Author: Joanna Wrzeszcz

Despite the undeniable advantages of renewable energy sources, the issue of their variable efficiency due to external factors sometimes arises. By employing hybrid systems and through proper energy management, the risk of system instability can be minimized, and production capabilities maximized.

What Are Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems?

The goal of using hybrid renewable energy systems is to compensate for the limitations and benefits of different energy generation methods. These power plants consist of at least two independent installations utilizing different energy sources – most commonly wind and solar. When sunlight is weaker, such as in winter or autumn, the wind typically blows stronger, and conversely, during summer when the wind dies down, the sun shines more intensely. As a result, these systems generate energy almost continuously. Besides the solar-wind “hybrid,” connections between wind and/or solar farms with energy storage systems are also gaining popularity.

Electrum Designs and Builds Hybrid Systems as One of the Few Companies in Poland

The Electrum Group is one of the few companies in Poland that designs and builds hybrid farms. Our activities also include managing renewable energy devices that are part of the hybrid system, monitoring renewable energy, and servicing renewable energy systems.

Jacek Popławski, Director of Strategy and Development at Electrum Group:

“Hybrid systems supported by smart information technology represent the future of the energy market. Hybridization is one of the cornerstones of our mission to support and accelerate the energy transition. With such solutions, we are one step closer to achieving green, decentralized energy islands composed of renewable energy sources, storage systems, nuclear power, and other essential elements. And this is just the beginning of our journey and revolution.”

A flagship project of this type undertaken by Electrum will be a solar-wind power plant with a capacity of 205 MW, located in the Kleczew municipality in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. It will become one of the largest hybrid facilities of its kind in Poland. In addition to the photovoltaic and wind farms, the investment will eventually include an energy storage system. The completion of the first phase of the investment, which is the construction of the solar farm, is planned for the second half of 2023. The wind farm is expected to be completed in 2024, with the energy storage system planned for a later stage of the project.

Good news from the Grabowo Wind Farm, with a target capacity of 44 MW, where last week the transformer station successfully underwent the first voltage application procedure. This also marks the first energization involving Renedium 1.0, a device for regulating reactive and active power.

The Grabowo Wind Farm is a renewable energy project completed in a record short time. In just over eight months, specialists from Electrum Concreo, a sister company of Electrum Solutions, built 18 km of high-voltage lines, 100,000 m² of roads and assembly areas, and 20 wind turbine foundations.

The Renedium 1.0 active and reactive power regulator is operational at the Grabowo Wind Farm

It is in Grabowo where Electrum’ product, Renedium 1.0, makes its debut. This regulator is used for controlling active and reactive power. This one compact device will control the power transformer (ARN automation), reactors (both regulated and static), and a capacitor bank. The power regulator is listed on the PTPiREE white list and is confirmed to comply with the requirements of the NC RfG code, and it also meets the requirements of IRiESP, IRiESD, and the conditions for connecting the facility.

Green energy will reduce CO2 emissions

The construction and powering of the turbines is the next stage of the wind farm’s development, with completion planned for the third quarter of 2023. Thanks to this green investment, we will avoid emitting over 121,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually, and we will be able to supply clean and renewable electricity to more than 64,000 households.

Read more about wind farm construction

We have introduced a new service in our offering— wind farm services and management. We provide comprehensive turbine maintenance and verification of the technical condition of equipment.

The high quality and wide range of services are based on our multidisciplinary competencies (automation, design, construction, energy), as well as the know-how gained from strategic contracts in the Polish renewable energy sector. We also have extensive experience in monitoring GPO stations and have many MW of wind energy in our portfolio of completed projects.

Wind Farm Service

We offer a high-quality, comprehensive service that covers the full spectrum of renewable energy installations, unique in the Polish market. Our offer includes not only parts repairs and inspections but also risk mitigation or transfer, post-warranty turbine service, and services crucial for extending the operational life of the facility.

Electrum Wind Farm Services – What does wind farm management involve?

Our wind farm management services can be divided into several key elements.

Wind farm management includes:

Preventive maintenance

Regularly performed maintenance allows for the repair of most minor faults resulting from parts wear.

Inspections and major repairs

Our services include diagnostics of damage in case of failure, regular inspections, as well as comprehensive repairs of major components.

Turbine audit

This service allows for the assessment of the technical condition of a wind turbine before the warranty expires. The procedure is also recommended before purchasing a used turbine.

Read also: Wind turbine maintenance

Emergency service

Provides quick repairs in the event of a sudden failure.

24/7 monitoring

We have one of the most modern dispatch centers in the country. Our experienced dispatchers monitor facilities 24/7 and have the competencies to perform initial diagnostics of problems.

Asset management

Comprehensive wind farm management services, including technical, legal, and financial aspects.

