Flex Your Energy with Speed and Simplicity: Offer Description

EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex is a standardized microgrid system designed to meet resilience, efficiency, and sustainability needs.

It is a configured-to-order system that includes battery energy storage, interfaces with multiple Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), an integrated electrical infrastructure platform, and provides a cutting-edge power and energy management system, which balances power in real time for stability, and optimizes energy for sustainability and economic performance.

It is a standardized solution that accelerates every step of a microgrid project, from faster delivery to streamlined design and commission.

It is a configure-to-order solution that includes:

	A suite of software tools: Simplify feasibility analysis, Distributed Energy Resources (DER) sizing, energy management, power management, control configuration, and commissioning.
	An Energy Control Center/Microgrid Control Center: Streamline the integration of DERs into an intelligent, pre-engineered, and configurable power control center, so you can easily optimize resources and maximize facility performance.
	Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): Enable energy cost optimization and sustainability with a single containerized enclosure integrated with inverters, batteries, controls, and other safety and protection features.
	Tested and validate architectures: Improve the reliability of your microgrid controls and speed up the commissioning process with a pretested library of distributed energy resources.
	Microgrid services from Schneider Electric: From start to finish, we’ll help you conceptualize, design, commission, operate, and maintain your microgrid. It is a standardized solution that expedites every aspect of a microgrid project, encompassing swift delivery, streamlined design, and efficient commissioning.

Global Architecture

EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex, by Schneider Electric offers:

EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor (EMA), an energy management system on cloud.

EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation (EMO-M), a power management system on site, along with secured network architecture and other connected products inside Energy Control Center (ECC)/Microgrid Control Center (MGCC).

EcoStruxure Microgrid Build (EMB) makes it easier and simpler to configure microgrid controllers and network components inside the ECC/MGCC.

Digital tools

EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex encompasses a comprehensive suite of software tools that enable the seamless execution of functions such as energy management, power management and grid services, while also offering easy installation and commissioning.

Design Level (1): EcoStruxure Microgrid Assessment

EcoStruxure Microgrid Assessment is a simple end to end software tool that provides a smooth experience for feasibility studies, accurate simulations, sizing, and economical evaluations.

The software behaves as a:

Microgrid Feasibility Assessment tool —By providing detailed Key Performance Indicator (KPI) on economic, resiliency and sustainability
Optimal DER Sizing and Operation tool —By realistic simulation of microgrid operation and multi-objective selection of best configuration.

Configuration Level (2): EcoStruxure Microgrid Build (EMB)

EcoStruxure Microgrid Build (EMB) is a web-based configuration tool that helps to configure the customer’s system in a simple and easy-to-use manner. Microgrid Build provides recommendations and guidance along the way to quickly and easily build microgrid systems. You can draw from libraries of modular, pre-validated components to include in the system design.

EMB allows the user to achieve the following:

Select among predefined configuration for microgrid design to support use cases like islanding/restoration sequences, load management, demand charge reduction, energy optimization, as well as other options.
Select the electrical architecture and assets to be controlled from predefined libraries.
Set algorithms, transitions, and tariff tables as control parameters to adapt to the customer’s needs.
Generate pre-tested control code to deploy the defined solution seamlessly to the microgrid controllers, the user-interface, and Schneider Electric cloud services.

EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor (3)

EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor (EMA) is a cloud-based cybersecure software,when used a Data as a Service (DaaS) platform enables:

Store and dispatch DER program using the edge controller
Data acquisition from the edge controller
One year of data storage as standard (optionally extendable up to 15 years)
Data publish to energy optimization engine enterprise layer, AutoGrid
Optionally allows connection to Virtual Power Plants (VPP) for participating in capacity/energy/ancillary markets

Enterprise Layer (4): AutoGrid

AutoGrid is an AI-driven platform that can perform energy cost reduction by the aggregation/disaggregation of DERs, events dispatch, and allowing participation in ancillary markets.

It is responsible for grid-tied operation which may include:

Economic dispatch via cloud-based platform
Demand Response Optimization and Management System (DROMS)
Virtual Power Plant (VPP)
Energy Storage Management System (ESMS)
Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS)

Edge Control Level (5): EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation (EMO-M)

EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation is an efficient edge control solution that runs real-time algorithms with a two-part system:

1. Microgrid controller

2. Microgrid SCADA/local Human Machine Interface (HMI)

This level of edge control provides real-time data that works with Microgrid Advisor to give you the power to manage your energy, reach your sustainability goals, and ensure grid code compliance. It also provides a second layer of defense for your entire microgrid system, acting as the final gatekeeper for on-site distributed energy resource control.

EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation-Medium Sites (EMO-M) is the microgrid power control system at the Edge level. EMO-M software has an optional local HMI allowing remote monitoring and control of DERs and loads.

Ensure Connectivity to the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) (such as BESS/PV inverters/Genset controller) and Intelligent Electrical Device (IED) (such as circuit breaker and power meters).
Performs real time controls when grid-tied for grid code compliance or assets protection.
Performs sequence of operation for islanding/reconnecting to the main grid.
Runs the assets during off grid operation.
Interface with EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor for data transfer.
Provides local HMI for commissioning and maintenance (parameters/alarms).

System Architectures and Use Cases

Following standardization of the designs approach, EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex performs its functions within the guard rails defined by:

Architecture type: always grid-tied, islandable.
Type, number and make of DERs: PV, BESS, Genset, and controllable loads.
Functions of microgrid such as energy management, power management, grid services, as well as other options.

The design goal for the EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex offer is to provide tested and validated architectures to help strengthen the reliability of the solution and significantly reduce the probability of errors during commissioning.

