6/06/2013, PowerGen, Viena – José Manuel Collados, ABB Power Systems
Integrating Solar PV into Off-Grid
System– Marble Bar Project
How to overcome grid instability
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 1
Agenda
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 2
1. 
Introduction: ABB in Solar
2. 
Microgrids renewable integration
3. 
Marble Bar project
4. 
Conclusion
Introduction: ABB in Solar
§ More than 500 MWac of
central solar inverters and
Megawatt stations
installed worldwide
§ 1998: ABB supplies the
control system for the first
Direct solar steam loop at
Plataforma solar de
Almeria, Spain
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 3
§ ABB
is the largest low
voltage component
supplier to leading
inverter manufacturers
§ 2010: ABB supplies the
control system for the first
of its kind Integrated Solar
Combined Cycle (ISCC)
plant in Kuraymat, Egypt
§ More
than 410 MWp of PV
plants installed, either as
an EPC contractor or as a
balance of system
component supplier
§ 2011: Acquisition of
Powercorp, leader in the
integration of renewable
energies into microgrids
Microgrids renewable integration
OPEX reduction
§ 
Diesel-fuel cost is volatile and rising
over time
Low CAPEX / Medium OPEX
Renewable energy cost is far less
volatile and reducing over time
§ 
§ 
Energy source is free
Medium CAPEX / Low OPEX
§ 
§ 
§ LCOE:
0.81 $/kWh
§ LCOE:
0.64 $/kWh
§ LCOE:
0.54 $/kWh
§ LCOE:
kWh
0.42 $/
§ 
Hybrid Renewable energy becomes
economically competitive.
§ 
Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE)
to be compared with diesel fuel
generation
Sources:
1) US Energy Information Administration – Independent Statistics and Analysis
http://www.cleantechinvestor.com/portal/fuel-cells/6422-mining-and-energy.html
2) Alliance for Rural electrification (ARE). Projections made from a case study based in
Ecuador with real natural conditions.
http://www.ruralelec.org/fileadmin/DATA/Documents/06_Publications/Position_papers/
ARE_TECHNOLOGICAL_PUBLICATION.pdf
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 4
Microgrids renewable integration
Solar Systems overview
PV:
Commercial
PV: Utility
Microgrids
PV:
Residential
CSP
Integration of
renewables into the grid
+Hybrid Plants
§ O&M
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 5
§ PV:
Photovoltaics
Concentrating Solar Power
§ CSP:
Service
§ Appendix:
Brochures, project references
Microgrids renewable integration
Microgrid vs. Macrogrid
Grids
Microgrid
Isolated
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 6
Macrogrid
Interconnected
Central
Generation
Distributed
Generation
Fossil Fuel Based
Grid + Fossil
Fossil
Fossil + Renewable
Grid + Renewable
Renewable
Low Penetration
Strong Grid
High Penetration
Weak Grid
Microgrids renewable integration
Managing power output fluctuations in microgrids
§ 
§ 
§ 
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 7
Inherent volatility of renewable energy
compromises microgrid stability
The renewable energy integration solution
have to face requirements traditionally fulfilled
by diesel generation like base load:
§ 
Availability
§ 
Frequency and voltage control
§ 
Sufficient spinning reserve
§ 
Sufficient active and reactive power
supply
§ 
Peak shaving and load shedding
§ 
Load sharing between generators
Renewable energy generation capacity should
be sized to maximize ROI and fuel savings.
