Power plant for a Swiss watchmaker's site
Intervention type
Pre-study, audit, study, commissioningCustomer
OFATECDate of completion
Location
SwitzerlandAbout the installation
1 – Context
This project is part of the OSTRAL plan (Organization for the Supply of Electricity in Extreme Situations), which requires large-scale facilities in Switzerland to be prepared to guarantee energy supply in the event of a crisis.
Committed to sustainability and energy excellence, the end customer was looking for an innovative solution beyond simply installing a backup generator. The challenge was to combine a generator with a photovoltaic system for a reliable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly power supply. This project was carried out in collaboration with our customer and partner, the Swiss company OFATEC.
2 – Customer benefits
- Energy optimization and ecological commitment: Maximize the use of renewable energies while reducing dependence on the power grid, in line with the customer's environmental ambitions.
- Continuous, secure power supply: Guarantee uninterrupted power supply for critical infrastructures, even in case of mains failure, thanks to combined management of photovoltaic sources and generator.
Our solution
1 – Energy sources
To meet the customer's needs, we designed and implemented the control-command part of a hybrid power plant, integrating:
- 3 electrical mains
- 1 x 475 kVA diesel generator
- 3 BTB circuit breakers
- 14 independently controlled solar inverters distributed around the site:
- 11 ABB TRIO-27.6-TL inverters
- 1 ABB TRIO-20.0-TL inverter
- 2 ABB PRO-33.0-TL inverters
The new configuration ensures switching between the three mains input points and the backup generator, guaranteeing continuity of service in case of failure.
2 – Our added value
Thanks to our advanced hybrid controllers, we have ensured:
- Smooth, optimized management of the three electrical mains.
- Smart synchronization and proactive load sharing (active and reactive power) between the generator and photovoltaic inverters.
3 – Installed products
- 1 x GENSYS COMPACT PRIME: Generator control, starting, synchronization and reverse power protection.
- 3 x MASTER COMPACT 1B: Supervises the three electrical mains, monitoring and synchronizing them.
- 14 x HYBRID COMPACT: Controls the 14 solar inverters independently, optimizing photovoltaic production and preventing unwanted grid feed.
- 3 x BTB Compact: Controls tie circuit breakers to divide the installation into independent sections, facilitating maintenance or fault management.
- 1 x i4Gen: Supervises the entire system via an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
4 – Key features
- Synchronization of energy sources: proactive management of paralleling between the generator and the electrical networks.
- Energy optimization: Precise control of inverters to maximize the use of photovoltaic energy and distribute active and reactive power between different sources, while complying with technical and regulatory constraints. Our innovative, high-performance solution satisfies end-customers' environmental requirements.
- Increased reliability: Stable, continuous power supply, even in the event of mains failure.
This hybrid power plant illustrates our ability to respond to the complex challenges of critical infrastructures, combining sustainability, reliability and technological innovation.
Related products
GENSYS COMPACT PRIME
The GENSYS COMPACT PRIME is designed for advanced management of multiple generators in power plants, while offering interoperability with other types of energy sources for more complex systems.
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MASTER COMPACT 1B
The MASTER COMPACT 1B is designed to manage a mains incomer with a single circuit breaker. It allows advanced interoperability with various energy sources, such as generators, inverters or other mains incomers.
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BTB COMPACT
The BTB COMPACT is designed to manage a tie-breaker, which is essential for segmenting a facility's busbar into multiple separable busbars, while ensuring precise synchronization between the different sources.
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HYBRID COMPACT
The HYBRID COMPACT is designed to efficiently manage photovoltaic or wind inverters, while ensuring optimum integration with other energy sources and management systems.
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