Always Grid-Tied

Sites where the availability of electrical power grid is not an issue

Sites where power loss from the utility grid is a rarity and users opt to rent a diesel generator and manually perform the islanding operation (when needed)

For an always grid-tied site, there will be an Energy Control Center (ECC)/Microgrid Control Center (MGCC) and no grid-forming anchor resource (e.g., genset, grid-forming BESS). The utility power is monitored by a dedicated power meter. Optionally, a hardwired circuit breaker (CB) can be used to connect or disconnect PV production.

The EMO-M controller is used for communication with devices (as a gateway) and real time functions (e.g., export management).

Grid-tied use cases are managed by the Energy Management System.

Islandable–PV, Genset, Grid-tied BESS, and Utility

Resilience is a concern for sites with few or frequent power outages per year.

For an islandable site, an Energy Control Center (ECC)/Microgrid Control Center (MGCC) and one grid-forming resource (e.g., a genset or a grid-forming BESS) are required.

The EMA controller provides communication between on-site equipment and its cloud platform via secure communications. The EMA controller provides the remote monitoring function and is connected to EMO-M which is used as a mediation gateway with DERs. A panel PC is used for local HMI/SCADA. It communicates with the EMO-M to monitor, control, and change the settings.

Microgrid Flex Use Cases

Energy Management System (EMS)

EMS is operational when the site is connected to the utility grid (grid-tied). The aim of EMS is to provide economic optimization and remote monitoring services.

The EMS includes two components:

Energy Connect: Seamlessly connect to optimization engine like AutoGrid
AutoGrid: Performs economic optimization for multiple sites

Energy Connect Specifications Summary

Features		Energy Connect
Platform	Number of data tags*	300
	Data storage	1 Year
	Number of users	Up to 5
Access	Access to data via web services
Power Pack	PV+BESS kW rating	500 kW

AutoGrid Standard Use Cases

Use Cases	Description	DERs Involved^*
Use Cases	Description	PV	BESS	Genset
Tariff Management	Generate optimized asset plans and control DERs to minimize costs based on variable electricity tariff rate (including varying import and export rates).			N/A
Demand Charge Management	Generate optimized asset plans and control DERs to minimize site consumption peak.			N/A
Export Management	Generate optimized asset plans and control DERs to avoid exporting to the grid.			N/A
Demand response – Manual	Enable users to view and dispatch available DER capacity for participation in DR mechanisms.			N/A
Preparation for Grid Outages	Control DERs in preparation for future grid outage events.		N/A
Solar Curtailment	Support curtailment of PV generation for demand response, multi-market participation, export management, dynamic operating envelopes, and load following.		N/A	N/A
^* Controllable loads and EV to be integrated later in the solution.

AutoGrid Optional Use Cases

Demand response (automated)
Frequency regulation
Multimarket participation
Dynamic operating envelopes
Optimized load following (grid-connected)

Power Management System (PMS)

PMS provides stability and power flow regulation to the system. EMO-M is responsible for the islanding management of the microgrid, providing electrical resilience to the system in the event of a utility grid outage. EMO-M also provides control during grid-tied operation for time sensitive functions where a faster response time than can be provided by the EMS is required.

Power and Network Management Specification Summary

Power Management Powered by EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation	Architecture		Islandable		Grid-Tied
	Features		Essential	Advanced	Essential	Advanced
	Local Monitoring and Control	Local SCADA: HMI software
	Export Management	Export management*
	Export Management	BESS control mode	Unrestricted Import/Export	Controlled Import/Export	Unrestricted Import/Export	Controlled Import/Export
	Grid Connection/ Reconnection Management with Genset as Anchor (transition)	Manual/No transition*	—	—
		Grid outage	Open transition*	Open transition	—	—
		Grid reconnection	Open transition	Open/Closed transition	—	—
	Load Management	Load shedding/reconnection			—	—
	Local Data Storage	Local data storage
Network Management	Secured Network	Firewall and managed switches configuration files

Power Management System Use Cases Description

Local Monitoring and Control: The EMO-M solution incorporates a local touchscreen HMI to provide local monitoring, settings, and control of the DERs in the microgrid.
Export Management: EMO-M prevents power over a specified threshold from being exported to the utility. This is achieved by regulating PV inverter power.
BESS Control Modes: EMO-M manages the BESS power flow in consideration with preprogrammed utility export and import limitations. The following four options can be selected:
- Import Only Mode: EMO-M stops the BESS from discharging power to the grid by preventing the BESS from discharging at a power level greater than the power demanded by the loads.
- Export Only Mode: EMO-M stops the BESS from charging using power from the grid by preventing the BESS from charging at a power level greater than the power produced by PV inverters.
- No Exchange Mode: EMO-M prevents the BESS from both discharging power to the grid and charging with power from the grid.
- Unrestricted Mode: When none of the above modes are selected, EMO-M will keep operating as usual, allowing the BESS to discharge or charge from the utility.
Transition Management: Depending on the microgrid type, both grid-tied and off-grid operation may be required. The transition between operational states is managed by the EMO-M controller whereby specific sequences are followed to automatically island and reconnect the microgrid depending on selected use cases and conditions (such as grid availability).
Load Management: EMO-M manages the shedding and reconnection of loads to protect the main anchoring resource from operating above its maximum power. This function sends open and close commands to load circuit breakers according to their programmable priority and category (emergency, essential, and non-essential) settings.
Local Data Storage: EMO-M functions as a gateway between the DERs and the supervision layer, providing data collection and transfer services. These gateway services can be extended to other third-party devices.
Network Management: Secured network using firewall and managed ethernet switches in the ECC, implements VLANs to create network segmentation between the connected devices. Firewall also controls the flow of communication from one device to another.