Soluzioni per il monitoraggio e il controllo degli impianti di produzione di energia da fonti rinnovabili
CCI – POWER PLANT CONTROLLER FOR STANDARD CEI 0-16
Adapt your power plant to the CEI 0-16 V1 and V2 regulations thanks to our CCI
The European guidelines for the electricity transmission system (SOGL) establish the importance of monitoring and controlling distributed generation (DER), in particular from renewable sources (RES). ARERA, implementing the indications, entrusts DSOs with the task of acquiring, and sending to TSOs, data from production plants.
The CEI, with the V1 and V2 variants of the 0-16 standard, introduces the Central Plant Controller (CCI). A system that, installed at the Delivery Point, allows the DSOs to monitor and regulate the production plant, making it participate in the balancing of the network.
Which power plants are subject to the CCI?
All power plants having Pn > = 1 MWac and connected in Medium Voltage
- The plants operational from 01/04/2023
- Plants that entered into operation up to 31/03/2023 must be adapted by 31/05/2024
- Medium voltage connected plants that participate in the Dispatching Markets of any Pn
BONUS FOR CCI COMPLIANCE
Economic bonus for CEI 0-16 compliance
For existing power plants, the Authority has provided for the provision of an economic bonus in order to facilitate compliance with the legislation. The amount of this bonus depends on the date of sending the Communication of Compliance, the checks of which have had a positive outcome.
The process includes:
- At the end of the work, the Manufacturer sends the Distributor the Communication of Compliance;
- The Distributor, within two months, carries out remote checks or random inspections;
- In the event of a negative outcome, the Manufacturer has 2 months to carry out corrective actions and communicate this to the Distributor, who organizes new checks within 1 month;
- In case of a positive outcome, the Distributor will pay out the bonus within 3 months of the Notification of Compliance.
DOWLOADS AREA
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on the Central Plant Controller – CCI
CCI Higeco More Certifications
Consult the copy of all the CCI Higeco More certifications required by the CEI 0-16 standard
Brochure CCI
Learn more about all the technical details and more of the Higeco More Central Plant Controller (CCI) solution
Buying guidelines
To facilitate the choice of the CCI we have created a list of all the technical requirements that a CCI must have to be complete and compliant with CEI 0-16 with specific details in Annexes O and T.
Higeco More responds
The answers to the most common questions about CCI collected in a single document. Consult the answers also in video format in the YouTube playlist Higeco More responds.
HIGECO MORE ANSWERS THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CCI
FAQ on the Central Plant Controller (CCI)
We have collected in this section some of the most frequently asked questions that were asked during the WEBINAR on CCI and in subsequent meetings with our customers.
Resolution 540/21/R/el defines the scope of the CCI, indicating the installation obligation for production plants with a nominal power greater than or equal to 1 MW and connected in MT, which will enter into operation from 1 December 2022. For plants, always with a nominal power greater than or equal to 1 MW and connected in MT, but entered into operation before 30 November 2022, it establishes the obligation to adapt by 31 January 2024.
For now, plants belonging to the extended perimeter, i.e. with a nominal power lower than 1 MW and/or connected in LV, are excluded.
Plants connected in HV are excluded, for which reference must be made to the requirements indicated in Annex A68 of the Network Code.
There are no distinctions in technology (technology neutrality). The CCI is mandatory for any electricity generation plant with a nominal power greater than 1MW and connected in MT.
The letters sent by DSOs at the end of May 2022 were also sent to photovoltaic systems with nominal power (DC) less than 1 MW, but AC power, calculated as the sum of the rated power of the inverters, greater than 1 MW. This seems to be due to a different interpretation of the definition of nominal power: on CEI 0-16, in section 3.72, it is specified that “in the case of PV generators, the maximum active power that can be delivered is limited by the nominal power of the inverter, if this is less than the sum of the STC powers of the PV modules“, but not vice versa. On the contrary, in IEC 61724-1 (2021-07) it is indicated that the nominal power of a photovoltaic system is the lower between AC and DC, as is commonly considered.
Resolution 540/21/R/el establishes the payment of a bonus by the DSO only for plants that are required to comply, i.e. those that entered into operation before 1 April 2023. The amount of the bonus is equal to:
– €2,500 for plants that complete the procedure by the last available date, i.e. 31 May 2024
– €10,000 for plants that complete the procedure by 31 July 2023
– €7,500 for plants that complete the procedure by 31 October 2023
– €5,000 for plants that complete the procedure by 31 January 2024
For plants with nominal power greater than 6 MW, and connected in MT, additional monitoring and control requirements are foreseen, specified in Annexes K and X of CEI 0-16 2022-03. For plants connected in AT, reference must be made to the requirements indicated in Annex A68 of the Network Code.
