INTELLEGENCE virtual power plant

9351 Eastman Park Drive Windsor, Colorado 80550 888-295-4141 www.encorp.com

Tech Data

Virtual Power Plant

Multi-Site Remote Dispatching Software

Highlights
One-Button-Dispatching

Virtual Site Aggregation Data Sheet Contents

• Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
• Virtual Power Plant Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Event Recording Database
• Fuel Type Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Regional Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Substation Feeders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Dispatch Scheduling • Economic Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• Load Reduction Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• Site Priority Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Technology Neutral • Remote Scheduled Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• Virtual Power Plant Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• Virtual Power Plant Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• Intelligent Site Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
• Communication Processor Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
• Encorp Intelligence Family of Gateway Servers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

July 10, 2003

Introduction Solar Cells Microturbines Fuel Cells

Encorp Intelligence Virtual Power Plant

Software takes advantage of the
emerging trend towards microgrids
made up of distributed generation
assets, linked together using secure,
cost-effective communication network
technology and controlled by a remote
Dispatch Workstation. The Virtual
Power Plant dispatches technology
neutral assets such as diesel and natural
Wind
gas generators, micro-turbines, steam Turbines
and combustion turbines, wind-diesel
hybrid systems, fuel cells, and other
renewable and energy storage
technologies. A unique feature of the
Virtual Power Plant is its ability to
create any number of virtual sites from
the total resource set available. This
allows power producers to select what
kinds and the exact amount of power to
be dispatched. Diesel Fueled Genset Fuel Cell
Natural Gas Fueled Genset Wind Turbine
The Virtual Power Plant makes it
Microturbine Solar Cell
possible to aggregate environmentally
friendly micro generators such as fuel Figure 1 Distributed Energy Resources can be used to form Virtual Sites
cells, solar cells, and microturbines that
are becoming economically feasible for widespread curtailment. The operator then attempts to contact all load
deployment (Figure 1). curtailment customers (perhaps numbering in the
Another useful feature of the Virtual Power Plant software thousands) via e-mail, pager, or VPP. Customers are
is its ability to transmit schedules to remote sites enabling expected to respond within minutes or face a penalty in the
generator sets to be deployed or tested at any time without form of higher rates. If the customer is on an interruptible
the need for time-consuming site visits. rate program, he faces disconnection if there is no means
to transition his facility from the grid. The Virtual Power
Plant allows the utility or other managing service to
Why is a Virtual Power Plant Needed? seamlessly move facilities from the utility grid to their own
microgrids.
Due to political and economic constraints, the nation's
electrical needs continue to rise while central power plant
introduction has slowed. A huge advantage with emerging, How the Virtual Power Plant Works
distributed power is the relative ease at which permitting is
obtained. Emission levels are typically low with many The Virtual Power Plant Software acts in the same manner
types of commercially available generation assets such as as a simple network of personal computers to link together
natural gas generators. Fuel cell and solar cell powered seldom-used standby and emergency generators at
generator emissions are near zero. hospitals, universities, office parks, manufacturers, and
other end-users allowing utilities to draw on these on-site
The Virtual Power Plant benefits customers using power sources supplement or relieve critical utility loads
traditional load curtailment programs. The real-time price on short notice.
of power is monitored by the utility and depending on
other key factors such as time of day, and expected The Virtual Power Plant Software leverages the Encorp
demand, the utility may decide it must initiate load Power Generator Power Control or Gold Box, an

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 virtual power plant

innovative solid state control that replaces up to 20

separate components. The GPC allows for an
‘interconnection-in-a-box’ solution that enables rapid
deployment of technology neutral power producers (i.e. -
diesel or gas engine/generator sets, gas turbines,
microturbines, fuel cells, wind, hydro, and energy storage)
in any combination or mode of operation).

Virtual Power Plant Applications

The Virtual Power Plant software allows energy system
managers to create virtual sites based on multiple criteria
such as economic, fuel type, or location characteristics. A
user-friendly interface allows an operator to quickly
dispatch a virtual site based on a specific need.
Once created, these virtual sites can be dispatched from a
user action (one-button-dispatching), or by pre-scheduling
it from the Virtual Power Plant software interface.

Diesel Fueled Genset Fuel Cell

Fuel Type Dispatch Natural Gas Fueled Genset Wind Turbine
One way to aggregate energy resources is by the type of Microturbine Solar Cell
fuel used to generate power. With the cost of different fuel
types constantly fluctuating, a manager can choose to
dispatch only natural gas gensets from virtual sites that are
configured in the VPP software.
The great advantage to using the Virtual Power Plant Figure 3 Distributed Energy Resources dispatched by
software to do this is in having virtual sites already setup fuel type
according to the dispatch criteria. As circumstances unfold
in the real world of fluctuating energy and fuel prices, pre-
programmed virtual sites can be one-button-dispatched to
Substation Alpha Substation Beta
take advantage of the event (Figure 3).

