Automatic control of microgrids for more efficient power management

At Hannover Messe (Hall 13, Stand C18), intelligent software provider RTSoft will be presenting AMIGO (Advanced Microgrid Optimization), a vendor-independent and fully scalable network management software for the automatic and optimized control of individual microgrids in medium and low voltage structures. A focus of RTSoft’s presentation at the joint stand of the Bavarian Energy Technology Cluster (Cluster Energietechnik) lies on the optimization of microgrid operation in industrial enterprises with the goal to improve power quality and feed-in profits and to reduce energy costs as well as maintenance and repair costs. In the industrial microgrid showcase visitors can change settings of the virtual microgrid via AMIGO’s SCADA interface and see how simulation changes according to the selected scenario.

AMIGO’s innovative control algorithms are used wherever energy is generated, stored, distributed and consumed locally as an addition to the standard feed-in from high and extra high-voltage grids. Applications can be found wherever microgrids are emerging today – from e-mobility charging stations, and facilities with combined photovoltaic installations and block heating power plants to public utilities supplying conurbations or large rural areas

RTSoft AMIGO monitors, controls and manages low and medium voltage microgrids (from 1kV to 60kV) autonomously and without human intervention. It coordinates, among other things, distributed energy resources and storage systems, reactive power controllers (Volt-VAR controllers), and demand response units. This enables users to reduce the influence of external networks, lower tariffs through peak load management and minimize maintenance costs by improving the reliability and quality of their network control – for example, in terms of active power, frequency, reactive power and voltages. In addition, they can raise extra revenue from active load frequency control services and achieve network capacity savings through the integration of active demand response management.

Unlike conventional medium voltage network control technologies, RTSoft AMIGO provides fully configurable logic for rule-based, automatic control of all local heterogeneous resources and consumers. Compared to previously available grid control technologies for municipal utilities and industrial applications, AMIGO furthermore impresses with a clearly modular design and a completely open system architecture without vendor restrictions, which ultimately leads to significantly lower operating costs.

Because AMIGO is designed for microgrid control of entire cities, the intelligent network management software can easily control multiple substation microgrids ­ including Volt-VAR control as well as FLISR (Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration) functions. Likewise, aggregators of distributed energy resources can profit from the use of AMIGO and maintain virtual power plants. Island systems without connection to a public power grid are also possible.

The scalable management and control software AMIGO runs on central servers or remote controllers in the microgrid. The smart AMIGO SCADA server connects generators, energy storage, uninterruptible power supplies, smart meters and other microgrid peripherals via common remote sensing protocols such as IEC 61850 and IEC 870-5-1-101 / 103/104 or OPC and MODBUS. The core modules of the AMIGO microgrid control system include AGC (Automatic Generation Control) and V/VC (Automatic Voltage and Reactive Power Control) modules as well as numerous modules for planning, analysing and optimizing resource usage, load flow and connection to superordinate electric power transmission networks as well as self-diagnostics.