Integrating renewables into remote or

isolated power networks and microgrids

Innovative solutions to ensure power
quality and grid stability
 ABB is a leading provider of integrated power
and automation solutions for conventional and
renewable-based power generation plants and
water applications, such as pumping stations
and distribution plants. The company’s extensive
offering includes turnkey electrical, automation,
instrumentation and control systems supported
by a comprehensive service portfolio to optimize
performance, reliability, and efficiency while
minimizing environmental impact.

2 Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids

ABB`s microgrids and renewable integration platform
provides a modular and scalable solution that integrates
renewable power generation into microgrids that
previously operated solely on fossil fuel.
The key is to design a renewable power plant that can
maximize return on investment, while delivering a stable,
safe and reliable power supply.
ABB`s solution includes grid stabilization technology
that enables high penetration of renewable power
generation, and distributed control systems that
provide intelligent power management and efficient
hybrid power plant operation.
Our solution achieves 100% peak penetration of
renewables in wind/diesel and solar/diesel power
systems, maximizing fuel savings and supplying
reliable, grid-quality power in remote off-grid locations.

Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids 3

ABB technologies enable the flow and control
be more flexible, reliable, efficient, intelligent

A renewable future The power sector plays a major role

Most people never think about the vast, complex electrical
networks behind every wall socket and how indispensable in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
these networks are to our world. emissions by integrating renewables
Electricity plays a key role in economic and social development,
yet more than 1.3 billion people in remote areas still don’t
have access to it.

Fortunately, technology exists that can ensure access to

reliable sources of quality electricity, even in isolated areas far
away from regular power networks.

4 Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids

of electricity for power networks to
and environmentally friendly

The power of innovation The intermittent nature of renewables makes this a challenge.
The easiest way to generate electricity in areas not serviced Electricity generated by a wind turbine, for example, can
by electrical networks is with a generator that burns fossil create surges of electricity caused by gusting winds. An
fuels, like diesel, gas or heavy fuel oil. Yet remote places may isolated grid must be equipped to overcome these surges,
also be rich in renewable energy sources, like sun, wind and or it can collapse. The challenge has been to devise a method
water, which could be harvested. which can harvest clean energy when nature cooperates and
compensate or smooth things out when it does not.
Reducing the reliance of remote communities on fossil
fuels is driving the development of technologies designed Now, ABB can offer a solution that successfully and safely
to integrate, manage and control renewable generation in integrates renewable power into small, isolated or remote
isolated networks. This technology has successfully increased grids.
the production and integration of renewable energy into
isolated power generation systems that once relied on
fossil fuels alone. These hybrid generation solutions provide
high-quality electricity in isolated places, making them much
less vulnerable to escalating fossil fuel prices or erratic power
supplies.

Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids 5

Managing renewable energy

Electricity networks are complex systems that cannot be One of the biggest challenges of integrating renewable
efficiently and securely operated without an appropriate generation in any power grid is intermittent generation, which
energy management and control system. can be caused, for example, by gusting wind or clouds on
a sunny day. This simple occurrence can destabilize the
ABB is a global leader in energy and generation management grid and cause an unwelcome generator response known
systems, with more than 5,000 installations worldwide. The as hunting, even when wind flow is low, which leads to
Group recently acquired Powercorp, a company with a unique unnecessarily high consumption of backup fossil fuels, higher
portfolio that connects remote communities and isolated engine maintenance, and expensive blackouts.
enterprises with quality power which can be generated almost
entirely from renewable sources, or easily combined with existing Power fluctuation is common in isolated networks, but
fossil fuel generation systems to reduce costs and risks. the problem also exists in large networks at the end of
transmission lines, or at the interconnection point of wind
Powercorp developed the technology to help automate or solar farms and other critical nodes.
diesel-generator power stations across Australia’s remote
Northern Territory. The challenge was to integrate renewables
into remote power grids, initially focusing on wind-diesel
hybrid systems before expanding into solar energy, enhanced
by a control system capable of instantly balancing renewable
and fossil fuel generation in one power network.

