Renewables certification body DNV GL has opened the control hardware in loop (CHIL) test facility for renewable energy generation plants.
The facility connects physical power plant controllers to a real-time simulator that emulates renewable energy generation farms as well as the grid connection.
A communication layer is included for the master SCADA simulating the grid operator, allowing the controller to be fully tested and validated in any situation it may face without the need for an actual generation facility or power grid in order to identify potential unwanted interactions, according to DNV GL.
Andreas Schröter , Executive Vice President Central Europe and Mediterranean at DNV GL, said: “Until now, testing controllers meant downtime for the generation farm and huge effort coordinating many different players. What’s more, a failure during testing could have far-reaching and expensive consequences.
“In line with our Power Cybernetics approach, the new CHIL test bench significantly reduces the cost, risk and effort required to comprehensively test control systems for renewable energy generation farms. Besides streamlining certification, the test bench can be used to validate new functionality during development and set-up controllers for individual generation sites.”
The test bench allows complete testing according to the latest German medium- and high-voltage grid codes revisions, with the possibility of ISO 17025 accredited measurements, DNV GL noted.