Read also: Wind farm maintenance: Innovations and challenges in operation

Electrum oversees more than half a thousand wind turbines, which translates to 1,225.6 MW of energy. We also provide O&M services on PV facilities generating nearly 150 MWp of power. This wouldn’t be possible without our experienced dispatchers and service technicians!

Wind turbine and Electrum service technicians

Our O&M experience dates back to 2012—these were the early days of Operations & Maintenance in Poland. In 2016, we established a dedicated service department and created a modern dispatch center. Today, we operate within the Electrum Group as part of a holding that offers services across the entire value chain of renewable energy projects. The quality of Electrum’s services, however, primarily stems from the expert skills of our people.

One of The Most Experienced O&M Team in Poland

We are not only one of the longest-operating dispatch centers in Poland but also one of the most advanced. We stand out with the highest standards in cybersecurity. It is worth noting that many of the farms we service operate on the EMACS platform—our proprietary SCADA system. With our own automation department, we can offer tailor-made SCADA solutions, customized to meet the needs of each investment.

Electrum’s O&M Department includes:

• Dispatchers with the most experience in the country
• The ability to remotely repair faults on PV and wind farm facilities
• A guarantee of quick response to sudden failures
• Years of collaboration with DSO and TSO
• Top-level cybersecurity
• Experienced service technicians with high problem-solving skills

O&M Services – Białystok and All of Poland

In the facilities we service, our primary concern is to ensure that the infrastructure operates without failures and with as few planned downtimes as possible. In our daily work, we focus on monitoring and promptly responding to faults and changes in system operation. The experience of our dispatchers often allows us to quickly identify irregularities, thereby preventing significant losses or failures. However, the O&M service not only involves ongoing monitoring but also preventive and corrective maintenance.

Read more about:

Solar energy monitoring 

Wind farm service and photovoltaic farm service

A good O&M service is not just about reacting to current faults. The experienced Electrum service team not only performs repairs but also conducts periodic inspections. When such inspections are carried out at appropriate intervals, they help avoid most faults resulting, for example, from the wear and tear of spare parts. These audits also include winter inspections, which are carried out using thermography. This service is individually tailored to the client’s needs.

Read more about:

Wind turbine maintenance

A typical O&M services include inspections:

• Recommended by the equipment manufacturer,
• During the warranty period,
• Required by Polish building law.

Not Just O&M Services Related to Warranties and Insurance

We support our clients not only by servicing and monitoring facilities. We provide comprehensive services related to energy asset management — technical asset management and comprehensive asset management. It is also worth noting the possibility of supporting the client in the event of a warranty or insurance claim. This service may include a report for the insurer, damage assessment, and a list of parts that may fail as a result of the event, but after some time.

Photovoltaics in Poland and Europe is currently the fastest-growing technology in the energy market. The increase in new capacities from photovoltaic installations presents many opportunities, but also challenges for many sectors.

The key to reducing potential investment risk from renewable energy sources, lowering costs, and increasing system reliability lies in high-quality operational and maintenance services—this was the focus of the first O&M Operation and Management of PV Farms conference. The conference, organized by the Polish Photovoltaic Association, took place in Warsaw on March 23-24, 2022.

The Photovoltaic Market in Poland and the O&M Industry

The first edition of the O&M Operation and Management of PV Farms conference brought together representatives of industry leaders and a range of stakeholders interested in PV investments. It was the first, but certainly not the last, event of its kind. We are pleased to have been a partner of the conference.

Best Practices in Renewable Energy Facility Maintenance

Participants had the opportunity to network and exchange opinions on best O&M practices. The lectures and workshops provided a chance to share knowledge on how to develop the best solutions for their investments and effectively manage PV farms. Two days of substantive presentations, networking sessions, and meetings with exhibitors offered not only practical knowledge but also inspiring discussions.

High-Quality O&M for Photovoltaic Facilities in Poland

Electrum Solutions experts, Maciej Biegański, Head of Automation, and Krzysztof Kuc, Head of O&M, participated in the workshop session. In their presentation, “O&M Service as a Tool for Maximizing Profits from Renewable Energy Investments – A Case Study,” they argued that standardized monitoring and support are not sufficient for the success of a comprehensive O&M service. Drawing from their experience, they emphasized the importance of technological maturity, experience in process automation, and competence in solving complex problems throughout the process. The presentation, supported by numerous examples from PV facilities in Poland, aimed to show the audience that a well-executed O&M can provide tools to better utilize the potential of photovoltaic farms and reduce energy production losses.

Better Operation of Solar Installations

As Maciej Biegański emphasized at the conference, there is still much to be done in the field of O&M, and market demands and conditions are changing very quickly. To stay at the forefront, one must be inspired by the solutions of leaders and be open to market feedback. With many years of industry experience, Electrum Solution experts understand the practical possibilities of using O&M services as a way to reduce maintenance costs for PV installations and other renewable energy facilities. During the conference and the plenary presentation, the proprietary SCADA system—EMACS—presented at the conference, generated considerable interest. It is a platform that can be easily integrated into the entire O&M process for photovoltaic power plants, as well as wind farms and other renewable energy facilities.