6 Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids

We have the solution

Our innovative technology solution can stabilize an electricity Automation and control
network by rapidly absorbing power surges from the renewable PowerStore technology is augmented by a robust, specially
energy source, or by injecting power to make up for short term designed distributed control system (Renewable Microgrid
lulls, in order to maintain high-quality voltage and frequency. Controller, in brief RMC 600) that can manage the energy flow
Combined with automation and control systems that ensure within a power network to ensure balance between supply
the most efficient and reliable power flow possible throughout and demand and optimize the use of the renewable energy.
the network, it is a solution that makes it possible to have
utility-grade power virtually anywhere. The RMC 600 controls and monitors all renewable generating
units, all diesel and/or gas generator sets, consumer feeders and
PowerStore energy storage in a power system. It provides event reporting,
PowerStoreTM is a flywheel-based, grid stabilizing system, which trending, remote access and external alarm notification.
includes state-of-the-art inverters and virtual generator control Depending on system load conditions, the controllers start and
software. It enables the integration of intermittent and often stop generators to optimize station fuel efficiency. The system
erratic renewable generation. It can help achieve up to 100 maintains optimum loading and spinning reserve on all in-service
percent penetration of renewable energy source into remote generator sets. It continuously monitors the feeder load and
grids, and enables the higher utilization of renewable energy matches the most economical configuration of the generator
generators, protecting remote communities from exposure to sets with the renewable energy sources or demand.
volatile oil prices.
Technology that can smooth out power surges and optimize flow
Poor integration design can inflict damage on a power control within isolated networks ensures maximum penetration
generating station. PowerStore safeguards conventional of renewable energy into these networks, maximizing savings.
microgrids, and ensures the safe integration of large amounts PowerStore, combined with RMC 600 technology, is the only
of wind and solar energy, reducing emissions and dependency technology of its kind to provide electricity in areas that cannot
on fossil fuels. High-speed software controls the power flow be supplied by a conventional electricity network.
into and out of the flywheel, essentially making it a high inertia
“electrical shock absorber” that can instantly smooth out power Together, grid-stabilizing PowerStore technology and
fluctuations generated by wind turbines or solar arrays. RMC 600 power management system enable up to 100 percent
instantaneous penetration of renewable generation in a power
PowerStore acts like a STATCOM (advanced grid technology network, while running thermal generation units at their optimal
that quickly stabilizes voltage and improves power quality) loading points, or as back-up. It is a proven renewable
and in addition is capable of rapidly absorbing or injecting integration solution, installed in many projects worldwide,
real power within an isolated power network. It can stabilize including Australia, Europe, North America and even Antarctica.
both voltage and frequency, hold 18 MWs (megawatt
seconds) of energy and shift from full absorption to full
injection in 1 millisecond to stabilize the grid. Without a grid
stabilizing technology like PowerStore, the instantaneous
penetration of renewable energy is limited to about 30 percent
of the total system load before the renewable component
starts to destabilize it. In small isolated networks, this is a
frequent problem.

Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids 7

We have the solution

ABB has been in the energy business for 125 years, and over To start, ABB consultants evaluate design options for both
the years has pioneered many additional product and system off-grid and grid-connected distributed generation applications.
innovations to help improve efficient energy use and lower Optimization and sensitivity analysis algorithms evaluate the
environmental impact in the industrial and utility sectors. These economic feasibility of many technology options,
include: and account for cost variations and energy resource availability.

Balance of system In addition to thorough economic analysis, ABB provides a

ABB’s comprehensive renewable energy portfolio ranges strong technical consulting capability, including flexible, dynamic
from Electrical Balance of Plant (EBoP), automation, simulation tools that produce extremely accurate grid models.
instrumentation and control system products and solutions ABB’s experience with remote power generation is constantly
supported by a service portfolio that optimizes performance, helping to improve the tools and design process in these studies,
reliability, and efficiency, all the way to complete Balance of while an experienced engineering team guarantees the end
System (BoS) packages and turnkey project capability. result is a high-quality, technically detailed project simulation.

Our scope of supply can include an entire project, from site ABB verifies its models with data taken from similar
assessment to plant design, engineering, manufacture and completed, commissioned projects. This helps to identify
procurement, installation, commissioning and grid connection. problems in the simulation process, and increases the
accuracy of future models. This way, ABB consultants can rely
Consulting on real-world experience and working systems to ensure the
ABB has many years of experience integrating renewable most valid simulation models possible.
energy sources in technically challenging microgrids, and
this combined with strict adherence to industry-accepted Service
tools and standards is the foundation of ABB’s consulting Service is a key ABB competency. Over the past 10 years, ABB
offering. Making the right economic and technical decisions has built up a remote service capability for power generation
can be difficult, but using sophisticated simulation tools, facilities, and now provides several hundred plants with remote
ABB can tailor a solution to fit specific wind and solar monitoring from dedicated control centers. The same concept
conditions, commercial conditions and technical is also available for renewable generation plants.
requirements.
For microgrids, especially in remote areas, it is critical
to maintain constant power supply and be connected to
technical support at all times. ABB technology enables remote
The power system of the future will access, monitoring and control of such installations.
be more flexible and interconnected,
leading to the evolution of a stronger Servicing the components that hold remote systems together
ensures essential power generation at remote sites is not
and smarter grid, balancing our interrupted. ABB can perform routine service checks, regular
growing need for power with maintenance and unscheduled service remotely, with minimal
environmental concerns impact on the microgrid.