§ 
Lowering Renewable CAPEX
§ 
Lowering overall OPEX
Microgrids renewable integration
Technical requirements
§ 
§ 
§ 
Stable frequency and voltage
Sufficient active and reactive
power supply
Electrical power production at
lowest cost
§ 
Power access, whenever
required (24/7)
§ 
Availability without Interruptions
With maximum
renewable energy
contribution
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 8
Microgrids renewable integration
Main drivers for implementation
Main drivers
Applications
Social
Economic
Environmental
Operational
Access to
electricity
Fuel savings
Reduce CO2 footprint
and pollution
Fuel
independence
P
P
P
Grid-connected
Rural electrification
Weak grid
off-grid
Islands
P
P
Mines / industrial sites
P
(P)
P
Military
(P)
(P)
P
P
Campuses
§ P:
§ (P):
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 9
P
Main driver
Secondary driver
Microgrids renewable integration
Possible renewable penetration
Solar/gas-diesel systems
Without integration
7-10%
20%
Automatic Management of
renewable energy and Gas
(DCS)
10 - 15%
22%
Stabilizing (flywheel)
25 - 50%
100%
Automated demand
management
60 – 80%
100%
100%
100%
Energy Storage
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 10
Annual
Peak
average
penetration
penetration
Microgrids renewable integration
Power Control & Dispatch System
§ Wind
Turbine
Generator
§ &
§ PV/CPV
§ &
§ Control
Centre
§ Energy
W-CMS*
Storage System
§ &
E-CMS*
§ Cooling/Heating
Generation
§ &
P-CMS*
Loads
L-CMS*
§  N-CMS*
§ Power
§ Other
Consumers/
Micro-Grid
Micro-Grid
§ Diesel
§ &
Generator
G-CMS*
§ Smart
Consumers
§ &
§ Grid
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 11
Stabilising System
§ &
E-CMS*
L-CMS*
Microgrids renewable integration
Experience
1990
1998
2001
2007
2010
Napperby
Denham
Mawson
Coral Bay
Northern Territory
Western Australia
Antarctica
Western Australia
Marble Bar &
Nullagine Western
Automatization
Station Diesel
Wind/Diesel
Wind/Grid
Stabilising
Wind/Diesel/
Flywheel
Solar/Diesel/
Flywheel
15%
Pénétration
85%
Pénétration
95%
Pénétration
100%
Pénétration
(Battery System)
0%
Pénétration
§ 
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 12
Pénétration est la moyenne annuelle d’énergie renouvelable comme
pourcentage de l’énergie produit
Australia
The Marble Bar Project
Project Overview
Customer Requirements
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 13
§ 
Fully automatic operation of power
station
§ 
Up to 100% supply of demand with
PV during daytime
§ 
Significant reduction of fuel
consumption
§ 
Safe, reliable and stable power supply
to local community
§ 
Operational within the harsh
environmental conditions (49 deg C
max, avg temp higher than 37 deg C
for 6 months)
§ 
Minimum maintenance
The Marble Bar Project
Description of Methodology
Input
Sol_rad(t)
Power System
Dynamic Model
Measured Data
System Behaviour
Diesel generator
Gen 1
Gen 2
Gen 3
Gen 4
Gen 5
Gen 6
Gen 7
~
G
~
G
~
G
~
G
~
G
~
G
~
G
P-Q Messung
Gen 1
LS Gen1
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
LS
Leitung
Gen1
Ltg
Ltg
Ltg
Ltg
Ltg
Ltg
Wind turbine
LS
WKA 3
~
G
WKA 2
~
G
WKA 1
~
G
Output:
U(t), f(t), ...
PLL
Grid
Ltg
HSS
LS
Ltg
LS
WKA1
Leitung
WKA1
3 ~ 415V / 50 Hz
LS Netz
Kompensation
WKA 1
P-Q Messung
WKA 1
P-Q Messung
Netz
Isolated gird
LS Ps1
Leitung Ps1
f-U
measurement
Ps 1
P-Q Messung
Ps1
PowerStore
Power System Simulation Tool
Showing expected Frequency & Voltage Variations
§  Allowed Control Algorithm Verification for Power
Management System
§ 
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 14
The Marble Bar Project
Dynamic Power Modelling: Stabilisation Analysis
à 
à 
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 15
Charging
Discharging Power requirement: 200kW (60% of installed PV capacity) Energy requirement: 1MWs (200kW for 5 seconds) The Marble Bar Project
Installed Solution
§ 
§ 
§ 
504 kW peak demand
1 x 300 kW SunPower T20 Single
Axis Tracker PV Array
4 x 320 kW Detroit Series 60 Diesel
Generators
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 16
§ 
§ 
§ 
RMC600 Power Management
System
1 x 500 kW PowerStore Grid
Stabilisation Device
1 x Substation with 4 Outgoing
Feeders
The Marble Bar Project
Stabilisation: PowerStore-Flywheel System
§ 440Vac
High duty cycle
§ 
Grid forming
§ 
Grid Stabilising
§ 
Scalable & Modular
§ 
Frequency Control
§ 
Synthetic Inertia
§ 
Voltage Control
§ 
Fault ride through
Inverter
§ 440Vac
§ 60-120Hz
§ Fixed
§ Variable
§ Frequency
§ Frequency
§ Activel
§ Power
§ Active
§ Power
§ Reactive
Inverters 100– 1,650 kVA
§ 2.9T
§ 1,800
§ 3,600 RPM
§ Power
§ 
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 17
Generator
§ MG
High Power; low energy
§ 
§ Flywheel
§ 50/60Hz
Features
§ 
§ Virtual
§ 
18 MWs flywheel
The Marble Bar Project
Control System
§ 1,2
MW
Diesel
§ 0,3
MW
solar
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 18
The Marble Bar Project
Renewable Microgrid Controller (RMC-600)
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 19
The Marble Bar Project
Broadcasting between devices
§ 
Every Controller measures and
controlls only its own equipments
§ 
Each Broadcast contains all control
relevant information
§ 
Decisions are taken autonomously
§ 
Broadcasting based on standard
Ethernet
Example Broadcasting Messages
Diesel Generator Controller
PV Controller
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 20
Pnom:
Pact:
320 kW
100 kW
Pnom:
Pact:
300 kW
150 kW
PSpinAct:
220kW
Pavail:
190 kW
The Marble Bar Project
Operational Data – Limit of Solar Penetration
Solar Radiation
PV Power
200
800
Generators
Power
kW
600
Solar Radiation
100
Watts/sq.m.
