Seamless SCADA Solutions for Uninterrupted Operations

SCADA Solutions' flagship product, WindCaptureTM, is a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software package used for monitoring, controlling, data collection, and reporting for wind turbine generators (WTG). It was designed and tailored to the demands of manufacturers, operators, developers, and maintenance managers of wind energy projects and facilities. Nearly a year in the making, the results are a completely integrated control design essential to the utilization and maintenance of critical renewable energy assets.

Regardless of the make of turbines in your project(s), SSI customizes WindCaptureTM with every installation to ensure the reliable flow and presentation of needed data. The system also combines a comprehensive database management system for standardized and customized operations reports with powerful analytic graphs, charts, tables, and other tools. You can use preset timetables or input any time period parameter and easily export to ExcelTM.

WindCaptureTM has numerous usable, integrated functions that work with your infrastructure's communications network. Some of the various valuable features include:

Scalability

The SCADA systems currently found on many larger wind farms and farms consisting of older turbines have difficulty dealing with expansion and suffer from significant performance drops as a farm grows since they lack scalability. WindCaptureTM is engineered to handle any number of turbines and is easily upgraded to sustain any future growth. SSI can connect your projects and your various farms together. Our design platforms also support projects consisting of several different types of turbines.

As wind generation becomes increasingly widespread, it is necessary that operating SCADA systems are also compatible with enterprise systems. Additionally, they need to report data to enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain, financial, and operating systems. If a user requires specific plant information, they will be able to access it remotely without having to place a telephone call to transmit the data.

Reporting

In addition to minimizing the amount of data lost, SSI's WindCaptureTM systems provide real-time reporting with the highest degree of accuracy. If operators are able to quickly identify and measure the issues in a process, they can systematically figure out how to eliminate them and get as close to a zero forced outage rate as possible. Additionally, trend and analysis reporting is increasingly important for owners and operators. Production curves, optimization graphs, and comparative analysis reports are a simple point-and-click away and can be easily exported to ExcelTM for further manipulation and presentation.

Automation

WindCaptureTM offers an unprecedented level of automation. Automated curtailment easily handles curtailment setpoints from the power-outtaker, or CAISO, and allows operators to define which turbines, or groups of turbines, will be curtailed. Turbines are shut down or brought on-line to match the curtailment setpoint as the wind changes. Autorun modules allow operators to define when turbines run based on environmental conditions such as wind direction, wind speed, time of day, and turbine-specific setpoints like hydraulic, gear, or bearing temperatures. Market reactive modules allow operators to set curtailment points based on real-time or next-interval market pricing from CAISO. Gain some peace of mind knowing that your profits won't disappear during negative pricing events.

Advanced GUI

It is essential for operators of wind farms to have an advanced graphic user interface (GUI) that displays accurate data in real-time. WindCaptureTM offers complete form-based GUI software that is remotely accessible and easily navigated by authorized operators. The GUI displays all of the monitoring sensors from a particular project or farm, with detailed information on each turbine. This advanced system also allows the authorized user to dynamically change parameters that may change, such as fault detection values of wind speed or the maintenance schedule for a particular pole.

Remote Access Capabilities

Enormous growth in the shear number of turbines per project, not to mention the vast territory where any one field may reside, has made remote access capabilities far more than just a convenience. Efficiencies are needed in detecting, analyzing, and solving the every-day problems encountered on wind farms that prohibit production and decrease productivity.

SCADA Solutions solves these challenges by utilizing a technology platform that supports data reporting, alarms, and status updates to operators via the web, SMS, e-mail, or even remotely by supporting mobile platforms such as iOS and Android. Turbines are now being reset from the central office or from your living room. Fault codes can be sent to your maintenance crew's cell phones with detailed error detection information. Meter reading and predictive maintenance scheduling are now being done miles away from the pole. Information accessibility has become increasingly vital to the operations, productivity, and maintenance of wind projects.

WindCaptureTM represents a complete windfarm computer monitoring and control system for almost any turbine. Each and every system is customized to your specific needs by our engineers and meets the most demanding requirements. Its open architecture allows for easy troubleshooting, upgrades, and internal modifications and advancements. To learn more about its advantages and how WindCaptureTM can support, improve, and assist you in better managing your wind assets, please contact one of our solutions experts.