SUSE integrates real-time Linux with SEAPATH for digital substations

SUSE has announced the technical availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time for LF Energy’s SEAPATH, an open-source platform designed for virtualizing critical functions in digital substations. Developed in collaboration with Savoir-faire Linux, SUSE becomes the first Linux provider to offer an officially validated real-time operating system for the SEAPATH architecture.

The solution combines SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time with KVM virtualization and cluster support features. This integration aims to help grid operators and equipment manufacturers deploy virtualized digital substations, facilitating the transition from dedicated hardware to software-driven architectures. This shift is driven by the increasing pressure on electrical grids caused by growing electrification and the development of renewable energy.

In performance tests conducted by the Dutch grid operator Alliander, the SUSE real-time kernel successfully met the required latency requirements of less than 30 milliseconds for substation protocols.