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Wind Power Plant SCADA and Controls


IEEE PES Wind Plant Collector System Design Working Group
Contributing Members: B. Badrzadeh, M. Bradt, N. Castillo, R. Janakiraman, R. Kennedy, S. Klein, T. Smith, L. Vargas

Abstract— This paper discusses the range of application substation. A WPP’s ability to maximize efficiency is
for SCADA and control systems in a wind power plant, directly related to monitoring and control infrastructure.
the most important SCADA and control system SCADA and control requirements are contractually
considerations, and contractual requirements for specified under interconnection agreements (IA), and are
SCADA and control systems. subject to security and reliability requirements under
mandatory reliability compliance provisions. SCADA
Index Terms— SCADA, wind power plant, wind systems and options are integral to compliance with
turbine control, data acquisition, supervisory control, interconnection requirements including voltage and power
plant control, security and reliability compliance. factor control, curtailment, and ramp control. SCADA
systems are also a medium for data transportation and
List of Acronyms—
communication with external sources, such as, providing
BOP Balance of Plant
meteorological data necessary for forecasting to
CIP Critical Infrastructure Protection
DFAG Doubly Fed Asynchronous Generator Independent System Operators (ISOs). SCADA systems
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are integral to availability and performance measurement
IA Interconnection Agreement and warranty enforcement.
IEC International Electrotechnical There are many different options for control and data
Commission acquisition in a WPP. This paper provides an overview of
IED Intelligent Electronic Device common applications, considerations, and requirements for
ISO Independent System Operator WPP SCADA and control systems.
LGIA Large Generator Interconnection
Agreement II. WIND TURBINE CONTROLS
NERC North American Electric Reliability A wind turbine’s control system enables the safe,
Corp. reliable, and automated control necessary for continuous
OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer power production and shutdown, as required. A typical
OLE Object Linking & Embedding wind turbine’s control system consists of control hardware,
OPC OLE for Process Control supervisory controls, safety systems, and closed-loop
PDD Presidential Decision Directive controls that enable power production by controlling the
PLC Programmable Logic Controller blade pitch angle and the generator torque of the turbine
POI Point of Interconnection [1].
PRC Protection and Control A horizontal axis wind turbine control system will
PRR Power Ramp Rate
consist of several sensors, actuators, and a microprocessor
PSR Protection System Relaying
controller. A list of common hardware elements include:
RAS Remedial Action System
RTO Regional Transmission System Operator • Nacelle mounted anemometer and wind vane;
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data • Rotor speed sensor;
Acquisition • Electric power sensor;
SPS Special Protection System • Pitch position sensors;
WPP Wind Power Plant • Vibration sensors;
XML Extensible Markup Language • Oil level and temperature indicators;
• Hydraulic pressure sensors; and
I. INTRODUCTION
• Operator switches.
Modern wind power plants (WPPs) include an
amalgamation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition The microprocessor controller uses defined logic to
(SCADA) systems, control systems, and various other process inputs from the various sensors and generates
intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). SCADA and control outputs to operate the turbine. Commercially available
systems are critical parts of all WPPs, regulating nearly programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are commonly
every aspect from the individual turbine to the collection used.

978-1-4577-1002-5/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE

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There are several independent systems within the drive train natural frequency and at an appropriate phase
turbine that are controlled as a whole by the turbine angle.
controller. These include the pitch, yaw, generator, and
supervisory control systems. A separate and independent D. Closed loop design
safety system protects the turbine hardware from damage To maximize the power output and to minimize the
in the event of a controller failure. dynamic loading the turbine controller utilizes typical
closed loop control algorithms. The usual method is to
A. Pitch construct a proportional-integral (PI) or proportional-
There are typically two types of turbines, stall regulated integral-derivative (PID) control loop to dynamically vary
and pitch regulated. Stall regulated machines do not or the pitch angle and generator torque for maximum power
only slightly vary the pitch angle of the blade and rely on production and minimal dynamic loading.
