The fotovoltaic farm in Susz featuring the EKTIN PV system

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One of the solutions implemented in the RES sector is the EKTIN PV system for the control and monitoring of individual or distributed photovoltaic farms. The solution provides access to detailed information on the operation of the installation and enables control of its components. The EKTIN PV system, a smart solution, has been installed at two fotovoltaic farms in Susz (Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship). The farms have been connected to the MV power grid.

Project description

Each installation is equipped with:

  • into a MV/LV switchgear
  • a 15/0.8 kV transformer with a capacity of 1000 kVA and eight inverters, each with a capacity of 105 kW.

The project included full system visualisation, as well as monitoring of the installation’s electrical parameters, i.e.: voltage, current, active and reactive power, and control of switches in the MV panels or on the LV side.

The system also enables monitoring of operational parameters (PR – Performance Ratio), indicating a reduction in CO2 emissions whilst simultaneously displaying the equivalent number of trees planted – to raise awareness of the beneficial environmental impact. The solution can additionally monitor the facility’s operational efficiency by tracking individually defined parameters. EKTIN PV offers a range of benefits for both the investors and the operators.

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Investors can monitor electricity generation at intervals of their choosing. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as emergency situations, they receive real-time updates via email or text message. These alerts help to eliminate downtime, maximise generation and optimise operating costs.

Benefits for the manager

For the farm manager, the system assists in supervising the work of the staff operating it. It provides the ability to visualise the system architecture with link status diagnostics, as well as the operational status of the PV system’s automation, the status of the MV/LV power grid, and measurement data. The installed solution enables the fulfilment of electricity supply contracts entered into by the owner of the fotovoltaic farm whilst generating profits, which in the long term require professional and continuous monitoring of the installed equipment.

Using the system for the monitoring and management of photovoltaic farms enables the implementation of the core functions of smart solutions. These include:

  • maximising revenue through the ability to respond early to situations indicating a deviation from standard operating parameters – resulting from technical conditions as well as obligations arising from the contract concluded with the electricity consumer;
  • optimisation of operating costs through better adjustment of the frequency and schedule of maintenance visits to managed PV farms, and better planning of replacements for damaged system components;
  • optimisation of investment costs through the long-term (multi-year) collection of historical data demonstrating the rate of ageing of panels or inverters – assessment of the quality of the equipment applied and support for future investment decisions based on historical data.

In addition to the installation of the EKTIN PV system, the contract also included the supply of a controller – the BRG 3 – ensuring communication between inverters, meters and grid parameter analysers within the monitored facility. The controller’s functions enable multi-channel communication with the DSO’s monitoring system, as well as with the investors’ or farm managers’ control stations at the client’s disposal.

Modern digital solutions, which allow for real-time monitoring of operations and system parameters, as well as notification of potential issues, enable more effective management and result in long-term optimisation of costs and resources. Selecting the appropriate control and supervison systems at the start of the project enables greater benefits to be achieved, reducing the need for subsequent investment in smart components.