Photovoltaic system

In commercial solar monitoring, a device on site continuously records the output, generation and feed-in of the system and transmits the data to the operator via a secure router. This makes yields, self-consumption and faults visible. At EHA, meteocontrol’s blue’Log XC performs this task for the REWE Group’s solar systems. Industrial routers from INSYS icom provide networking with remote access and are managed centrally, including firmware updates.

With export limiting, a controller regulates the PV system so that only the permitted output flows into the public grid, or none at all, with the energy then used on site. At REWE’s logistics site in Henstedt-Ulzburg, this is handled by a zero feed-in solution based on meteocontrol’s blue’Log XC. It exchanges process data with the grid operator in real time via an open Modbus TCP interface. Grid connection rules are implemented through parameter settings, without any programming.

A power plant controller implements the grid operator’s requirements at the grid connection point of a generating plant, for example for the power fed in. To do so, it needs a reliable data connection. HÖRMANN lists this control alongside direct marketing and connection to virtual power plants as requirements for which the IXON platform provides the framework in its PV projects. The IXrouter sits in the PV communication cabinets and gives technicians secure remote access.

Measuring the self-consumption rate requires generation, feed-in and consumption to be recorded together, because it shows the share of self-generated electricity used on site. Schaeffler Digital Solutions integrates existing photovoltaic systems as a feed-in source into its autinityE3 energy monitoring software. The dashboard shows output charts, energy produced, energy surpluses, self-consumption and feed-in, and also evaluates the degree of self-sufficiency as a KPI.