Foreword, Content table

Introduction 1
Photovoltaic Plant Control
a SICAM application Functions 2
Operator Manual

V1.00
Disclaimer of Liability
Siemens AG shall not be liable for any incidental or consequential
damages resulting from the performance or use of this product.
This document has undergone extensive technical approval before
being released. We review this document at regular intervals, and
include appropriate amendments in subsequent issues. While every
effort has been made to keep the information herein as accurate
and up to date as possible, Siemens AG assumes no responsibility
for errors or omissions or for damages resulting from the use of the
information contained herein. The content of this document is for
information only and in consequence, Siemens AG cannot take
over liability resulting in any way from the use of this document or
parts thereof.
These contents shall not become part of or modify any prior or
existing agreement, commitment or relationship. The sales contract
contains the entire obligations of Siemens AG. The warranty
contained in the contract between the parties is the sole warranty of
Siemens AG. Any statements contained herein do not create new
warranties or modify the existing warranty.
Siemens AG reserves the right to update this documentation from
time to time and to change it without prior notice.
Document Label:
Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00
Operator Manual
Date of release:06.11.2018
Copyright
Copyright © Siemens AG 2018 All rights reserved. This document
is protected by German Copyright law and international contracts
as intellectual property of the Siemens AG. The document contains
confidential information of Siemens AG which is protected by
patent, copyright, trademarks or otherwise as inventions,
trademarks or creations of Siemens AG. The reproduction,
duplication, transmission or use of this document or its contents is
not permitted without express prior written consent of the Siemens
AG.
Registered Trademarks
® ® ® ® ®
SIMATIC , SIMATIC NET , SIPROTEC , DIGSI , SICAM ,
® ® ® ® ®
ENEAS , SIMEAS , SINAUT , OSCOP , and DAKON are
registered trademarks of SIEMENS AG. An unauthorized use is not
permitted.
The remaining descriptions in this documentation/information could
be trademarks, the use of which by third parties for their aims could
infringe upon the owner’s rights.
Foreword

Content of the Document

Usage

This document covers the description of how to operate the Photovoltaic Plant Control.

Remark
Photovoltaic Plant Control (SPPC) is a market specific development based on the programming language
CAEx plus including a SICAM SCC User Interface. The applied standard hardware is SICAM A8000
CP8050.

Attention

Target audience

• Sales Engineers (Siemens)

• Project Engineers
• Customers

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 3

Released 11.2018
Notes on safety
This manual does not constitute a complete catalog of all safety measures required for
operating the equipment (module, device) in question because special operating conditions
may require additional measures. However, it does contain notes that must be adhered to GC
engineering for your own personal safety and to avoid damage to property. These notes are
highlighted with a warning triangle and different keywords indicating different degrees of
danger.

Danger means that death, severe injury or substantial damage to property will occur if the
appropriate safety measures are not taken.

Warning means that death, severe injury or substantial damage to property can occur if the
appropriate safety measures are not taken.

Caution
Means that minor injury or damage to property can occur if the appropriate safety measures
are not taken.

Caution
Means that damage to property can occur if the appropriate safety measures are not
taken.

Note
A note provides important information about the project, the handling of the product, or the
part of the documentation in question to which special attention must be paid.

Qualified personnel
Commissioning and operation of the equipment (module, device) described in this manual
must be performed by qualified personnel only. As referred to in the safety notes contained in
this manual, qualified personnel are those persons who are authorized to commission,
release, ground and tag devices, systems and electrical circuits in accordance with safety
standards.
Use as prescribed
The equipment (device, module) must not be used for any other purposes than those
described in the Catalog and the Technical Description. If it is used together with third-party
devices and components, these must be recommended or approved by Siemens.
The correct and safe operation of the product requires adequate transportation, storage,
installation and mounting as well as appropriate use and maintenance.
During the operation of electrical equipment, it is unavoidable that certain parts of this
equipment will carry dangerous voltages. Severe injury or damage to property can occur if the
appropriate measures are not taken:
• Before making any connections at all, ground the equipment at the PE terminal.
• Hazardous voltages can be present on all switching components connected to the
power supply.
• Even after the supply voltage has been disconnected, hazardous voltages can still
be present in the equipment (capacitor storage).
• Equipment with current transformer circuits must not be operated while open.
• The limit values indicated in the manual or the operation instructions must not be
exceeded; this also refers to checks and commissioning.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

V1.00.03 - Released 11.2018
Content table

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................6

1.1 General .................................................................................................................6

2 Human Machine Interface Functions ...............................................................................7

2.1 Start-up and exit ...................................................................................................8

