is distributed through GNSS and terrestrial networks. You'll learn the fundamentals of the Precision Time Protocol (PTP), compare Boundary Clocks and Transparent Clocks, understand PTP profiles for both wide-area and substation networks, and examine how resilient time synchronization architectures are designed to withstand GNSS outages, jamming, and spoofing. Finally, the course demonstrates how these technologies work together to provide accurate, reliable, and resilient synchronization across the entire utility communication network.
Target Audience
  • Utility telecommunications engineers
  • Protection and control engineers
  • SCADA and automation specialists
  • Utility network architects
  • Substation engineers
  • Communications professionals supporting power utilities
  • Anyone responsible for designing, operating, or maintaining utility communication and synchronization systems
Prerequisites
  • A basic understanding of utility communications networks, substations, or power system operations is recommended. Familiarity with Ethernet or IP networking concepts will help learners better understand the synchronization technologies discussed throughout the course.
Course Suggestions
This course is the first module in a growing series. Stay tuned as we continue to expand the curriculum with hands-on, practical guidance tailored to utility professionals.

What you´ll learn

  • Explain why accurate time synchronization is essential for modern power utility operations.

  • Describe how UTC is generated and distributed through GNSS and terrestrial synchronization methods.

  • Differentiate the roles of PTP, Boundary Clocks, Transparent Clocks, and synchronization profiles within utility networks.
  • Compare WAN and LAN time synchronization architectures and their respective timing requirements.
  • Design resilient time synchronization solutions that mitigate GNSS outages, jamming, and spoofing.

  • Apply best practices for implementing reliable end-to-end synchronization across utility communication networks.

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    Resume anytime

  Access on mobile

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Course Content

Your Instructor

Davy Haegdorens

Solution Architect

About the instructor

Expert and strategist in Next-Gen Operational Telecommunication Solutions Davy Haegdorens is a senior Solution Architect with over 20 years of experience in the telecommunication sector.
 
He plays a pivotal role in designing and implementing next-generation telecommunication solutions that drive innovation and operational excellence across industries.
In 2021 he joined Belden Solutions NV as a Business Development Manager, where he was responsible for all Power Transmission and Distribution presales activities in the APAC region.
 
He represents Belden by leveraging his expertise as member of the CIGRE D2 study committee and at industry congresses and roadshows. Moreover, Davy is co-author of the new CIGRE D2 Greenbook and actively contributing to several CIGRE workgroups and whitepapers throughout his career.

Guilhermme Lisboa

Digital Automation Consultant, Belden

About the instructor

Guilhermme Lisboa, from Curitiba, Brazil, has worked in Power Systems Automation since 2008. Starting as a Lead Engineer for PACS (Protection, Automation, and Control Systems), he advanced to Engineering Manager, expanding into both PACS and Telecom projects. He has delivered projects with major EPCs and System Integrators across Transmission, Distribution, Renewables, BESS, FACTS, GIS, Industry, and Mass Transit, with a strong focus on IEC 61850 applications and network design. Since 2022, Guilhermme has been a Global Digital Automation Consultant at Belden, driving Digital Substations, IEC 61850 adoption, and the transition to packet-based networks. He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (UFPR, 2008), an M.Sc. in Electronic Systems (2023), and actively contributes to CIGRÉ Committees B5 and D2.

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    UTC provides Certificates of Completion for Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for all education we provide. You must check the regulations in your state’s licensing agency to ensure you meet the requirements.

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What Our Learners Say

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