As utility requirements for grid-tied PV grow in number and scope, and as integrations for storage systems and grid services become more common, the challenges of SCADA system design and deployment become more complex. Timely and accurate deployments will depend more and more on the experience and control technology that your partners bring to the table, not only in terms of the number and size of projects, but also successful implementation in complex markets where control systems must balance optimizing energy harvest with complex grid operator constraints on power flow. With a significant investment in SCADA development over the past 5 years, including the acquisition of European SCADA-for-PV pioneers skytron energy, AlsoEnergy has assembled the team and the technology to help clients to manage risk in today’s evolving market. We have proven our approach with successful deployments in Hawaii’s challenging grid environment.
AlsoEnergy has a world class organization for designing and deploying SCADA solutions. 2020 saw significant further investment in people, process, and product related to our Utility Solutions. Together with our fully integrated remote monitoring platform PowerTrack, these elements are the foundation of AlsoEnergy’s systems-based approach to SCADA deployment and operations.
Development Based on Control Theory
AlsoEnergy SCADA system design begins with established closed-loop control theory logic and process. This is not new technology but a matter of applying established methods to PV plant control. Our experience across global markets has created a large library of control narratives, empowering our engineers to develop for each new project without restarting from scratch, building on a repeatable, scalable process.
Design Based on Lab Modeling
Model-based design takes plant control and optimization to the next level. Control capability is developed in a lab modeling environment, and continuously refined based on field performance. The lab environment allows us to optimize control logic that is built into our plant controllers as well as test scenarios that may be time consuming or impossible to address in the field. Model-driven PPC design additionally provides insurance during commissioning by providing an escalation path to efficiently address issues that could be difficult and time consuming to resolve in the field.
Insights Based on Full PowerTrack Integration
Using the data visualization and analytics capabilities of PowerTrack, working in parallel with fully integrated SCADA systems onsite, we can pinpoint deficiencies that threaten to delay commissioning. While commissioning one project in Hawaii, PowerTrack analysis enabled our engineers to discover a string inverter fleet responding too slowly to a lower voltage setpoint. We notified the inverter manufacturer and got it to change reactive power output to meet CSAT requirements. At another project in Hawaii, PowerTrack helped trace a failure to meet a 20 MW per minute curtailment limit to a central inverter control module.
Utility Solutions from AlsoEnergy provide flexible, scalable futureproof on-site solution platform. Leveraging an open platform environment enables owners to optimize grid services for years to come. And with AlsoEnergy you get the convenience, the security, and the support expertise of a single provider for a complete end-to-end solution covering your data on site, in the cloud, and in transit.