8 Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids

Applications
PowerStore grid-stabilizing technology is extremely beneficial ABB solutions facilitate the genera-
in remote and microgrids where it offers real and reactive tion, transmission and distribution and
power support in isolated communities and industrial
settings, such as mines, fish canneries and construction
utilization of electricity in remote or
sites, where fuel costs and production schedules are critically isolated areas - enabling efficiency,
important. In addition it can provide virtually instantaneous reliability and power quality
support for and protection from electrical surges created by
large scale electrical equipment on site.

This breakthrough solution combined with the solid RMC 600

power management solution enables the injection of up
to 100 percent renewable energy into remote networks.
The benefits are clear for island communities cut off from
mainland grids, isolated tourist centers, remote villages
and industrial sites far removed from conventional power
networks.

Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids 9

Helping our customers achieve their targets

Marble Bar Ross Island

The world’s first high penetration, solar photovoltaic diesel New Zealand’s Scott Base and America’s McMurdo Station in
power stations were commissioned in 2010 in the towns of Antarctica are important research bases and home to
Nullagine and Marble Bar, in Western Australia. The projects about 1,200 people in the Antarctic summer. They have
include more than 2,000 solar modules and a solar tracking always relied completely on fossil fuels for power and heating,
system that follows the path of the sun throughout the until a new system based on wind turbines, a new distributed
day. When the sun is shining, PowerStore grid-stabilizing control system and PowerStore grid-stabilizing technology
technology and DCS power management solution ensures was commissioned in 2009. The bases still need back-up
maximum solar energy (100% peak penetration) goes into the diesel generators, but three 333 kilowatt (kW) wind turbines
network by lowering diesel generation, up to the minimum reduce the amount of diesel required for power generation by
loading of the generation units. When the sun is obscured, around 463,000 liters, and cut CO2 emissions by 1,242 metric
the PowerStore covers the loss of solar power generation as tons per year, while lowering the risks of transporting and
the DCS ramps up the diesel generation, so the network has storing liquid fuel in this precious environment. A frequency
an uninterrupted energy supply. The solar energy systems converter interconnects the Scott and McMurdo bases, which
generate over 1 gigawatt hour (GWh) of renewable energy per operate at different frequencies - 50 Hz (NZ) and 60 Hz (US),
year, supplying 60 percent of the average daytime energy for allowing power flow in both directions.
both towns, saving 405,000 liters of fuel and 1,100 metric
tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

10 Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids

BHP Billiton Leinster nickel mine Coral Bay
BHP Billiton’s Leinster nickel mine in Western Australia is the Coral Bay is the gateway to the Ningaloo Reef World Heritage
third-largest producer of nickel concentrate in the world. Ore Area in Northwestern Australia, where power demand
is extracted from 1,000 meters underground with a large, increases significantly during the tourist season. A PowerStore
electrically driven winder, which at 8.5 megawatts (MW) grid-stabilizing system and DCS power management solution
of demand shift over 120 seconds is a large cyclic load, oversees the town’s power supply, which consists of seven
given the unit’s average power consumption is just 2 MW. To 320 kilowatt (kW) low-load diesel generation units combined
upgrade the winder’s power supply, BHP installed a 1 MW with three 200 kW wind turbines. PowerStore’s 500 kW
PowerStore system, which reduced the total demand shift to flywheel technology enables the wind turbines to supply up to
6.5 MW while adding 1 MW of spinning reserve to the system. 95 percent of Coral Bay’s energy supply at times, with a total
Its flywheel-based energy storage system provides peak annual wind penetration of 45 percent, while maintaining city
lopping and overcomes transient and cyclic loads on grid grid standards of power stability and quality. Power station
connected or isolated systems. The mine was able to increase data indicates more than 80 percent of Coral Bay’s power
winder production without affecting power system reliability. is wind generated for one-third of the year. The data also
Fully automated, PowerStore gets power to the winder when shows that for nearly 900 hours per year, wind provides more
it’s needed most, and provides high resolution data of winder than 90 percent of Coral Bay’s power supply. PowerStore
performance and local electrical grid disturbances. maximizes an environmentally friendly solution.

Integrating renewables into remote or isolated power networks and microgrids 11

Contact us

3BUS095580 EN A4 Power Generation 12/12

ABB S.A. © Copyright 2012 ABB
All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice.
Power Generation Pictures, schematics, and other graphics contained herein are
Microgrids and Renewable Energy Integration published for illustration purposes only and do not represent product
configurations or functionality.
C/ San Romualdo, 13
28037, Madrid
Spain
Phone: +34 91 581 938 6

ABB Inc.
Power Generation
Microgrids and Renewable Energy Integration
1021 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
USA
Phone: +011 919 856 2448

ABB Australia Pty Limited

Power Generation
Microgrids and Renewable Energy Integration
Export Drive
Darwin Business Park
Berrimah NT 0828
Australia
Phone: +61 (0)8 8947 0933

www.abb.com/powergeneration