2.2 Menu structure and operation.............................................................................10
2.2.1 System → Overview ......................................................................................11
2.2.2 System → Settings ........................................................................................12
2.2.3 Design → Plant Layout ..................................................................................14
2.2.4 Design → Electrical → Single Line Diagram .................................................15
2.2.5 Messages → Alarms & Events ......................................................................19
2.2.6 Archive → Trends ..........................................................................................22
2.2.7 Configuration → Language............................................................................23
2.2.8 View → Simulation ........................................................................................23
2.3 Backup ................................................................................................................26

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

Released 11.2018
 Introduction

1 Introduction

1.1 General

In order to manage and control the photovoltaic plants, Siemens developed Photovoltaic Plant
Control solution. It is structured in a way that all the information from the inverter controllers is
transmitted to a data concentrator. This data concentrator logics, automation functions and the
process interface are implemented on SICAM A8000 CP8050, while the Human Machine
Interface is realized by SICAM SCC.

Figure 1 – Architecture

Note:

As the communication with SICAM SCC is based on standard IEC 60870-5-104 protocol the
SICAM SCC user interface can theoretically be project specifically replaced by any platform
able to communicate with IEC 60870-5-104 (e.g. Spectrum Power 5) and providing the
required signals.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2 Human Machine Interface Functions

The Human Machine Interface uses Siemens SICAM SCC, based on WinCC, Windows
Control Center. It offers graphical windows, menu bar, mouse operation, two operating
languages, English and German. If required, new languages can be configured. Event list,
Archiving of events and measured values are also included.

Several displays show different information from the photovoltaic plant, which includes
overview, dashboards, economical indicators and system details.

The communication between SICAM A8000 CP8050 and the Human Machine Interface
provided by SICAM SCC is done by IEC 60870-5-104 protocol. Standard license for SCC will
be 2048 external tags, i.e. information points. This should be sufficient, a greater license may
be necessary if more information points are defined, exceeding the 2048 tags limit. Tags can
be automatically imported from SICAM A8000 CP8050 using the IEC Wizard of SICAM SCC.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2.1 Start-up and exit

If a manual startup is desired, the icon WinCC Explorer has to be double clicked on the
desktop:

Figure 2 – SIMATIC WinCC Explorer start-up

After the program is running, the blue triangle ‘Play’ icon needs to be pressed in order to start
the WinCC Runtime:

Figure 3 – SIMATIC WinCC Explorer Start Project

Automatic start is possible by defining the project in WinCC program ‘Autostart’ and tick
marking the ‘Activate at startup’ option:

Figure 4 – SIMATIC WinCC Explorer autostart project

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

Released 11.2018
 Functions

When activating the project, WinCC starts with a main screen with a menu collecting different
overviews. A login is not necessary. Overviews do not show any value because
communication partners have to be connected prior to that.

To navigate through the project, a menu bar is on top of the window in every screen.

Additionally some pictures contain buttons which lead to other overviews.

Closing the HMI is done by selecting ‘Exit’ from the ‘File’ menu in the menu bar.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2.2 Menu structure and operation

The Photovoltaic Plant Control project collects information from the plant in a unique platform,
which allows its operation in a more reliable way. Overview. Dashboard and Economics are
examples of displays developed in SICAM SCC, which contains general information about the
photovoltaic plant. Besides, more detailed information can be found in plant layout,
communication and electrical single line diagram. It also shows the weather of the region and
its forecast.

Figure 5 – Menu structure

The menu structure looks as follows:

• File
o Login
o Logout
o Exit
• System
o Overview
o Settings
• Design
o Plant Layout
o Electrical
▪ Single Line Diagram
• Messages
o Alarms
o Events
• Archive
o Trends
• Configuration
o Language
▪ English
▪ German
• View
o Simulation
o About

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

Released 11.2018
 2.2.1 System → Overview

The following figure shows the main entry screen. It shows the overall status of the photovoltaic plant including active and reactive power in the point of
common point and for each block, as well as temperatures and status of the inverters.

Figure 6 – System Overview

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 11

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2.2.2 System → Settings

The settings window is central for operating the Photovoltaic Plant Control. Here the automation functions are started and stopped, core functions can be
activated and deactivated:

Figure 7 – Settings

Following functions can be configured:

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 12

Released 11.2018
 Functions

• AUTOMATIC MODE: Photovoltaic Plant control can be in automatic or manual mode

• CONTROL AUTHORITY: The control authority can be Local or Remote

• Start PPC: Start / Stop the photovoltaic plant

• P LIMIT: Allows the activate power control

• F CONTROL: Activates the frequency control

• MMPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) CONTROL: Activates the maximum power point tracking control (ramp control)

• Q CONTROL: Allows the reactive power control

• U CONTROL: Activates the fast primary voltage control

• PF CONTROL: Allows power factor control

• STATCOM CONTROL: Activates static mode for Q at night control

In the control setpoints, the active power, frequency, ramp rate, voltage, power factor and reactive power values are shown. The values can be changed by
clicking on them and keying in new values. The change will be logged in the event list.