the stall characteristics of the blade to limit the rotor speed
and aerodynamic power. E. Supervisory
Pitch regulated machines vary the aerodynamic power The turbine’s internal supervisory controls consist of the
and rotor speed by changing the pitch of the turbine’s logic and hardware necessary to operate the turbine
blades through electrical or mechanical linkages. Blades autonomously from one operational state to another. These
can be pitched collectively, independently, or individually. operational states consist of start-up, power production,
Collectively pitched systems move all of the blades at the shut-down, and stopped when faulted. Other functions of
same time to the same pitch angle. Independent pitch the turbine internal supervisory controls include operation
systems use separate (non-linked) systems for each blade of cooling equipment (gearbox, generator and power
although the blade angles are set to the same pitch angle. converter’s fans and pumps), heaters (for cold weather
Individual systems, similar to independent systems, use
applications), and lubrication pumps (gearbox oil pumps
separate systems for each blade although the pitch angle of
and bearing grease pumps).
each blade can be varied individually which will reduce
aerodynamic loads. F. Safety
B. Yaw The safety system is a highly reliable, independent, and
The yaw system rotates the turbine into or out of the hardwired system separate from the microprocessor
wind using drive motors. The yaw action is essential to controlled system that is designed to shutdown the turbine
mitigate the turbine fatigue loads and maintain an optimal during a serious problem. The control system is designed
energy production. The turbine control system monitors the to operate the turbine in normal shutdown situations; the
time-averaged difference between the turbine yaw angle safety system is a backup to the turbine controller and
and the wind direction and will adjust the turbine yaw functions as a fail-safe in the event the controller fails.
angle into the wind once the difference becomes great Events that may trip the safety system include:
enough over a set period of time. The yaw system also • Rotor overspeed;
unwinds the power and control cabling that is run between • Vibration sensor trip;
the nacelle and equipment located at the base of the tower • Controller watchdog trip;
such as transformers and controllers. Different components • Emergency stop button pressed by operator;
of the yaw system can be placed in the tower, as well as and
inside and outside of the nacelle. • Pitch system failure, i.e. stuck blade or large
pitch angle difference.
C. Generator
Variable speed turbines are capable of controlling the The turbine control system is a complex system
generator torque, which effectively controls the rotational consisting of several subsystems and components. Using
speed of the turbine. Variable speed generators have different digital communication systems and hardwired
several different topologies including full converter inputs/outputs the wind turbine is controlled safely and
systems, Doubly-Fed Asynchronous Generators (DFAG), reliably. Although not common there have been instances
or variable slip induction generators. For a more detailed of external electromagnetic interference (radar systems)
description of variable speed turbines, please see [4]. creating problems with control systems, specifically pitch
The turbine controller monitors the rotor speed and control systems.
regulates the generator torque to maximize the power
output and maintain the rotor speed below its rated III. PLANT SCADA
rotational speed. Additionally, the generator torque control The SCADA system in a WPP provides real-time
can be used to actively dampen drive train torsional visibility of the plant operations and also provides the
vibrations by applying a small ripple torque close to the ability to control the WPP assets centrally and remotely.
Typically, a SCADA system is provided by the turbine

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original equipment manufacturer (OEM). For fleet wide constraints will typically dictate the type of fibre optic
monitoring and control across different OEM’s turbines, a implementation. Examples of design considerations
third-party SCADA solution can be implemented. include:
• Distances: Multimode has shorter distance
A. OEM SCADA
capabilities than single mode, splices may be
The SCADA system provided by the turbine necessary,
manufacturers is typically a fully integrated system. OEM • Costs: Single mode cable cost less than
SCADA systems have variable functionality depending on multimode, but single mode transmitters cost
the manufacturer. Some of the potential advantages of an more,
OEM SCADA system include: • Mixed Mode—using single mode for long
• Tightly integrated with the turbine control home runs and multimode inter-turbine: This
system; increases inventory and construction
• Turbine specific monitoring and control complexity.
interface; Additional information on network, SCADA, and
• Advanced turbine details and diagnostics; control design considerations is available in [5].
• Robust and integrated security model;
• Advanced troubleshooting and data analysis; Information Management
• Preconfigured displays and reports; The SCADA system typically provides the ability to
• Flexible and open system for data access manage the wind plant remotely and locally. The
• Verification of contractual obligations robustness of the security model is extremely critical to
(production, availability guarantees, wind provide the appropriate level of access control. To avoid
distribution, loss of production, power curves, unintentional start or stop of the wind turbines, the SCADA
etc); system is generally equipped with hardware token based or
• Service and error correction; username-password based authentication.
• Data collection for statistical analysis – both The SCADA system also consists of databases to
long-term for product improvement and short- manage both real-time and historical information. The
term for prediction of potential errors; real-time data update from the turbine is typically done
• Reducing downtime and improving reliability once every second, while the SCADA system aggregates
and availability; and compiles the raw data into meaningful information.