Professional Monitoring and High-Quality Service for PV Farms

We have completed two intensive days of meetings, discussions, and inspiration. We also had the pleasure of sharing our knowledge and experience from many years of working in the Operation & Maintenance service. We are pleased that the presentation on maximizing profits from renewable energy investments attracted the interest of event participants and received a strong response.

Our case study certainly proved that only high-quality O&M—combining professional monitoring, an experienced service team, and the technological maturity of SCADA system engineers—can effectively ensure the continuity of facility operations and, thereby, significantly increase profits from renewable energy sources.

Tools and methods for minimizing, optimizing, and balancing energy will play a key role in building an increasingly eco-friendly energy mix in Poland. An important aspect of this is advanced IT solutions for the renewable energy market, such as the SCADA system.

Supporting Energy Transformation

To adapt the Polish energy mix to the carbon dioxide emission restrictions in Europe, comprehensive actions are needed. In 2020, electricity from renewable energy sources (RES) accounted for nearly 18 percent of electricity (mainly from solar and wind power). This is still an insufficient amount of energy from RES. To effectively move in the right direction, it is not enough to modify existing technologies that rely primarily on fossil fuels. New solutions are also needed, including digital tools for the IT sector.

The energy sector needs IT solutions that will accelerate the industry’s development and positively impact operational efficiency. SCADA systems (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) are an essential part of automation systems — enabling control of efficiency at the level of individual processes.

Among the solutions available on the market, Electrum’s proprietary system stands out — EMACS (Everything Monitoring and Control System), designed primarily for the energy sector, industry, and life science solutions. The energy management system SCADAallows for the integration, processing, and presentation of data from many sources — both internal and external — into one cohesive system developed specifically for the unique needs of renewable energy and life science facilities.

EMACS – Combining the Advantages of a SCADA System and Business Analytics

For a long time, SCADA systems were sufficient tools for monitoring and managing energy assets. However, the industry now requires increasingly complex solutions. The EMACS system is a platform that combines functions typical of a classic SCADA system—for example, it allows for monitoring a photovoltaic farm or managing a wind farm.

The proprietary SCADA system – EMACS integrates data from various sources:

• Wind farms
• Solar farms
• Distribution network
• Energy storage systems
• Consumer devices
• Weather information
• Financial information

Data presentation allows for the quick detection of potential faults, diagnostics, or remote repairs. The solution created by Electrum experts expands the functions of a typical SCADA system with features for business analysis.

EMACS System – A Service for the Energy Industry

The EMACS system combines the advantages of a classic SCADA system, an Internet of Things platform, and a microgrid modeling system with Business Intelligence software. EMACS is also an innovative and technologically advanced service, enabling the processing and presentation of data from multiple sources.

This proprietary energy management system SCADA allows for monitoring and controlling processes related to the production, storage, and consumption of energy. Moreover, it is very user-friendly—accessible from a web browser, with easy access management for individual functionalities. EMACS is also a tool with guaranteed cybersecurity. It serves as a platform for asset management, Operation & Maintenance, and EPC.

Large photovoltaic farms are capable of delivering a significant amount of energy, which is particularly important in the context of environmental protection and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Zgorzelec Energy Cluster is one such initiative that we helped realize as part of the Electrum Group. 

The Electrum Group, acting as a One Stop Shop, utilized its competencies across the full project lifecycle, executing a contract to build infrastructure with a capacity of 55 MWp in a “design and build” format. Electrum also provided the SCADA system for solar power plant. Here are the components of the implementation. 

The implementation of the large-scale photovoltaic farm in the “design and build” format included: 

• Infrastructure with a capacity of 55 MWp (of which 49 MWp was connected by Electrum experts) 

• A microgrid for 10 households powered by an intelligent medium-voltage network system 

• A SCADA system with a connection capacity of 55 MWp, featuring a proprietary EMACS system delivered by Electrum Solutions 

• 55 individual metering points, 68 energy meters, and over 40,000 variables 

Read also: SCADA Systems in Energy Source Management | Electrum Holding

Monitoring of the Photovoltaic Installation – Implementation Components 

• Design and execution of the monitoring system for photovoltaic installations and the 20/110 kV GPO 

• Online data management from inverters, protections, analyzers, energy meters, and meteorological devices 

• Online data management from the GPO and the GPZ connection point, along with energy meter readings 

• Active and reactive power regulation and reactive power compensation based on connection measurements 

• Notifications of exceedances and alarms for the entire installation 

• Full reporting and a technical logbook with historical data 

• Energy production modeling and other predictive functionalities 

A SCADA system for a solar power plant allows for real-time monitoring and control of the facility’s operations, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.

Read also: SCADA: The Heart of Modern Farm Monitoring | Electrum Holding