Since the early 1990’s, there has been a major change in how the operations of wind farms are handled. Previously, the focus was mainly on the technical side of operations. Now, modern day wind farms are becoming an active part in the energy system and not just a passive producer.
In recent years the wind energy sector has attracted substantial investments, driving further expansion and innovation in the industry. These investments have led to the development of new wind farms and the deployment of advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency and reliability of wind power generation.
A necessity for real time monitoring
Nordic countries, which are leading in the adoption of renewable energy, are navigating a complex landscape of EU and national regulations that significantly impact the development and operation of wind farms. This in addition to ongoing fluctuating pricing that is leading to decreasing capture rates, regulatory uncertainties, and grid constraints —all of which affect the financial viability of wind power production.
Wind is an inherently variable energy source, and operators must implement strategies to balance supply and demand as well as ensure grid stability.
The benefits from outsourcing
Volue's control room services can help to create better price stability, for example by limiting the production of power plants when it is not profitable, or also enabling participation in the ancillary markets. This benefits their customers by allowing them to outsource their trading needs and to make sure their assets are managed in the most cost-effective and profitable ways.
“We have been operating control room activity since 1972. Our predecessor, Länsi-Suomen Yhteiskäyttö Oy, was founded then,” says Tomi Pesonen, Senior Vice President Energy Market Services.
The value of a 24/7 control room can make up a considerable part of total revenues. And with real time monitoring and control, wind power producers can also act on the intraday market continuously to reduce imbalance costs.
A typical customer for Volue’s control room services would be a wind power producer. Working with this full-service platform allows them to receive access to all the marketplaces, such as Nord Pool, and reserve markets.
From a technical aspect, the control room can assist in production services. Real-time communication with grid operators ensures that wind producers can quickly respond to sudden needs. Take wind farming substations for example. SCADA and substation communicate in real time, and the control room staff can react and notify the maintenance partner directly.
“At this current time, we have more than 50 wind power producers as customers using our control room services. Our clients are primarily located in Finland, Sweden, and Norway and our staff who monitors these services are trilingual: Finnish, Swedish, and English,” says Pesonen.
Optimal security
“We've built redundancy into every aspect of our operation, particularly in our communication systems. With multiple communication and backup systems, we ensure that our control room remains operational and fully connected, even in the most challenging circumstances. This commitment to redundancy not only complies with stringent European Union regulations, but also provides our clients with the assurance that their energy assets are continuously monitored and managed, regardless of external conditions”, says Teuvo Jouhten, Head of 24/7 services at Volue.
For optimal security, the control room staffs at minimum 2 people 24 hours a day throughout the entire year, and during the office time there is a group of experts to support operations when needed. This operational design ensures continuous coverage. In addition, the control room has state of the art Scada systems. SCADA communications to customer site are also often secured with separate spare communication line provided by Volue via satellite or other solutions.
About Volue
Volue provides advanced analytics, forecasting tools, and market insights that enable wind power operators to navigate market volatility and optimise their operations. By leveraging real-time data and predictive analytics, Volue helps operators anticipate market changes, adjust their production strategies accordingly, and capitalise on the best trading opportunities. This not only mitigates the financial impact of decreasing capture rates but also enhances the overall efficiency and competitiveness of wind power projects.
For more information about Volue’s Energy Market Services, look here.