Regional Dispatch
Sites may be dispatched according to their region. Within
a particular transmission grid, generator assets are
Substation Charlie Substation Delta
clustered into virtual regional sites so that the VPP’s one-
button-dispatch feature can bring all power online
quickly to alleviate utility constraints (Figure 2).

Substation Feeders
Diesel Fueled Genset Fuel Cell Within a utility’s regional area, a network of substations
Natural Gas Fueled Genset Wind Turbine receive high voltage alternating current from transmission
Microturbine Solar Cell lines and step down the voltage for local distribution.
Figure 2 Distributed Energy Resources dispatched by Local events can, at times, disrupt electrical distribution
region within a particular substation region. A virtual site for a

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substation area can be brought on line quickly to relieve
load or provide backup power.
Economic Dispatch
Another good example of aggregating energy resources is
by using economic criteria. In such a scenario, power
producers and ISO’s might deal with supply/demand
imbalances using demand response programs by
employing virtual ‘microgrids’. The Virtual Power Plant
provides maximum flexibility by allowing multiple virtual
sites to be set up based on varying degrees of price/kW/hr.
Not only can the problem of supply exceeding demand be
met, the power producer can select the virtual site that
provides the greatest economic advantage based on energy
spot markets. Energy resources are quickly dispatched
based on price/kW/hr thus preserving adequate price
margins.
Load Reduction Dispatch
Load reduction dispatch is useful at installations where
customers and utilities share the cost and benefits of on-
site generation. There are variations but this is typically
peak sharing in the form of interruptible or curtailable
load programs. More sophisticated programs include
utility owned on-site generation where the customer pays a
monthly fee for improved reliability and the utility gets
added peaking capacity. As demand for power rises, virtual
sites set up for load reduction are brought on-line from the
Virtual Power Plant Dispatch Workstation. Typically, the
effort is monitored using Encorp Intelligence Virtual
Maintenance Monitor Software tools so that as demand
eases, assets can be returned to their original standby
status.
Site Priority Dispatch
The Virtual Power Plant software aggregates assets into
virtual sites and allows the dispatcher to determine the site
dispatch priority. Depending on specific criteria, quick
starting or high capacity assets are started first to handle
the most critical loads with the remainder coming on line
shortly thereafter.
Remote Scheduled Dispatch
A unique feature of the Virtual Power Plant is its ability to
send remote dispatch commands to any site setup in its list.
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Using this method, a schedule is stored and executed by the
site. At the time of dispatch, the Virtual Power Plant does
not need to be physically linked to the site. To ensure
synchronization of dispatch times, the Virtual Power Plant
can reset the clock of a site’s Communications Processor
Module (CPM) when it connects to deliver the dispatch
schedule.
Virtual Power Plant Components
The Virtual Power Plant uses a three-tiered client-server
architecture to achieve
The VPP software is used to aggregate sites together based
on numerous criteria. At the site level, several components
Virtual Power Plant Software
The Virtual Power Plant Software is Windows-based 32-
bit software that starts and stops remote generator sets.
The VPP software allows users to organize physical power
generation assets into virtual sites for one-button-
dispatching, an exclusive feature of the Virtual Power
Plant.
The VPP software logs and records all access events and
commands issued by the VPP in to a database for secure
record keeping.
The interface has an Overview, Dispatch Scheduling,
Dispatch Information, Data, and History.
Overview Features
• Shows Distributed Capacity for a site—represents
the total generation capacity of all of the generators
contained by the selected site.
• Shows sites that are Out of Service—represents the
unavailable generation capacity, this is accumulated
if any of the generators cannot come on line or are
not communicating.
• Shows Available Power—represents the Distributed
Capacity minus (PowerOutput + OutOfService).
• Shows Power Output—represents the power
currently being produced by all of the generators
contained by the selected site.
• Shows Verified Power—represents the power output
that has been verified by a callback to the VMM or a
call-out to the generators.
• Shows Requested Power—represents the power that
was requested from a site.
 virtual power plant

Dispatch Scheduling Features • Out of Service

• Dispatch signal
Dispatch Scheduling provides information and tools to
send a dispatch signal to a device or site. All of the • Total Energy in kW-hours
dispatch schedules sent from this VPP workstation are • Energy Dispatch - accumulated during all dispatches
listed in a grid along with all of the information pertaining for a device
to the Dispatch Schedule. • Error Status
• Command Status
Dispatch Information Features • Run Time Total
Dispatch Information provides information for the current • Rated kW
dispatch schedules at the selected site or device. • Run Time Dispatch
• Requested kW
Data Features
• Total Harmonic Distortion %
Displays information for either a site or a device. The
• Available kW
information shown by the tab depends upon your
selection. You cannot modify any of the values in the data • Voltage
tab. The information on the data tab is stored locally and • Last Measured kW
updated whenever the VPP connects to a site or vice versa. • Out of Service kW
• Status Indicators • Control SP
• In Auto • Control Mode
• Running On line • Last Updated
• Verified

