Case · Energy Systems
Microgrid with Solar PV, Battery Storage and Ancillary Services
Proces-Automatik has developed an advanced Energy Management System (EMS) for microgrids, where large-scale solar PV generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), local electricity consumption and high-power EV chargers are combined behind shared grid connection points — also referred to as Points of Connection (POC).
Overview
The project at a glance
01
Sector
Energy systems, energy trading
02
Assets
Solar PV, battery storage (BESS), local consumption, high-power EV chargers
03
Scope
Global Energy Management System across sites in several countries
04
Market
Ancillary services to the electricity grid
Architecture
One EMS across sites and countries
The solution is built as a global EMS that communicates with local sites in several countries. The system exchanges measurement data, operational status and control signals with the individual sites, and creates a combined overview of energy production, storage and consumption across the geographic locations.
- Solar PV
- Battery storage (BESS)
- Local consumption
- High-power EV chargers
- Solar PV
- Battery storage (BESS)
- Local consumption
- High-power EV chargers
- Solar PV
- Battery storage (BESS)
- Local consumption
- High-power EV chargers
Solution
Coordinating generation, storage and consumption
When generation, storage, consumption and charging have to work as one energy system, coordination becomes demanding. Solar PV production varies with the weather, consumption changes continuously, and both the batteries and the chargers have operating limits that the control system must take into account.
At each site, the EMS collects data from all electricity meters and builds a combined real-time overview of the energy flow. Based on these measurements, the system coordinates the PV plant, battery storage, consumption and high-power chargers so that the available energy is used as effectively as possible.
PV surplus
When solar PV production exceeds local consumption, the surplus energy can be stored in the battery.
Production shortfall
When production falls or consumption rises, the battery can supply energy back to the microgrid.
EV charging
EV charging is coordinated at the same time with the rest of the operation and with the available capacity.
Market
Participation in ancillary services
Both the PV plants and the battery storage systems also take part in delivering ancillary services to the electricity grid. The EMS coordinates the available regulating capacity and ensures that the assets can respond to signals from the electricity market, while taking account of:
- local consumption
- the operating limits of the assets
- the defined limits at the POC
Delivery
Our role in the project
Proces-Automatik’s task has been to bring the individual plant sections and local sites together in one overall control solution.
The result is a flexible and scalable energy solution where solar PV production, battery storage, consumption and charging work together. This makes it possible to optimize local energy use, stay within the constraints at the grid connection points and deliver ancillary services to the electricity grid.
Local level
Each microgrid is controlled as a single system.
Global level
The global EMS makes central monitoring and coordination possible across sites and countries.
FAQ
Engineering Insights
The questions we get from energy operators, asset owners and developers — most weeks.
What does the EMS coordinate at each site?
The EMS collects data from all electricity meters at the site and coordinates the PV plant, battery storage, local consumption and the high-power chargers, so that the available energy is used as effectively as possible.
How do the assets take part in ancillary services?
The EMS coordinates the available regulating capacity and ensures that the assets can respond to signals from the electricity market, while taking account of local consumption, the operating limits of the assets and the defined limits at the Point of Connection.
Can the solution work across several sites and countries?
Yes. Each microgrid is controlled as a single system, while the global EMS communicates with the local sites and makes central monitoring and coordination possible across sites and countries.