Delta Energy Storage System Monitoring and Management Solution: Fast Response and Seamless Redundancy for Efficient Power Conditioning

An energy storage system (ESS) is widely applied in different types of power generation for peak shaving, i.e. charging up electricity during off-peak periods to use during demand peaks. Using an ESS is an efficient approach to simultaneously reduce strain on the grids and allow companies to enjoy more favorable electricity rates. In addition, it helps in balancing the supply from traditional and renewable energy sources, especially when it comes to intermittent renewable energy. For example, solar energy is limited by the hours of sunshine in a day, and hydropower generation is subject to seasonal water level changes. In these cases, an ESS can be used to smooth out the fluctuating supply.

An ESS is composed of energy storage devices (e.g. batteries), power conditioning systems (PCS), and energy management systems (EMS). The EMS will coordinate the energy conditioning and storage mechanism through programmable controllers. Meanwhile, the EMS also communicates with the power supply systems (e.g. Taipower) to secure enough power for storage. During the process, if any party loses communication or malfunctions, the ESS will stop operation. Therefore, system stability and response speeds are critical for stable power storage and output.

Delta has developed an Energy Storage System Monitoring and Management Solution along with ACCULITE System Technology and Evergreat E&C, two system integration companies in Taiwan. Customers have long been bothered by the challenge of achieving fast response and a stable system at the same time, which requires smooth system integration and constant communication with external power supply systems. The solution leverages the SCADA System VTScada for management and monitoring, as well as the Hot Swappable Mid-Range PLC AH Series to connect between the VTScada and field devices and achieve a stable yet flexible management architecture.

VTScada integrates various systems for centralized monitoring and control, including power conditioning (PCS), battery module management (BMS), PV modules and the power grid. At the same time, VTScada can also maintain stable communications with the system of Taipower, the national power supplier in Taiwan. On one platform, users can clearly see the real-time status of the integrated systems, such as the power changes of the ESS, battery temperature, and even the voltage changes when the renewable energy is connected to the grid. In addition to monitoring, users can easily schedule and control the charging/discharging activities. In the case of anomalies, alarms will be triggered and the active protection feature of the PLC AH Series further reduces the risks of power interruption.

VTScada was chosen for its proven performance in many successful applications at large-scale plants in North America, which covers water supply, power generation and chemical processing. Its cloud-based architecture, which is perfect for cross-plant management, is combined with the PLC AH Series to capture the grid frequency in real time, and accurately calculate the power compensation rates based on Taipower’s specifications. The PCS is then controlled to discharge power to the grid to smooth out the fluctuation of the grid. Throughout the process, the power changes of the ESS and the grid are monitored all the time. If required, VTScada can upload the data to Taipower’s system for immediate communication within an extremely narrow time frame.

For a power infrastructure such as an energy storage system, system stability and reliability are crucial. VTScada and the PLC AH Series achieve seamless redundancy both for the system and the control hardware. Supporting HTML5, VTScada allows users to check the plant status on their mobile devices, and the status and failure alarms can also be sent via instant messaging applications. This feature is particularly useful for distributed operation, as engineers can arrange the maintenance process effectively by prioritizing the reported issues.

Delta’s Energy Storage System Monitoring and Management Solution offers the following benefits:

• Highly responsive and integrated management system

• Powerful SCADA to achieve comprehensive monitoring and control