What the Project Is
Argand Solutions is a leading provider of integrated power plant control (PPC) and data acquisition (SCADA) solutions to the renewable energy and battery storage sectors. The focus is on enabling organisations to meet the challenges of the Smart Grid, providing cutting-edge software and hardware solutions that support an electrical energy infrastructure built on engineering and financial integrity. The project itself is designed to help clients comply with electrical grid regulations like G100 and G99, engage with network operator interfaces such as Active Network Management (ANM), and optimise revenues through access to market earnings via virtual power plants (VPP). It’s all about making smarter decisions, rapid analysis, and real-time interactions with energy assets… a modern solution for a low/zero carbon future.
Main Benefit
- Integrated Control and Data Management: Argand Solutions’ suite provides a robust PPC solution that is “asset agnostic” while guaranteeing compliance with challenging grid regulations.
- Asset Optimisation: With GridMAP, the project delivers pre & post-project modelling and optimisation analysis for solar PV, wind, CHP, and energy storage systems. Hundreds of scenarios can be run in minutes, comparing technologies, energy strategies, and revenue opportunities.
- Enhanced Operational Visibility: The GridLENZ platform offers IoT asset management, delivering valuable operational information, performance analytics, and critical risk analysis to quickly spot signs of under-performance or failure.
- Investment and Decision Support: The combined use of advanced software and hardware provides organisations with tools for better upfront and iterative investment decisions, ensuring both operational excellence and financial soundness.
Optimisation and Compliance
GridMAP is the innovation that allows for meticulous pre and post-project modelling. By running hundreds of scenarios—the process is fast, almost instantaneous—it compares diverse technologies and energy strategies, ensuring the optimum investment in energy storage and generation at any site, anywhere in the world. This level of process-driven insight not only satisfies technical requirements but also supports financial decision-making. The approach is both analytical and intuitive, providing clear directions over a landscape of many variables, which is essential when managing projects that demand regulatory compliance, such as G100, G99, and ANM.
Control & Connectivity
GridGEM, the power plant control solution, operates as an “asset agnostic” tool. It is designed to manage compliance seamlessly across a range of assets, co-locating them and collecting real-time data. This control solution is the cornerstone for ensuring that storage and generation assets optimally interact with the Grid. With the solution, network operators receive real-time updates that enable better handling of active grid management requirements. The system’s design reflects a balance between rigorous engineering standards and the dynamic nature of energy asset management—almost like having a trusted control center that never sleeps.
Digital Asset Management
GridLENZ exemplifies the forward-thinking approach to digital asset management for energy assets. By integrating IoT capabilities and rich data analytics, the platform delivers operational information in a user-friendly, clear format. Not only does it visualise complex data streams, but it also provides performance insights that help in detecting and responding to risks. This means that the decision-makers get timely information to act upon signs of under-performance or impending failures. The digital platform makes the integration of hardware and software solutions seem natural, blending data acquisition with smart analytics in a way that underscores the importance of continuous monitoring in the energy sector.
Project Impact
- Affordable and Clean Energy: The solutions contribute to the transition towards cleaner energy systems by supporting renewable generation and energy storage.
- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: By delivering integrated control and data platforms, the project bolsters industry infrastructure and stimulates ongoing innovation in energy technologies.
- Sustainable Cities and Communities: Through better management of energy assets and optimisation strategies, urban infrastructure benefits from enhanced energy resiliency and efficiency.
- Climate Action: With improved compliance to grid regulations and the deployment of smarter energy asset controls, the project plays a significant role in shifting towards a low/zero carbon future.
Looking Ahead in Energy
The journey ahead for renewable energy and battery storage sectors appears promising, with solutions like those provided by Argand Solutions setting the stage for more efficient and sustainable energy management. The integration of GridMAP, GridGEM, and GridLENZ is driving a transformation through real-time insights, rapid scenario analysis, and robust control mechanisms. This innovative suite not only helps organisations meet existing grid regulations but also anticipates the evolving needs of the Smart Grid. As energy systems become increasingly complex, the ability to make informed, dynamic decisions stands out as a critical advantage, serving as the underpinning for resilient and forward-thinking energy infrastructures. The narrative here is not just about compliance—it’s about harnessing technology to unlock new potentials in a world that increasingly values both performance and sustainability.
