Remote-Control Solar Plant Goes Online in Russia’s Kalmykia
Operators can now manage a full-scale solar power station entirely from a centralized dispatch center
The Laganskaya SES (Laganskaya solar power plant) has begun supplying electricity to the wholesale market in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia. The 63-MW facility was built near the settlement of Ulan-Khol.
This is the second solar plant in the area, but it introduces a new capability: full remote control from a dispatch center. According to operators, this level of centralized control has not previously been implemented within Russia’s unified energy system.
Managing Key Parameters
Dispatchers control three main elements: active and reactive power, switching equipment, and the status of relay protection and emergency automation systems.
A high level of automation delivers two primary benefits. Operators can respond quickly to changes in the power grid, and the influence of human error is significantly reduced.
System Tested End-to-End
The digital automated process control system was validated through comprehensive testing. Specialists from the Rostov Regional Dispatch Center, part of SO UES, took part in the trials, which confirmed stable operation.
Kalmykia’s power system is now almost entirely based on renewable energy sources, an unusual case for Russia. With the launch of the Laganskaya SES, the share of green generation in the region has reached 96.9 percent.
