Increase solar plant profitability with Flexible Interconnection Schema

Flexible Interconnection Schema at a glance

RatedPower’s FIS feature gives you better control over your PV plant’s design. This allows you to: 

Why did we introduce the Flexible Interconnection Schema?

Utility-scale solar plants are often spread across different terrains with varying geographic constraints, making it harder to manage power flow and evacuation. Our internal data also shows that more than 30% of the sites mapped out using RatedPower, especially those that span multiple land parcels, could benefit from multiple interconnection options.

We developed the FIS to make RatedPower better at handling such requirements. With this update, you can enjoy even more design freedom to build systematic and commercially viable solar plants at any scale.  

How RatedPower's Flexible Interconnection Schema helps increase your solar plant’s profitability

FIS gives you the tools to plan out more complex interconnections to manage power flow and grow your energy yield. 

1. Design multiple interconnection facilities in minutes 

FIS supports complex designs with multiple SBS and substation components. Use single, two-level, or three-level interconnection schemas to match your project’s complexity and scale. RatedPower’s user-friendly tools make it easy to define project boundaries and model electrical infrastructure so you can rapidly configure for maximum energy yield.

2. Control the evacuation capacities to the grid

With the FIS feature, you can strategically manage power flow across multiple interconnection points to minimize electrical losses and balance capacity. The software lets you adjust evacuation capacities based on real-time needs and grid conditions. With this holistic approach to power management, you can use every watt of solar power effectively and boost your solar plant’s revenue.  

3. Tailor your power transmission infrastructure

FIS lets you include more than one overhead line in your design to optimize your evacuation strategy. Depending on what makes sense for your project, you can connect your power generation facilities to substations through multiple MV cables and/or overhead lines.

Let’s say you were designing a solar plant spanning multiple areas, each with its own SBS. FIS lets you determine if it’s more efficient to route power to these substations using MV cables and then transmit it to the grid via overhead lines. This feature allows you to model different routing options to enhance your plant’s power evacuation.

Note: We're actively developing support for high-voltage underground cables to enhance our software's capabilities and simplify the simulation and comparison of subsurface configurations in RatedPower. 

4. Increase your project's reliability

FIS also lets you design a reliable system with multiple SBSs to protect against outages. These redundancies can help you maintain consistent energy production and protect your investment. And with the flexibility to configure multiple energy evacuation routes, you can optimize your plant’s operational resilience.

Document changes - What to expect

Some of the documents you can generate from RatedPower reflect the more complex power evacuation systems that can be designed with FIS.

• Interconnection documents - You’ll receive a zip file containing detailed information for each facility and overhead line involved in your project.

• Bill of quantities and financial analysis - These documents include additional details for each facility and overhead lines and new entries for pooling substations.

• Cable listings, power flow models, and layouts - These documents reflect the more complex system, including all facilities and connections.

• Single-line diagrams (SLDs) - To clearly illustrate the power flow, you'll access detailed information to SLDs showing connections to switching stations.

Flexible Interconnection Schema: Key takeaways

Break free from the constraints of a single interconnection point with RatedPower’s Flexible Interconnection Schema. With this feature, you can tailor your grid feed-in point to boost energy output and reduce costs. 

Flexible Interconnection Schema FAQs

Is it possible to group low-voltage areas to share a single power station?

Absolutely. RatedPower allows you to group low-voltage areas for efficient power management and distribution.

Can I customize power factor requirements?

Yes. You have precise control over power factor requirements at any point in the interconnection system. The slider feature makes it easy to optimize inverter performance and meet grid standards to reduce the risk of penalties from non-compliance and keep your system operating within the optimal safety and performance range.