Resolution 540/21/R/el establishes, on page 14, that the CCI is also mandatory for systems connected in MT to SDC (Closed Distribution Systems), with nominal power greater than or equal to 1MW. “Since these systems are also in all respects distribution systems to which the technical conditions for connection in force for public networks with third-party connection obligations apply.”
In the case of an existing production plant with a power of less than 1 MW that has been revamped after March 31, 2023, which brought the power of the plant beyond the MW, the plant is considered NEW, with all that this entails. The producer is therefore required to install the CCI by the date of entry into service of the new section, without financial contribution.
A section that entered into service after March 31, 2023 is a sufficient condition to consider the entire plant “new”.
CEI 0-16 2022-03 divides the CCI functionalities into 3 groups:
– PF1: mandatory functionalities – Monitoring
– PF2: optional functionalities (from the DSO point of view) – Regulation and Control
– PF3: optional functionalities (from the producer point of view) – Participation in Flexibility Markets and Plant Optimization
Optional functions can be requested at the discretion of the DSO. The timing according to which the currently optional and/or optional functions will also become mandatory will be established subsequently by ARERA with appropriate resolutions.
The regulation of P and Q is one of the optional PF2 features, and the distributor will request it, if it deems it appropriate. We expect this feature to be requested in the connection estimate or in the Operating Regulations, for new systems. While, for existing systems, it will be requested in the RdE that the Distributor must send updated, by 30 September 2022, to the producers subject to the adjustment.
Annex T of CEI 0-16 2022-03, paragraph T.3.3.4.5, clarifies that Annex O, in section O.13.1.5, indicates that the time synchronization function can be performed by a GPS receiver integrated in the CCI, or it can be provided via a communication network service. Subsequently, the same paragraph indicates the secure NTS version of NTP as the protocol to be used.
Resolution 540/21/R/el assigns to distributors (DSO) the responsibility of creating and maintaining the communication infrastructure, including the management of encryption keys, necessary to connect the CCI with their monitoring and control systems. On the other hand, it assigns to producers the responsibility of installing and maintaining the CCI in the plant.
It better be. In fact, the CCI must use a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) for the management of security certificates (See CEI 0-16 T.3.3.4.9). According to Annex T there are 3 ways to do it:
1 – Manual Management (temporary solution only): Installations, updates, revocations, replacements, of DSO certificates and any BSPs must be done manually on each plant. Challenging and error-prone if there are many CCIs to manage.
2 – Local PKI in the plant and OCSP protocol: Installing and managing a local PKI is very expensive and difficult. It is neither convenient nor secure.
3 – External PKI in CLOUD: The CCI uses an external PKI in #cloud, through the internet connection. Secure, centralized and automatic management of the certificate life cycle.
In addition, a CCI connected to the internet is easier to update – mandatory updates are already planned in the coming years – to reach and consult – through our portal – to replace in case of failure – automatic backup of configurations and data.
The CEI 0-16 2022-03 standard requires the following data to be collected:
– Delivery Point: measurement of P, Q, V and optionally I. DG and DI status
– Individual Generators: P and DDG status
The CEI standard requires measurements of individual generators only if they have a nominal power greater than:
– 170kW for static converters (e.g. photovoltaic inverters)
– 250kW for traditional generators
– 50kW for storage
Furthermore, Arera Resolution 540/21 in Article 2 indicates that measurements of individual generators are required only for new plants. For measurements, the required precision is that indicated in tables 5 and 6 of Terna Annex A.6: maximum error of measurements less than or equal to 2.2%. For existing individual generators only, the maximum error increases to 10%.
The CEI 0-16 2022-03 standard requires that measurements be taken at the delivery point, in MT, using a measuring converter (Power Analyzer) of class 0.2, or better, and measuring CTs and TVs of class 0.5, or better, with a performance of 5 VA or 10 VA. The CTs and TVs can be used in sharing with other systems, with the exception of the fiscal measurement group, and without creating interference.
Measurement systems with different characteristics are also acceptable, provided that they comply with the accuracy required by Annex A.6 of the Terna Network Code table 5: maximum error on the measurement of P, Q and V less than 2.2%.
The CEI 0-16 2022-03 standard specifies that measurements and statuses can also be acquired by the CCI through communication with other system elements, via standard communication protocols, as long as the required accuracy is guaranteed.
No if the protections use protective CTs and TVs, which do not have the precision required by the standard.