Physical Site Level

Device Details Screen

Dispatch Detail Screen

Dispatch
Scheduling Screen

Physical Site
Overview Screen VPP Event History Log

Figure 5 Virtual Power Plant Dispatch Overview & Detail Screens

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Event Log History • Electronic Engine Control
• Continuous Emission Monitors
The History tab displays a list of all activities performed by
the VPP. The activities include: • PLC’s

• Logging in • SCADA systems

• Issuing a Start or Stop command
• Connecting to a CPM
• CPM Callback to VPP
Intelligent Site Devices
An intelligent site device is any device that collects digital
data from any power system component. Because of
advances in OPC (OLE for Process Control) technology,
virtually any intelligent site device is capable of using the
OPC specification through the use of commercially
available device drivers.
Third-party data collection devices
Third-party collection devices are considered any
intelligent device that is able to convert analog signals into
digital data and allows OPC device drivers on the Encorp
Communications Processor Module (CPM) to deliver the
data to OPC client software such as the Virtual Power
Plant. Examples of data collection devices include:
• Power Quality Meters
• Flow Meters
The CPM uses Third-Party OPC Servers which provide an
interface to a wide range of industrial devices and systems.
Third-Party OPC Servers provide device connectivity
through the use of plug-in communications drivers.
Adding a new OPC Server is simply a matter of plugging in
a new driver. Encorp routinely incorporates
communication drivers from a long list of available
drivers. Listed below are several examples:
• Modbus Slave
• Modbus RTU
• Siemens S5 (3964R)
• PLCDirect ECOM
• DIRECT-NET
Encorp Power Family of Controls (GPC, UPC, MMC)
The Encorp Power Family of Controls are analog/digital
microprocessor-based devices designed to fully control
single and multiple generator sets, act as master control

Virtual Power Plant - Product Architecture

Site Devices
Family of Controls
Automatic Transfer Switches
Communication Gateway Remote Customer Site Interface
Digital Paralleling Switchgear Family of Gateway Servers Virtual Power Plant

NST Bind VPP

Server Server

Virtual Power
Generator Power LONWORKS OPC Plant
Control OPC Server Data
Bridge
Server
Electronic Engine Engine OEM Features
Control OPC Server Regional Dispatch
Economic Dispatch
Remote Schedule Dispatch
Fuel Type Dispatch
Load Reduction Dispatch
Communications
Processor Module

11/02
Figure 4 Virtual Power Plant Software Architecture

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nodes and serve meter/monitoring functions. These Encorp Intelligence Family of Gateway Servers
industrial-grade devices are protected by their distinctive
Gold Box covers. The Encorp Intelligence Family of Gateway Servers is a
powerful collection of data servers built on industry
The Encorp Power family of controls provide real and
standard communication specifications. The critical
reactive power control, load sharing, generator and utility
mission of power generation requires a number of
metering, automatic transfer switching, synchronizing, and
speciality functions such as OEM engine electronic data
protective relay functions. All Encorp Power control
monitoring, alarm notification, data logging, and
products use the LONWORKS® open field bus protocol for
interactive graphical screens. Raw site data for these and
configuration and control. Encorp Intelligence software
other purposes pass through various data filters and
products can be used to configure, control, and display
processing algorithms and are displayed on remote client
data from Encorp Power controls.
programs such as the Virtual Maintenance Monitor and
the Virtual Power Plant.
Communication Processor Module
The Communications Processor Module (CPM) is an on-
site, industrial computer acting as the communication
gateway for local and remote operators.
Remote users connect to the CPM via TCP/IP through a
dialup, LAN (Local Area Network) or VPN (Virtual
Private Network). The CPM may also use its onboard
modem to send alarms as needed. OPC client components
reside on remote Dispatch Workstation computers and
interface with the CPM receiving served data from the site
devices and issuing commands back to the site.
The Communications Processor Module provides the base
from which all standard and optional remote connectivity
software is served. This rugged box has a steel external
case running Windows 2000 Pro and the specifications
listed in Figure 6.

CPM Specifications
• Pentium III 750MHz FC-PGA Processor
• 256MB PC100 RAM
• 20.4GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive Disk
• Intel 82440BX Chipset
• Passive 3 Slot ISA, 3 PCI, and 2 PICMG slots (1 Active)
• Onboard 10/100Base-T Ethernet card
• C&T69K Onboard Video
• 56K Hardware based Modem
• PCLTA-20 LonWorks LonTalk Adapter
• Configurable Serial card

Figure 6 CPM Specifications

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