This innovative infrastructure controls all the company’s wind farms and substations across the country throughout the year and in real time. The US is a key market for the company’s growth ambitions. The unit also receives data from the Company’s other wind farms around the world.
This facility will enable the company to optimise operational management and economic efficiency at its wind farms in the US, thereby enhancing the quality of the energy supplies to the grid. This detailed control of the wind power generated by the company in the US will provide greater stability to the country’s grid.
The Portland NCC remotely controls and monitors the company’s wind farm network before storing the information for subsequent analysis. Security is also enhanced as all the facilities connected to the centre are monitored via CCTV.
More than 50 people have worked on developing the project, and 25 highly-qualified professionals with an average age of 30 will be employed at the centre, with an average age of 30, trained mainly in renewable energy, IT and telecommunications.
The new facility is based on Iberdrola Renovables ’ cutting-edge CORE in Toledo (Spain), which began operations in 2003. Both facilities will be interconnected and controlled in real time.
Smooth operations
All Iberdrola Renovables wind farms in the US are equipped with a local control and data system which collates the main operating variables from the substations which then connect to the new centre.
The NCC receives all this information which is presented to the operators in an organised and simplified format enabling them to swiftly detect and analyse any breakdowns or stoppages. Using this diagnosis, decisions can then be taken either at the main control centre or at the company’s on-site operation or maintenance on-call service centres which helps limit down times and increases the availability of each facility.
The centre runs with a proprietary IT control system, compatible with those of all manufacturers whose turbines operate at Iberdrola wind farms. The Portland CORE meets all security and reliability standards required in the United States.
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