The real-time data server also feeds the graphical interfaces
• Ability to monitor practically all WPP
and displays, referred to as “mimics,” to provide visibility
equipment placed inside the substation;
into wind plant operation. Turbine status and performance
• Compliance with grid codes; and
metrics such as production, wind speed, availability,
• Reducing the number of service inspections.
capacity factor, and fault notifications are examples of key
information that the user would typically visualize via the
System Overview
graphical interface. Mimics can also be used for control
A SCADA system interfaces with the different devices
purposes, for example manually stopping or starting
such as turbines, meteorological (met) masts, substations,
individual turbines or a group of turbines, opening and
and other IEDs within the wind plant to acquire data and
closing circuit breakers, changing transformer tap position,
provide an aggregated view of the plant operation.
and various other functions. The graphical interface
Typically, the SCADA system architecture is designed to
module typically provides preconfigured displays, which
be scalable, to address different sizes of wind plants, as the
may include a plant level view, turbine specific details,
constraints and needs are different. Also, the SCADA
control user interface, and auxiliary device user interface.
system should be capable of accepting additional
Most mimics are standard mimics and appear in all WPPs.
monitoring control points to assist in troubleshooting and
A small number of mimics might be implemented for
remediation of faults, errors, and other issues that may
specific projects.
arise.
The turbine data is normally sufficient for detailed
The site network, which forms the backbone of the
reporting but sometimes data is insufficient or missing, for
SCADA system, is a very critical component of the system
example when turbines are without power, or when turbine
architecture. The internal SCADA network connecting all
computer is shut down. In such cases, the SCADA system
wind plant assets typically uses fibre optics for speed and
makes use of complex methods to estimate loss of
high bandwidth. Possible network configurations include
production based on the data available from neighbouring
bus, star, and ring. To enable high availability and high
turbines or meteorological stations.
data integrity the network is typically designed to have
The historical database typically retains the ten-minute
redundancy. The wind plant size, layout, and cost
average data from all turbines, high voltage substations,

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meteorology stations, and the event/fault data for at least plant which has assets (turbines) from different OEMs, or
12 months. The ten-minute data is gathered from more to have an enterprise level view of many wind plants. The
than 100 sensors and counters on each wind turbine. Older SCADA system commonly provides standard monitoring
data are usually archived and stored in external hardware and control capabilities. Some of the potential advantages
such as tape. The historical database, along with a of a third-party SCADA system are listed below.
reporting module, is used for generating reports and data • Consolidated view of all assets;
analysis. Typically, the reporting module of the SCADA • Common monitoring interface across various
systems consists of pre-configured reports, which may OEMs;
include standard reports such as performance, power curve, • Common control interface across OEMs;
fault analysis, and wind rose. • Platform to have consolidated and standard
Typically, SCADA systems offered by the turbine OEM reporting module;
are divided into two categories: The first solution is • Single interface for communication with
intended for small WPPs in range of 10-20 MW, whereas system operators; and
the second solution allows the operator to utilize the WPP • Flexibility in incorporating substation SCADA.
in the same fashion as a conventional power plant in terms
of meeting the grid code requirements. The turbine itself IV. PLANT CONTROL
can meet some of the grid code requirements, but more
stringent requirements often necessitate the use of an In general, WPPs will have a SCADA system for
additional centralized intelligence. A SCADA system can control and acquisition of data from each of the individual
be used for this purpose. wind turbines. To enable the wind plant to behave like a
Both solutions are designed as a server-client system conventional power plant and meet the specific electric
and generally utilize the same software platform but with grid requirements, advanced plant controls are typically
different level of capability. The main options included in required at the point of interconnection (POI). The
the second solution are remote monitoring of advanced plant controls may include the provisions that
meteorological data, grid monitoring system, and power general plant information be provided in a format
plant controller. The metrological data gathered include compatible with the interconnecting utility’s or system
wind speed, wind direction, ambient temperature, operator’s SCADA system. The information allows the
atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, rain direction, and balancing authority to communicate system and stability
other meteorological information. The grid monitoring information and make necessary adjustments between
system measures quantities, such as, harmonics and entities. It is important to coordinate the turbine operation
flickers, grid voltages and currents, and grid frequency and and provide a stable response to the grid requirements.
power factor at the point of common coupling. The power Some of the advanced plant control features are listed
plant controller is employed to control the output of the below.
