3 product overview, 1 system overview – SMA POWER PLANT CONTROLLER User Manual
Page 10
3 Product Overview
SMA Solar Technology AG
10
PPC-BE-P7-en-13
Operating Manual
3 Product Overview
3.1 System Overview
The Power Plant Controller assumes the park management function in large PV systems. The PV system can combine both
central inverters and decentralized string inverters, which are monitored and controlled by Cluster Controllers.
Figure 1: Principle of signal transfer in a PV system with Power Plant Controller
In the Power Plant Controller, the setpoints for grid management services are received and compared with the values
measured at the point of interconnection. Based on this comparison, the Power Plant Controller calculates the required
output values and transmits these values to the central inverters and the Cluster Controllers or the Inverter Manager.
The Power Plant Controller can receive setpoints digitally, analog, and via Modbus protocol. The setpoints are
transmitted by the grid operator or by a higher-level SCADA system via Modbus protocol.
The measured values that the Power Plant Controller receives are measured at the point of interconnection, processed by
a network analyzer, and transmitted to the Power Plant Controller as analog values or via Modbus protocol.
Transmission of the output values from the Power Plant Controller to central inverters, Cluster Controllers and the
Inverter Manager takes place via Modbus protocol.