SCADA System for Multiple Remote Solar Sites
SCADA Implementation Summary
Corso Systems met with the SCADA operations team for a leading solar power provider to discuss a standardized system built with Wonderware’s Archestra System Platform. Our goal was to build objects for the specific pieces of equipment at a solar plant (ie: inverters, breakers, power meters) to enable rapid deployment of SCADA systems for new facilities.
As part of developing the system, we implemented a standardized naming convention for the facilities and all of the data points to allow a script to populate a centralized OSI PI Historian with data from each facility. After completing the initial development, future systems will take less time as the SCADA system will be built using existing objects. Commissioning will be basically complete after I/O and communication verifications. With remote access to each facility, we also reduced support time and costs by since our staff could login to each system to make any necessary modifications—including updating older facilities with any objects developed for newer facilities.
Solution
We were tasked to develop a standardized SCADA Solution for a leading solar power provider. They had advanced data reporting and analytics requirements, needed remote monitoring and management of their facilities, and wanted to reduce commissioning times on new facilities during a period of rapid growth. We worked with their data management team to define naming conventions and develop a standard set of data points to use across various types of solar generation equipment—including interfaces to power meters in different countries with different utility reporting requirements. After developing the SCADA system and implementing it at each facility, the plant operators were able to use a familiar interface at each new facility to monitor and control power generation remotely. Data from each facility was automatically sent to the corporate level OSI PI Historian, along with reports for daily generation, system alarms and upsets, as well as individual operator logs.
Benefits
Reduced development time for future plants
Standardized graphics, data structures, and network topologies reduced maintenance and training requirements for future plants
Changes to the system at newer facilities could easily be pushed out to all existing facilities
Systems can be operated and maintained remotely
Automated reporting for power production, billing, and plant performance, including alarms
Decreased commissioning time
Remote access to all facilities
Increased data visibility
Project Details
Industry Solar
Location Italy, Chicago, IL, and Denver, CO
Services SCADA implementation, Database management, Process Analytics
Technology
Wonderware Archestra System Platform
Wonderware InTouch
Wonderware Historian
OSI PI Historian
SQL Server
N-Tron networking equipment
Moxa Modbus communication equipment
Cisco ASA Firewalls
Juniper Firewalls
Focus
Reduce future development costs
Standardized systems
Automated data analysis
Develop system using cutting-edge hardware and software
Implement system and train personnel on its operation
Reduce overhead costs for data analysis
Updated - 6/16/2022