WPP, and generally utilized in counties with stringent grid A. Voltage and Power Factor Regulation
code requirements. Its commands are generated by site
specific control algorithms depending on the particular grid Voltage and power factor regulation can be
code requirements. To achieve a very fast response the accomplished by closed loop control of the reactive power
power plant controller is normally run on dedicated capability of the individual wind turbines, through a plant
hardware instead of the SCADA server. control system. This allows the wind plant to provide
regulation services much like a conventional generating
System Interface of Plant SCADA plant. The plant control system is an integral part of the
The SCADA system typically uses a controller specific voltage regulation strategy within a WPP, in order to
protocol to communicate with the turbine controller and transmit all needed decision making data between
uses an industry standard protocol, such as, Modbus for controllers within a given time period, typically in the
data exchange with auxiliary devices. Besides the internal millisecond range. More coarse voltage regulation can be
communication interface, the SCADA system is designed accomplished using static capacitor and reactor banks
typically to support data exchange with external systems located at the substation or individual wind turbines.
such as enterprise SCADA, weather forecasting system, Regulation to a remote point such as an interconnection
and historian systems. The list of such interfaces may switchyard connected to the WPP requires input from
include OPC, web services, and XML. remote instruments or interface to remote switchyard
SCADA systems.
B. Third-Party SCADA
A third-part SCADA system is often implemented for B. Capacitor/Reactor Banks and Dynamic Var Devices
manufacturers that do not offer OEM SCADA, to overlay Reactive compensation equipment such as capacitor
or supplement the OEM SCADA, to manage operation in a banks, reactor banks, switched static reactive

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compensators, and dynamic reactive compensation System Interface of Plant Control
equipment are typically located at the wind plant The plant control system is typically integrated with the
substation(s), switchyard(s), and wind turbine generator(s). wind plant SCADA system to provide real-time visibility
The plant control system will coordinate the operation of and the ability to provide control set points. The plant
these BOP (Balance of plant) equipment, in order to control system can accept set-points from multiple systems
achieve the desired reactive power behaviour at the POI. via different methods. For example, system operators can
Further discussion of WPP reactive power compensation is provide control set-points as an analog signal using a RTU
presented in companion paper [6]. or a user can provide set-points via plant control user
interface. The plant control system can interface with other
C. Ramp Rate Control auxiliary devices in the substation and also inputs from
System operators increasingly require the ability to CTs/PTs at the POI.
control the power removed or inserted at any given point of
time, in both up and down directions. The plant control
system’s ability to enforce a MW per minute ramp rate V. SECURITY AND RELIABILITY COMPLIANCE
maximum is required for the wind plant to accomplish this. Implementation of SCADA and control systems in a
Often referred to as the PRR (power ramp rate), PRR is WPP is not just prudent engineering. WPPs must comply
typically calculated in ten minute or less intervals. Power with contractual obligation under an IA, which often has
fluctuations, which are caused by variations in wind speed, specific SCADA and control provisions necessary for
can be compensated quickly by adjusting the power output maintaining the security and reliability of the grid. Failure
of the individual turbines in order to provide a wind plant to comply with IA requirements can result in default and
level ramp rate control. termination. IA provisions vary regionally, and are
dependent on project specific parameters such as size,
D. Frequency Droop Control interconnection point, and expected impact to the grid.
Conventional power plants typically have frequency Articles 7, 8, and 9 of the Federal Energy Regulatory
droop capability (i.e. varying power output as a function of Commission (FERC) Standard Large Generator
grid frequency). Depending on the turbine manufacturer, a Interconnection Agreement (LGIA), used by many electric
WPP’s plant control system may be able to provide similar reliability entities, contain common requirements
governor response capability by adjusting turbine power governing metering, communications, and operational
output in response to grid frequency variation. capabilities, such as those discussed in Plant Controls
above. Following are other common IA requirements,
E. Power Curtailment standards, and considerations, which influence WPP
System operators often require the ability to control the SCADA and control system capabilities.
power output of a WPP at any given point of time to deal
with grid stability and transmission constraints. The power A. Remedial Action Scheme (RAS)
curtailment feature of the plant control system ensures that An RAS, also known as a Special Protection Scheme
the WPP power output is capped to the desired limit. The (SPS), is an automatic protection system specifically
SCADA system may utilize a simple turbine shutdown designed to detect abnormal or in some cases,
curtailment algorithm, offer global turbine power setpoint predetermined system conditions to take corrective actions.
