ABB has introduced what it says is the world's first fully integrated solar power generation plant controller and smart grid interface as part of its concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system.
According to ABB, the company's complete CPV solution now offers utilities higher levels of control for next-generation grid management.
"Our CPV system advances the state of the art in the solar industry for smart grid. It provides all of the communication and control needed for today’s most advanced smart grid capabilities," says Bob Stojanovic, ABB's director of North American solar power solutions. “In addition, because it is fully integrated, it provides capabilities not currently available for any other solar plant, providing the next level of intelligence for the grid.”
ABB says today’s solar plants do not provide the information and control needed by smart grids, as the solar sector consists of component-based suppliers without the systems approach necessary for integration to a smart grid infrastructure. With the new CPV solution, operators can now control voltage, frequency, real power, reactive power, power factor and ramp-up rate of generation to maximize reliability and efficiency on the network, the company adds.
In addition, operators will have visibility down to the component level of the plant to optimize performance and operations and maintenance costs. The controller also interacts with the energy meter, transformer and weather station.
