In Complete Charge - skytron's Plant Controller Integrates PV Power into the French High-Voltage Grid

Berlin, Germany (ots) - For the first time, in March 2012, the
power plant controller skycontrol is installed and commissioned in a
photovoltaic installation that feeds directly into France's 63 kV
high-voltage grid. Drawing from its solid experience in the control
of utility-scale PV plants connected to medium-voltage grids, the
Berlin-based company skytron® energy GmbH fine tunes the plant
controller of the 34 MWac PV power plant in the south-west of France
to the stringent grid connection specifications of RTE, the French
transmission system operator. In addition to the control functions
that by now are standard to the plant controller, such as active
power curbing and power factor adjustment, the controller is
empowered to meet a number of new challenges.

The four plant sections spaced from each other as far as 30
kilometres require active compensation of the reactive power load
caused by long cable lines. Another trying task is the injection of
reactive power into the grid for voltage stabilization, and this even
at nights when no power is being generated. This is ensured by
meticulously adapted control algorithms and phase-shift capability of
the inverters. A further important aspect: frequency control makes
sure that the frequency stays within the predefined characteristics
and power generation is throttled in the event of overfrequency.

During on-site commissioning and on-grid test runs, the controller
was finely tuned to follow a comprehensive plant simulation model.
"First we were a little apprehensive. For everybody involved, these
control requirements meant treading new trails", admits Gerald
Freymann, Technical Manager of GP Joule, the EPC contractor for the
entire project. "But our minds were quickly set at rest by the
flexibility of the power plant controller. Right now we are in the
approval phase during which we have to provide the plant's logged and
recorded control responses to the French RTE company. We are
confident to pass this final test."

Following this successful completion of controlled PV power
feed-in, skytron energy GmbH is now installing another power plant
controller in a 40 MWp project in the south-east of France, this time
injecting into RTE's 225 kV grid. "We are happy about the growing
importance of photovoltaic power plants connected to France's
high-voltage grid. And with the controllable provision of PV power
we make an important contribution to grid stability," explains Marco
Wirnsberger, Managing Director of skytron® energy GmbH. "To date,
our company has equipped 1.3 GW of installed PV capacity with the
skycontrol plant controller, which clearly puts us on the market
leading scale."

skytron® energy GmbH
--------------------
is a Berlin-based company developing fully integrated monitoring,
control and supervision solutions for utility-scale photovoltaic
power plants. Their power plant controller skycontrol is a nominee
for this year's Intersolar Award at the Intersolar Europe in Munich.

GP Joule PV GmbH & Co. KG
-------------------------
is a German EPC company developing Renewable Energy projects
worldwide. GP Joule is the principal developer and constructor of
the described 30 MW photovoltaic project in the south-west of France,
connected to RTE's high-voltage grid.
www.gp-joule.de

Contact:
skytron energy GmbH
Ms. Darija Jezidzic
d.jezidzic@skytron-energy.com

For additional information on PV power plant control, please contact:
skytron energy GmbH,
project@skytron-energy.com or +49 (0)30 688 31 600