Smart energy management solution provider MarkeDroid and energy sector equipment developer and manufacturer AS Martem have begun a partnership that will enable owners of solar and battery parks with capacities over 500 kilowatts to meet grid operators’ requirements while at the same time participating profitably in the electricity market.
Amid the need to stabilize the power grid and the rapid growth of renewable energy, managing larger production plants is becoming increasingly complex for park owners and developers. Such plants must be equipped with a remote metering and control device (RTU) and must be able to exchange data in real time with the control centers of Elektrilevi and Elering, and to receive control commands from them.
That is why MarkeDroid and AS Martem have launched a joint integration solution that links the parks’ local automation, grid operators’ control systems, and MarkeDroid’s smart energy management platform.
A key link: the RTU device and system compatibility
Starting from Type B production plants, an RTU device is mandatory. Parks that produce and store electricity often use solar and battery solutions from different manufacturers, and the substation’s central RTU must be able to control all of them at critical moments in the power grid.
The companies’ cooperation had a practical start already a few weeks ago, when a solar park’s control solution was successfully integrated into the joint system. This ensures successful park management and trading, as well as readiness to meet Elering’s requirements.
According to MarkeDroid’s C&I project manager Sander Õispuu, the main message of the new partnership is that MarkeDroid is now ready to take on and manage large-scale production and storage plants with capacities over 500 kW.
“For Type B and larger solar and battery projects, meeting the connection point requirements is more strictly regulated than for Type A plants. Whereas until now we have offered our control solution for residential and industrial installations, from now on, together with Martem, we can offer a ready-made and tested solution for high-capacity production plants both in Estonia and, for example, in neighboring countries,” Õispuu added.
Martem has long-standing experience in developing and manufacturing control equipment for substations and production plants — the company has already developed its fourth generation of RTU devices. One of Martem’s biggest advantages is the simplicity and universality of system configuration.
“Our main task is to control various devices in solar and battery parks. Since a park may use technology from very different manufacturers, the RTU must be able to control all of them and transmit the necessary information to Elektrilevi, Elering, and MarkeDroid,” explained Peter Nobel, member of the management board of AS Martem.
While the goal of Elektrilevi and Elering is to ensure voltage and frequency stability in the power grid and to prevent grid overload during emergency events, MarkeDroid’s focus is on effectively managing production and storage capacities in the electricity and reserve markets.
“While Type A plants can produce and sell electricity up to a certain limit, from Type B onward a direct connection to Elektrilevi and Elering is required. If an unforeseen situation arises in the power grid, Elektrilevi or Elering may need to send the plant a higher-priority command to balance the grid. Our solution makes it possible to ensure both compliance with grid requirements and real-time market trading,” said Õispuu.
