Features
12-08-2024
4 min read
Qair drives renewable integration with Hitachi Energy global expertise
Brazil boasts a perfect blend of clean energy weather – sunny and windy. On average, the country sees about six hours of sun per day and at 39.4 GW1 of installed capacity, solar power contributes 15.8 percent of Brazil’s energy mix1. The country was also recently ranked 6th globally for installed wind power2. Together, these conditions are making a positive impact on the country’s energy transition.
According to the IEA report3 on Brazil, “access to electricity across the country is almost universal and renewables meet almost 45 percent of primary energy demand, making Brazil’s energy sector one of the least carbon-intensive in the world.”
But adding this much sustainable power is not easy. The grid system must incorporate new technologies and infrastructure to harness the amount of energy generated, while maintaining reliability and flexibility of the electric grid.
Qair is a global energy company with 593 MW of renewable projects currently operating in Brazil and an additional 13.4 MW under development. To make the most of these projects, Qair is building an advanced digital and control backbone, ensuring their entire renewable network is connected and optimized to deliver a near real-time view of operational performance. At the core, Qair worked with Hitachi Energy to implement a MicroSCADA system to automate the flow of power and to monitor and control multiple sites. This included Relion 670 protection and control intelligent electronic devices (IED) that help to safely connect renewable energy projects to the main grid.
Three sites are now managed and monitored to show a comprehensive and complete view of assets within Qair’s control center. This is demonstrated in a project where operational data is captured from across an entire wind fleet and substation within the MicroSCADA solution. Operators use this data to understand what is happening within the fleet, the sites, and the individual turbines and then respond with the right actions to optimize performance. On the substation side, feeder and autorecloser IEDs perform important disturbance analysis and ensure compliance with local grid code requirements. The technology is interoperable with solutions supplied by other equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and can be applied worldwide on Qair projects. In addition, system checks can be conducted remotely instead of onsite, solving an acute maintenance challenge.
To make the most of these investments, Qair is also actively engaged with Hitachi Energy’s Collaborative Operations Center (COC) and its new state-of-the-art service hub in Guarulhos, BR. Here, Qair has access to a network of global experts to support its operations whenever it needs them.
“Our confidence in the supervision system comes from years of successful collaboration between Qair and Hitachi Energy, reinforcing our partnership and excellence in the services provided,” said Madson Campos, Operations and Maintenance Operations Coordinator at Qair, Brazil.
Qair recently added a new EnCompass service agreement with broader access to the local COC enhancing the collaboration with Hitachi Energy to include training, analysis, and preparation for expanding operations in Brazil to other areas.
Customers like Qair see tremendous value in data and look to Hitachi Energy to help unlock its potential, applying this information to navigate complexity, make the right decisions, and take action. Hitachi Energy’s CoCs network in Asia-Pacific (Malaysia, Australia), North America (US), Middle East (UAE), Europe (Switzerland, Italy), and now Latin America (Brazil) ensures world-class customer service is available through the COC Global Network, anywhere in the world.
“Digital and services are core to how this industry will transform. Hitachi Energy’s experience and track record in renewables integration will help customers like Qair lead transformative projects in Brazil and beyond,” said Philipp Lehner, Head of Service for Automation and Communication for Business Unit Grid Automation at Hitachi Energy. “Our goal is to keep building and delivering a differentiated, world-class customer experience through innovative solutions and advanced services to help our customers achieve the outcomes that matter to their customers.”