Intersolar Europe 2019: meteocontrol showcases its certified plant controller for the first time

VCOM on three screens in control room

At Intersolar Europe 2019, meteocontrol GmbH showcases future-proof monitoring with the portal solutions of the VCOM Cloud: VCOM CMMS, VCOM Monitoring and VCOM Open Interface.

At Intersolar Europe 2019, meteocontrol GmbH will use the occasion of the official handover of the component certificate to showcase its trade fair highlight: the Power Plant Controller (PPC). The plant controller, which is based on the new blue’Log XC, guarantees grid code compliant feed-in according to VDE-AR-N 4110 and VDE-AR-N 4120. On top of that, meteocontrol will also present new portal solutions with its VCOM Cloud: future-proof monitoring produced with the help of machine learning, process optimization with integrated CMMS, and data networking via the VCOM Open Interface. Trade fair visitors who stop by booth 231 in hall B2 can learn more about how meteocontrol supports the latest technologies in the PV industry from the very beginning of the process by providing advisory services and product solutions.

The Power Plant Controller (PPC) based on the new blue’Log XC is one of the first plant controllers in Germany to have received a component certificate for PV systems. “We have systematically enhanced our blue’Log X-Series to ensure that our customers are equipped in the best-possible way to meet current and future challenges,” says Martin Schneider, the Managing Director of meteocontrol. “Our initial successful projects have demonstrated this as well.” The certificate will be officially presented by Liselotte Ulvgård, Grid Code Compliance Engineer at the certification body DNV GL Renewables Certification, at 4 p.m. on May 15, the first day of the trade fair, at the meteocontrol booth B2.231.

Carefully designed standard solutions: blue’Log XM and blue’Log XC

With its combination of blue’Log XM (monitoring) and blue’Log XC (control), meteocontrol offers monitoring and control support for PV systems around the world from a single source. The standard solution excels in two crucial ways: It reduces planning requirements, and it can be commissioned quickly and easily. All requirements can be fulfilled by just setting parameters, and they can be easily carried out with the help of the user-friendly configuration interface. Exceptional data quality, the flexible driver concept and high IT security standards are the crucial components that assure the future viability of the blue’Log X-Series.

Virtual Control Room: VCOM for large system portfolios

With the new VCOM Cloud, meteocontrol has systematically refined VCOM. It has also combined monitoring, O&M service and an open data archive with a range of interfaces into one solution. VCOM CMMS optimizes all processes in service with the help of digitalization – from the ticket and work order with checklists to a final report. The direct connection with VCOM Monitoring and O&M App enables operation managers to work in an effective, time-saving manner. New features include target-value determination (digital twin) performed on the basis of machine learning: This results in even more reliable simulation for VCOM Monitoring – done either by satellite or local sensors. To improve monitoring and avoid time-consuming manual calibration by operation managers, meteocontrol links physical simulation with self-learning target-value optimization. With the VCOM Open Interface and the enhanced API, the PV specialist will present all required interfaces that can be used to easily import data from various sources and data loggers into VCOM and to retrieve the information.

“We have created an open platform for the required data import and data retrieval. In doing so, we have developed the best way to integrate system portfolios into a single platform,” Martin Schneider says. “More than 14 gigawatts of monitored power in over 120 countries around the world speaks for itself: Focused development, innovative thinking and internationalization are the keys to our success.”

Leader in current technologies

At booth B2.231, visitors will also be able to see how meteocontrol supports the latest technologies in the PV industry from the very start. Long-term and day-ahead yield forecasts, technical consulting regarding single/two-axis tracking, bifacial modules and floating PV (FPV) are as critical to the future as technical requirements for Zero Feed-In and PV-diesel hybrid projects. The SCADA Center, a unit that focuses on utility projects, is another critical aspect of meteocontrol’s complete, single-source solution.