The process data is also monitored in the point of common point and the total power available in the power plant.

Note
The Q at night control is optional function.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 13

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2.2.3 Design → Plant Layout

In this picture, rectangles are representing the plant inverters and their color will change online according to its current normalized active power production,
forming a Heat Map. The output color is coded according to a legend located in the left side of the image. The information can be represented either as Table
View or as a Geographical View.

Figure 8 – Plant Layout – Table View

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 14

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2.2.4 Design → Electrical → Single Line Diagram

The following figure shows the single line diagram of the Photovoltaic Plant. If switching devices like circuit breakers change status without Photovoltaic Plant
Monitoring being involved, e.g. after a protection device tripped or after manual change, the symbol starts to flash. For acknowledging the spontaneous status
change, the ‘ACKNOWLEDGE’ button has to be clicked.

Figure 9 – Single Line Diagram – Overview

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 15

Released 11.2018
 Functions

By clicking in the PV Block button is possible to navigate in each PV Block single line diagram.

Figure 10 – Single Line Diagram – PV Block details

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 16

Released 11.2018
 Functions

By clicking in the inverter, the power, temperatures, operation modes and state, error and warning codes are displayed, as well as the information for each APU
(apparent power units) for the respective inverter.

Figure 11 – Single Line Diagram – Inverter details

By clicking in the “Alarm List” button, the alarms for the selected inverter are displayed in the window.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 17

Released 11.2018
 Functions

Figure 12 – Single Line Diagram – Inverter alarm list

By clicking in the “Trend” button, it is possible to select variables to be displayed in a graphic format.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 18

Released 11.2018
 Functions

Figure 13 – Single Line Diagram – Inverter trend

In “Local HMI VNC”, the inverter local HMI will be accessed and the local operation can be performed.

2.2.5 Messages → Alarms & Events

In order to keep a proper record of all ongoing and past events, a event list is used. A permanent event list is always visible below the main window showing the
last 10 events.

Additionally by selecting ‘Messages, ‘Events’ a full screen version is available.

The event list outputs status changes of the system in tabular form. These are, for example, indications, commands or metered values. Each item of information
is shown in a separate line. The events are in a chronological order with the most recent entry at the end of the list.

When the event list opens, the end of the list is displayed. You can page through the event list to show older indications. The event list can display 1000
indications at the most. Filter criteria can be applied to show older indications from the archive.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 19

Released 11.2018
 Functions

The text output for indications that only appear in the event list is black. Additional information items in the event lists like DATE, TIME, LOCATION
(LOCAL/REMOTE), CAUSE (SPONTANEOUS, FEEDBACK, COMMAND) provide a high information quality.

Figure 14 – Event list: detail

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 20

Released 11.2018
 Functions

Figure 15 – Event list: full screen

The Alarm List picture has the same structure as the Event List, however it only shows the variables which are configured as Alarm.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 21

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2.2.6 Archive → Trends

This Trend window contains the visualization of measurement values in a graph representation. The user can select and show measurement values by
selecting the desired one in the box.

Figure 16 – Trends

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 22

Released 11.2018
 Functions

2.2.7 Configuration → Language

In the Language item it is possible to change the system language.

Figure 17 – Language

2.2.8 View → Simulation

For demonstration and test purposes a simulation mode is available.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 23

Released 11.2018
 Functions

Figure 18 – Simulation mode

The simulation is activated in the ‘Simulation’ window which can be found under the ‘View’ Menu. In simulation mode all commands to the real equipment are
blocked and sent to the simulated ones instead. The status indication is derived from the simulated equipment. After the simulation has been started, an
initiating time of about 30s is required.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 24

Released 11.2018
 Functions

Figure 19 – Simulation start/stop

In the control modes area is possible to select different control types and in the control setpoints to define the values for them. The active and reactive power,
frequency and voltage at the point of common coupling can be monitored in the graphs.

The switching device symbol starts to flash if devices like circuit breakers change status without the Photovoltaic Plant Control being involved, e.g. after a
protection device tripped or after manual change. For acknowledging the spontaneous status change, the ‘ACKNOWLEDGE’ button has to be clicked.

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual 25

Released 11.2018
 2.3 Backup

It is recommended to backup the complete project folder in order to secure the archived
values for events and measurement values. The easiest way is to exit the runtime, close the
WinCC explorer and copy the project folder on external data storage, e.g. a memory stick or a
hard disk, e.g. D:\Project\ PV_Control

Photovoltaic Plant Control – a SICAM application V1.00, Operator Manual

Released 11.2018