Power Factors’ EMS and SCADA Provide the Performance and Control Backbone for One of the World’s Largest Solar-Plus-Storage Hybrid Projects
Power Factors has successfully completed the commissioning of the Energy Management System (EMS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) for one of the largest solar-plus-storage energy ventures undertaken by a global renewable developer in the EMEA region. With one million solar panels and more than 450 5-hour battery units, the hybrid project has a capacity of 540 MWdc of solar PV and 225 MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS).
Divided into three sub-plants, each requiring independent and centralized control, this project demanded a sophisticated approach. In response, Power Factors implemented a complex control configuration, with one primary hybrid power plant controller (H-PPC) and six secondary controllers, including three photovoltaic power plant controllers (PV-PPCs) and three storage PPCs (S-PPCs).
Power Factors’ EMS serves as the “brain” of the project ensuring that the power produced by the solar plant is modulated by the BESS to supply a consistent 150MW for 16+ hours a day year-round to the national grid. At the same time, this complex control architecture seamlessly integrates with the national grid, implementing, among other functions, frequency, and voltage response that enhance grid stability.
Power Factors’ SCADA system manages thousands of time-series data inputs with various granularities, ranging from yearly values to real-time, second-by-second values. This wealth of data serves as a vital resource for both local and remote operations and maintenance (O&M) teams, which together with enhanced functionality of the system ensure the plant’s optimal performance. Additionally, the SCADA system generates several BESS-specific key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling comprehensive evaluation and continuous improvement of asset performance.
By integrating battery storage with solar power, this hybrid project goes beyond conventional energy boundaries, converting intermittent solar energy into a dependable, dispatchable resource.
To learn more about Power Factors’ energy management and SCADA systems, get in touch!