Situationally Intelligent Power Plant Controller

Control & Automate

ETAP PPC interfaces with the renewable inverters, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), power conditioning devices such as STATCOM and capacitor banks. The interface is two-way communication between these devices and ETAP PPC. Real-time information is measured from these devices and analyzed in real-time to provide closed-loop (supervisory) or open-loop/manual (advisory) control.

ETAP PPC supports both national and international grid codes, thus enabling grid-compliant feed-in from renewable systems at medium-voltage and high-voltage levels. ETAP PPC facilitates comprehensive regulation of active and reactive power as well as the voltage of heterogeneous renewable systems.

Key Features & Capabilities

Control & Automate_Key_Feature

Comprehensive Regulation of Active, Reactive Power & Voltage
High-Accuracy Power Quality Analyzer records all Grid Parameters during Operation
Fast and Stable Control at the Grid Connection Point

ETAP PPC supports both national and international grid codes, thus enabling grid-compliant feed-in from PV systems at medium-voltage and high-voltage levels.

ETAP PPC facilitates comprehensive regulation of active and reactive power as well as the voltage of heterogeneous PV systems.

ETAP PPC graphical user interface provides optimal support during commissioning and requires no programming knowledge on your part. Parameterizing, instead of programming, allows for easy and quick compliance with complex grid connection regulations.

ETAP PPC supports customization through graphical and software programming means to handle evolving grid codes and interfaces with nearly all inverter controllers.

Essential control loop functions can be set with the predefined parameters to meet the Grid Utility requirements of most power plant projects.

For large power plants, challenging Grid Codes, or customer requests, the essential control loop functions are augmented with more advanced functions depending on the plant-specific needs.

Active Power Management

Active Power Constraint
Characteristic Curve Control
Ramp Rate Control
Reconnection Soft Start
Safety Shutdown
Over Frequency Control
Under Frequency Control

Reactive Power Management

Fixed Setpoint Control
Characteristic Curve Control
Ramp Rate Control
Reactive Power Control
Reactive Power Limitation
Power Factor Control
Voltage Control
Capacitor, Reactor, STATCOM Control
Overnight Reactive Power or Voltage Control

Energy Storage Management

Frequency support
Power smoothing / ramping
SOC balancing with multiple BES
SOC management
Peak Power Shifting

Data Exchange

Interface with ETAP SCADA
Setpoint commands for signal monitoring
Status signals for alarming
Electrical parameters at PCC
Environmental parameters at plant location

Dynamic Grid Support

Interactive features including LVRT, OVRT, FRS, FRT, Anti-islanding, active, and reactive power management.

Voltage Control

Maintains the grid voltage to the reference voltage at the POC by supplying or absorbing reactive power. The Voltage Control can be set without any droop or with a droop (between 0% and 10%).

Power Factor Control

Maintains a constant Power Factor at the POC, whatever the grid voltage or losses in the transformers of the power plant.

Constant Reactive Power Control

Maintains a fixed reactive power exchange at the POC, whatever the grid voltage and the power plant production.

Active Power Curtailment

For several reasons, like the overload of the lines, excess of intermittent energy production, the Grid Utility may request to curtail the production. Active power curtailment may be applied with or without ramp rate control.

Frequency Control

During an over-frequency event, the PPC can quickly decrease the active power injection at POC proportionally to the frequency deviation. During an under-frequency event and when an active power limitation is in progress, the PPC for the power plant can partially or fully release the active power limitation to participate in grid stability.