400
Pstore Power
200
0
0
1:43:20
Mon 20-Jun-11
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 21
7:16:40
Mon 20-Jun-11
12:50:00
Mon 20-Jun-11
18:23:20
Mon 20-Jun-11
The Marble Bar Project
Operational Data – Loss of a diesel generator
Gen 4 Trip
Gen 2 On-line
55
200
Pstore Power
kW
Frequency
Hz
100
50
0
45
23:56:40
Thu 22-Sep-11
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 22
23:57:00
Thu 22-Sep-11
23:57:20
Thu 22-Sep-11
The Marble Bar Project
RMC-600 Example – Loss of power generation
Start
Discharge
Pnom 0kW
Pact 200kW
Eact 10 MWs
Pact 200kW
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 23
The Marble Bar Project
RMC-600 Example – Loss of diesel generation
Pact -50kW
Pact 250kW
Pact 200kW
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 24
Recharge
The Marble Bar Project
Operational Data – Loss of PV array
PV Array Trip
PowerStore
Response
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 25
Generator
Covering
Remaining
Load
The Marble Bar Project
Operational Data – Energy Constraint of PowerStore
300
PV Power
kW
200
Gen 4 Power
100
Gen 2 Power
Powerstore
Power
0
26-Oct-11 10:16
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 26
26-Oct-11 13:03
26-Oct-11 15:50
26-Oct-11 18:36
Conclusion
Annualy Savings in Marble Bar
1 GWh energy produced by the PV array equalling 60% of annual demand.
405,000 litres of diesel fuel saved.
1,100 tones CO2 emissions saved.
General Conclusions
• 
Smart power systems start with smart engineering.
• 
Renewable penetration in islanded systems already reaches levels that require
grid stabilisation.
• 
All elements in a power system have to be part of a smart control system to:
• 
Increase the use of renewable sources.
• 
Maintain stable supply of electricity.
• 
Allow safe operation of thermal power plants.
Technology to become a smart power system is already available and
proven in many islanded power systems around the globe reaching
up to 100% penetration of renewable generation
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 27
Storage Solutions
Technology Overview
Compressed air
(CAES)
Energy [MWh]
10
Chemical
batteries
1
Pump storage
0,1
Flywheel
0,1
1
10
Peak power [MW]
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 29
100
1000
The Marble Bar Project, WA, Australia
Project Specific Technical Challenges
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 30
§ 
100% PV penetration
§ 
Startup times
§ 
Minimum loadings
§ 
Reverse power scenarios
§ 
Fuel efficiency
§ 
Negative step loads
§ 
Spinning reserve requirements
§ 
Fault current provision
PowerStore Solution
Flywheel based Grid Stabilisation
Functionality
§ 
Parallel with conventional generators
§ 
Frequency control, like a generator
§ 
Voltage control, like a generator
§ 
Active and reactive power supply
§ 
Run stand-alone as virtual generator
(Frequency and voltage reference)
Applications
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 31
§ 
Grid Stability
§ 
Renewable smoothing
§ 
Provide fault current
§ 
Peak Lopping
Renewable Microgrid ControllerFunctionality
Added Functionality with added Controllers
PV Array
Controller
Generator 1 Generator 2
Controller
Controller
PowerStore Building
Controller Controller
Feeder
Controller
Overload Support
Ideal Loading Power Setpoint
Cloud Cover Support
Power Station Black Start
Algorithm
Step Load Requirements
Proactive Load
Shedding
Spinning Reserve Requirements
kW / kVAr sharing
Mngmt
Reclose
Temperature
And many more . . .
© ABB Group
giugno 6, 2013 | Slide 32
Derating