curtailment, or utilize combined algorithms to optimize The corrective actions from an RAS would take place, in
efficiency and consider other turbine constraints. place of or in addition to the isolation of faulted
Curtailment rotation may be employed to balance components, to maintain system stability and reliability.
curtailment time across the WPP. The actions of an RAS can include changes in:
• Demand;
F. Auxiliary (i.e. battery banks, alarms etc)
• Generation (MW and Mvar);
There are many auxiliary SCADA points that provide • System configuration to maintain system
normal and critical alarms for the wind plant and stability;
interconnecting substations. These alarms are for • Acceptable voltage;
equipment such as: wind turbines (over speed safety • Power flows; or
system, controllers, auxiliary power, batteries, battery • Frequency or rate of change of frequency.
chargers, protection, reactive equipment) and substation
(battery chargers, batteries, system over/under voltage The use of SPS is generally justified for loss of network
alarms, protection lockout alarms, trip coil failure alarms, integrity characterized by one or more of the following
low SF6 gas pressure, transformer alarms, substation entry). phenomena [7]:
• Transient angle instability;
• Small signal angle instability;

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• Frequency instability; C. Data Telemetry
• Short-term voltage instability, IAs typically requires WPPs to provide a variety of data
• Long-term voltage instability, and to external sources such as a Utility, ISO, and/or balancing
• Cascaded tripping. authority control centers. In order to better manage the
schedule and generation of the grid, interconnecting
Some of the most commonly used RAS implemented in entities will often require ongoing forecasts for availability
conventional power systems include [7]: of power (net output) from the generator. The balancing
• Under frequency or under voltage load authority may place restrictions on output from the
shedding; generator depending on forecasted system loads and the
• Generator rejection and fast valving of steam expected availability of other generating resources.
turbines; WPPs commonly have meteorological towers onsite
• Automatic Generation Control (AGC); which require connection to the site communications
• Dynamic braking or braking resistor; network or SCADA system to transmit data to the other
• HVDC fast power change; systems or entities to help with forecasting. Increasingly,
• Tap changers blocking; transmission owners and service providers are requiring
• Controlled opening of an interconnection; live meteorological SCADA points to optimize wind power
• Automatic shunt reactor/capacitor switching; forecasting. Accurate wind forecasting is critical to
and reliable and economic system operation, especially as wind
• Fast increase in the generator voltage set-point. penetration increases in certain regions.
D. NERC Reliability Standards
An RAS does not typically include the functions needed
In 1998, Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63 was
for the following:
issued with the intent of protecting critical infrastructure in
• Fault conditions that must be isolated or
the U.S. PDD 63 was general and applied to a wide range
• Out-of-step relaying (not designed as an
of industries including electric generators. Compliance
integral part of RAS).
with PDD 63 was explicitly required for electric generators
under Appendix D of the standard LGIA, which lacked
The entity responsible for regional system impact,
specifics.
stability, and reliability generally develops standards for
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation
the remedial action schemes and their design, operation,
(NERC), whose mission is to insure the reliability of the
and testing.
bulk power system within North America, eventually
B. Protection System Relaying (PSR) established a specific series of reliability standards
The protective scheme needs to be interoperable with covering such areas as communications, transmission,
existing systems and technology in the immediate critical infrastructure protection (CIP), and protection and
interconnection area. Given the need to interact with a control (PRC). The standards are enforced after approval
system greater than the generator (beyond the by FERC under provisions of the 2005 Energy Policy Act.
interconnection point) it will be necessary to provide the Specifically, NERC CIP, governing cyber security, was
interconnecting entity with balance control capabilities. approved by the FERC under Order 706 in January 2008,
Allowing this control will improve safety and help protect thus making the standard mandatory in the U.S., and
equipment at the generator and within the interconnecting applied at a regional level with monitoring and
entity’s system. enforcement by the local reliability councils, corporations,
The PSR control scheme will be governed by the and organizations. Consequently, WPP SCADA and
interconnection agreement executed between the control system are required to comply with cyber security
interconnecting entities and the WPP. Parties to the provisions of NERC CIP, as well as, many other standards
agreement may also include third party entities like a such as PRC-012-0 regarding RAS/SPS procedures. The
system balancing authority. The control process is need for further improvements in communications between
generally facilitated through the provision of SCADA wind plants and balancing area operators was identified in
summary information to the interconnecting entity. The
[8].
information requested may include current and forecasted
In addition to the NERC CIP requirements, the Smart
WPP output. The information is then used to perform
dynamic system analysis and provide feedback to the WPP Grid efforts have produced NISTIR-7628 V1.0 that
about the ability of the utility to accept the energy addresses Smart Grid cyber security strategy and
produced and any limitations that must be placed upon it. requirements.
