A SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system is a supervisory and data acquisition system that enables remote control and monitoring of process equipment and processes. A SCADA system consists of three main components: a master station, slave stations and communications. The master station is a central computer that collects and processes data from slave stations, issues control commands and presents information to the operator. Slave stations are field devices such as sensors, transducers, meters, regulators, relays, etc., which perform local measurements and control. Connectivity is the data transmission channel between the master station and the slave stations, which can be implemented through various technologies such as wired networks, wireless, radio, satellite, etc.
The SCADA system is used in a wide range of industries and sectors, such as energy, water supply, transport, telecommunications, industry, etc. In particular, the SCADA system is an essential tool for managing wind and solar farms, which are key sources of renewable energy (RES).
Wind and solar farms consist of many distributed devices, such as wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, inverters, transformers, etc., which must be constantly monitored and controlled to ensure their optimal operation, efficiency and reliability. A SCADA system allows remote access to data and operating parameters of RES equipment, such as power, voltage, current, temperature, wind speed, insolation, etc., and the detection and diagnosis of failures, faults and anomalies. The SCADA system also allows optimisation of energy production and consumption, resource and cost management, forecasting and planning, as well as integration with other systems such as energy management systems, information systems, alarm systems, etc.
The management of RES devices by means of a SCADA system has a significant impact on the profitability of investments in wind and solar farms. By monitoring RES equipment, it is possible to increase the lifespan of the equipment, improve the quality and reliability of the energy supply, reduce operating and maintenance costs, and increase the safety of personnel and the environment. In addition, the SCADA system enables adaptation to changing market and regulatory conditions, such as energy prices, tariffs, taxes, subsidies, emission standards, etc., and the exploitation of opportunities to generate additional revenues, such as system services, energy trading, green certificates, etc.
The combination of the advantages of a traditional SCADA system with a business analysis component can be found in EMACS. This is because the EMACS system combines the advantages of a classic SCADA system with business analysis functionalities such as production and energy consumption optimisation, forecasting and planning, integration with other systems, etc. The EMACS system is the first and only such a multifunctional platform on the Polish market, designed mainly for the energy industry, industry and life science solutions. The EMACS system is an in-house solution from Electrum Solutions, which specialises in creating innovative and technologically advanced services for the RES sector.
In summary, the SCADA system is a comprehensive solution for monitoring solar and wind farms, which are important sources of renewable energy. The SCADA system provides efficient and flexible management of RES equipment, which translates into increased profitability of investments in wind and solar farms.
Wind energy is one of the key elements of Poland’s and Europe’s energy transition. Wind farms, both onshore and offshore, are a source of cheap and clean energy that contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security. However, the operation and maintenance (O&M) of wind farms requires specialised knowledge and experience, as well as continuous adaptation to changing market and technological conditions.
