Thanks to the use of HMI software, systems controlling wind energy and wind turbines are effectively monitored and maintained. For example, electrical utility companies benefit greatly from HMIs. These operations can manage over 3500 MW of wind power spread across multiple states. The layout of the control center contains a system analysis department overseeing the performance parameters of wind turbines nationwide. Moreover, experts continually monitor weather conditions and have the capacity to shut down specific turbines in the event of adverse weather. A key element ensuring the efficiency of the control center is an HMI software, which serves to present, control, oversee, and analyze data collected from various installations. Serving as the central nervous system for numerous wind farms across the country, the HMI unit empowers operators to easily oversee the behavior of the plants and make adjustments to power factors, voltage, and reactive power when necessary.
Each turbine comes equipped with a control box that houses a PLC, a power converter, and control boards. The PLC transmits the collected data to a remote-control system via an Ethernet-based LAN. The primary communication protocol utilized is OPC, chosen for its ability to facilitate interoperability and achieve the highest possible real-time data exchange rate. Once all the data is funneled to the control center, it is taken up by the HMI software. This software then takes charge of displaying, managing, and analyzing the data, working in tandem with human intervention. The control center also possesses the capability to offer management services to any wind energy facility owner. It oversees the operation of thousands of wind turbines, each of which is equipped with 300–350 I/O data points and is managed by various servers. While the initial investment was substantial, after rigorous testing and the development of an expansion template, operational and economic efficiency experienced a significant boost. Thanks to the HMI software, the control center can effectively monitor and maintain all aspects of wind energy. The involvement of HMIs in other energy resources may even grow as new methods of integrating technology into these burgeoning renewable energy sectors emerge.