Signals are transmitted through the WPP SCADA system
to each individual unit for total system adjustments to
minimize impacts caused by system disturbances.

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E. IEC Standards Beyond meeting requirements and obligations,
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) sophisticated developers and owners recognize the solid
Standard 61400-25 (communications for monitoring and return on investment that proper SCADA implementation
control of wind power plants) provides uniform provides. More and more data isn’t the whole answer. The
information exchange for monitoring and control of wind right data must be acted on to implement operational,
power plants. It deals with communications between wind maintenance or other changes.
power plant components such as wind turbines and actors The publication of this paper was the result of two years
such as SCADA systems. It is designed for a of concerted effort by the authors and the IEEE PES Wind
communication environment supported by a client-server and Solar Plant Collector System Design working group.
model. The application area of IEC 61400-25 covers all The authors sincerely hope that this and other working
components required for the operation of wind power group papers are found to be valuable to those who will
plants, not only the wind turbine, but also the plan, design, analyze, construct, and operate wind power
meteorological system, the electrical system, and the wind plants. Recognition is given to the authors and their
power plant management system. employers for contributing the resources for the
IEC 61400-25 extends the technology of the IEC 61850 preparation of this work.
utility automation standard to address needs particular to For more information on available materials, or to find
wind power. The core of IEC 61850 is an abstract data out how to participate in this working group’s activities,
model that includes data objects that describe power please see: http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/td/wind
system equipment and services that provide data
communications functions. Examples of the services
include report-by-exception and definition/management of
VII. REFERENCES
device logs. The data model is mapped onto
communications technologies by specifying how particular
data types and services are to be communicated using the
technology. There is also an XML-based language for [1] T. Burton, D. Sharpe, N. Jenkins, E. Bossanyi, Wind
Energy Handbook, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley &
defining the configuration of the facility and setting the
Sons Ltd, 2001.
values of pre-defined parameters.
[2] G. Smith, Development of a Generic Wind Farm
IEC 61400-25 provides two major areas of extension. SCADA System, DTI Publishing 2001.
One is an extension to the data model to cover equipment [3] Wotruba, Bill. “The Essentials of Ethernet Equipment
found in wind plants. For equipment such as switches, in SCADA Systems.” North American Windpower,
breakers, protective relays, and transformers, the 61850 June 2010.
objects can be used. The other extension area is mapping [4] Wind Plant Collector Design WG, “Characteristics of
to additional communications technologies beyond those Wind Turbine Generators for Wind Power Plants,”
found in 61850. For example, 61400-25 adds XML-based Proceedings of 2009 IEEE Power and Energy Society
web services communications that offers improved General Meeting, Calgary, Canada, July 2009.
compatibility with communications in enterprise systems. [5] IEEE Std. C37.1-2007, IEEE Standard for SCADA
The data objects in 61850 and 61400-25 are named and Automation Systems.
rather than numbered. Part of the name is defined in the [6] Wind Plant Collector Design WG, “Reactive Power
standard and part is defined by the using organization. Compensation for Wind Power Plants,” Proceedings
Object naming removes any limit on the number and scope of 2009 IEEE Power and Energy Society General
of objects that can be handled thus, new power system Meeting, Calgary, Canada, July 2009.
equipment technologies or data requirements can be [7] System Protection Schemes in Power Networks,
accommodated by simply adding the relevant objects to the CIGRE Technical Brochure 187, Task Force 38.02.19,
data model. This approach is being used by Smart Grid June 2001.
efforts focused on ensuring that 61400-25 can support wind [8] North American Electric Reliability Corporation
(NERC), Special Report on Accommodating High
power data needs particular to North American practices.
Levels of Variable Generation, 2009
VI. CONCLUSIONS
In the past SCADA systems were almost or literally
afterthoughts, put in as needed to get the job done.
SCADA in modern WPPs is recognized as integral to
optimize WPP performance and financial return, and
necessary to meet contractual obligations including strict
security requirements.

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