As indicated in paragraph O.14 and in figures O.1 and O.7 of CEI-016 2022-03, monitoring of the status of the DG and all the DIs is required, through direct acquisition (clean contact) or by communicating with other system elements (e.g. SPI).
Performances higher than 10VA are better than those required by CEI 0-16 2022-03 and therefore, in our opinion, are permitted. In general, measurement systems with different characteristics are acceptable, as long as they comply with the accuracy required by Annex A.6 of the Terna Network Code, tables 5 and 6: maximum error less than 2.2% for measurements at the PdC and of individual new generators, less than 10% for existing generators.
Resolution 540/21/R/el establishes that DSOs that do not intend to carry out data collection and regulation activities may use a third-party distributor, “such as, for example, the reference distribution companies or, in the case of SDC, the concessionary distribution companies in the territory in which they operate“. Alternatively, the DSO could submit a communication of motivated renunciation to Terna by 31 January 2022, which will evaluate alternative solutions. Ultimately, Terna will carry out the data collection directly, via the IEC 60870-104 protocol.
Yes, CTs are not the only measurement system available. You can also use Rogowski probes, but be careful because they are not as precise as CTs, and the CEI 0-16 standard requires that a total measurement error on P and Q be guaranteed to be less than 2.2%!
If you choose CTs measuring in class 0.5, as indicated in CEI 0-16, you will be able to avoid additional tests and compliance problems.
The CCI control functions are based on closed-loop regulators, which read the measurements at the delivery point, compare them with the set points, received (servo mode) or calculated (autonomous mode), calculate the set points to be sent to the generators/converters and send them. Consequently, the CCI must be able to communicate reliably and quickly with the generators/converters, which must implement a standard communication interface and protocol that includes the possibility of receiving commands in P and Q (or equivalent, for example PF or PHI). If the communication is based on serial protocols, such as RS485 or CANBUS, and not Ethernet, it is more difficult to respect the prescribed response times, and it is necessary to evaluate the feasibility on a case-by-case basis.
Many photovoltaic inverters, even very old ones, were already set up to be regulated by a centralized control system, that is, they offer a standard communication protocol with registers that can be used to send commands in P and Q (or equivalent). To verify compatibility, you can check the product manual or the document that describes its communication protocol. We have been dealing with the control of photovoltaic systems for almost 10 years, and so far we have only encountered one brand of inverter that was totally non-adjustable.
Typically traditional generators are equipped with an on-board control system, or an external PLC, that regulates their operation. As with photovoltaic inverters, the requirement is that the controller offers a standard communication protocol with registers that can be used to send commands in P and Q (or equivalent). And that there is a reliable and fast communication network between the CCI and the generator controller.
CCI manufacturers, once all the tests have been carried out and the certifications described in chapter O.15 of CEI 0-16 2022-03 have been obtained, will be able to issue a self-declaration of conformity to the standard, Annexes O and T. The technical file thus obtained must be kept for at least 10 years from the last manufacturing date of the product and must be made available to the control authorities. A third party body, accredited for these annexes of the standard, can certify the conformity of the product, as a reinforcement with respect to the self-declaration.
Chapter O.15 of CEI 0-16 2022-03 specifies stringent requirements for both hardware and software cyber security. In particular, the use of a cryptographic component capable of detecting and responding to physical tampering is required, certified according to FIPS-140-2 with level 3. Furthermore, certification to IEC 62443-4-1 is required, according to the IsaSecure Secure Development Lifecycle Assessment (SDLA) scheme, of the CCI production process, and to IEC 62443-4-2, according to the IsaSecure Component Security Assurance (CSA) scheme, of the CCI product.
Chapter O.15 of CEI 0-16 2022-03 requires that the CCI be IEC 62443-4-2 certified according to the IsaSecure CSA scheme (which includes and exceeds the EDSA cited in the standard). This certification requires numerous IT security features, which must be implemented, and tested, by the CCI. Annex O of CEI 0-16 2022-03 establishes that all the required CCI features “…they can also be integrated into one of the other devices constituting the system provided that it is possible to test the features of the aforementioned devices according to the indications of this Annex”. In summary, the features must be present, in integrated form or not, in the CCI, and these must be tested and certified.
No, the CEI 0-16 Annex O standard requires several tests, which cannot be carried out in just any laboratory. To comply with the standard, the product must pass the insulation, EMC, noise immunity and climate tests in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, and the functional tests in the presence of an ISO 17065 accredited inspection body.
Once all the tests have been passed, the relevant test and inspection reports have been obtained, and the required certifications have been obtained, at that point the manufacturer self-declares that the CCI complies with CEI 0-16 Annex O and T. The technical file with all the test reports and certifications must be kept and made available for 10 years.