Digitalisation can deliver safe and flexible grid operation

Our Power Plant Controller can be integrated into a renewable energy (RE) power plant and maximise its performance.

According to Robin Sharma, Business Development and Technical Support Manager, MEA and India, GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV Company a robust, secure, safe, and flexible PPC solution consistent with country specific grid rules are essential to make the greenenergy transition more viable while integrating it into the grids.

Can you share an overview of your company’s key offerings for the energy sector?
GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV company (GPM), offers a market leading integrated solution of software, hardware, and services for the management and maintenance of renewable energy installations.

Driven by its purpose, GPM provides digital tools to maximise the performance of renewable energy assets, optimise efficiency in managing renewable energy portfolios, and contribute to the grid’s greenest energy mix. GPM has a long tradition and experience in successfully managing renewable assets and providing customised solutions for our client’s needs. GPM is currently managing more than 55 GW of renewable energy assets (Solar PV, Wind, and BESS Storage) across the globe. It’s monitoring, managing, and analytic solutions have helped over 700 clients in 90 countries.

How does the Power Plant Controller manage real and reactive power from renewable energy plants?
As you know, the world is moving very fast towards the green-energy transition. A robust, secure, safe, flexible PPC solution compliant with country-specific grid codes is required to make the green-energy transition more sustainable while integrating it into the grids.

GPM PowerPlantController (PPC) provides complete integration with the Grid Operators, communicating and delivering the flexibility to be adapted to each of the project’s standard or custom control requirements and the country’sspecific grid codes.

GPM PPC is the control system developed to be integrated into a renewable energy (RE) power plant as the primary governor, which maximises and improves the integration of power plants in todays and future power systems. Our system can also control and manage hybrid power plants that can contain PV Inverters, Wind Turbines, Batteries, and Diesel Generators. Active and reactive power capabilities, frequency withstanding capabilities; frequency drop control; voltage and ramp rate control; and others are typical PPPC controls.

What steps is your company taking to ensure flexibility in grid integration and operations?
As GPM, we believe digitisation is the key to making the green energy transition faster and more successful. To achieve this, we need more flexible, safe, secure, and grid-friendly control and monitoring solutions to give the operators direct and complete control over all their plant devices. GPM is working towards ensuring grid integration and operation flexibility by evolving GPM PPC to the following standard or level. To complement these flexibilities, recently, GPM has implemented hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) to enhance renewable power plant control capabilities. With HILS, GPM can benchmark its real Power Plant Controller with its inhouse generated models in PSSE, PSCAD, and Digsilent Power Factory.

In 2021, GPM introduced the world’s most innovative solution for stabilising power networks: Power Oscillation Damping (POD).

What technology and services do you provide for controlled energy management in commercial and residential installations?
GPM offers a complete one-stop-solution for Solar PV, Wind Power, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and RE hybrid assets, providing the following solutions in utility, commercial, and residential applications, including:

· Data acquisition
· Zero injection
· Remote monitoring and SCADA inplant controller
· Power Plant Controller + Grid Integration (models & simulation)
· Central Monitoring and Asset Management Systems (CMAMS) + Advanced Analytics

How do you view the need for efficient and cost-effective maintenance practices for your products, technology, and services?
The energy transition and its digitalisation process are creating new opportunities in the market with solutions capable of maximising the benefits for all parties involved in a renewable energy project, such as investors, EPC, O&M suppliers, asset managers, utilities, etc.

As we know, maintenance is an essential part of any product, technology, or service. It is vital to ensure that the products are in good condition and work well. To do this, maintenance practices are required. Maintenance practices can be done remotely or on-site, depending on the product type.

Digitalising products and services have made maintenance practices more efficient and cost-effective. Remote configuration and troubleshooting can be done without sending someone out for on-site maintenance. A robust, secure, safe, and flexible PPC solution consistent with country-specific grid rules is essential to make the green energy transition more viable while integrating it into the grids.