Barra dos Coqueiros Wind Farm

DCS for Barra dos Coqueiros Wind Farm

Altus was selected to supply the control and supervision system for the wind farm, along with the protection and control system for the Step-Up Substation. The scope of the project also included upgrading the protection system of the Porto Substation.

This comprehensive solution ensures secure operation, reliable energy dispatch, and full integration between the generation units and the electrical grid, reinforcing system stability and operational efficiency across the entire facility.

Modernization of Wind Farm and Substations

Composed of 26 wind turbines with a power of 1.3 MW each, the park has the capacity to generate up to 33.8 MW. The wind turbines are connected to the SIN (National Interconnected System) through the Porto substation, which is controlled by Energisa.

The modernization carried out by Altus allowed for complete and remote control of both the park’s operation and the power substations. With the implementation of the new supervision and control system, it is possible to verify the status of circuit breakers and disconnectors, monitor the electrical parameters of the step-up substation and the park’s wind turbines, and control the opening and closing of all circuit breakers in the substation.
Panel modernization

Panel modernization

Reduction in space and wiring, resulting in increased reliability, cost savings, and enhanced supervision and control capabilities

Remote supervision and control

Remote supervision and control

Substation operations and interlocks are managed remotely, reducing operator risk

High availability

High availability

Reduced downtime through rapid fault detection and identification across the system

Accurate diagnoses

Accurate diagnoses

Improved communication system reliability and robustness, with enhanced line diagnostics

Porto Substation Modernization

Porto Substation Modernization

As part of the upgrades at the wind farm, Altus carried out a retrofit of the Porto Substation in Sergipe. The substation infrastructure was modernized to accommodate two new lines from the Step-Up Substation.

This included an upgrade to the existing line and transformer protection, along with the installation of a transfer bay, allowing for switching between lines.

Step-Up Substation Modernization

Step-Up Substation Modernization

The Step-Up Substation conditions voltage to connect the wind farm to the Porto Substation. It consists of two transformers, each with primary and backup differential protection, and DNP3.0 communication with the control and operations center located at the wind farm.

Altus provided control and protection for the entire substation using RET670 protection relays. The company also integrated the auxiliary panel power meters with the supervisory system via the Modbus/TCP protocol.

Reliable Communication Networks

Reliable Communication Networks

The system developed and implemented by the Altus engineering team uses DNP3 and Modbus TCP communication protocols, as well as the OPC UA standard.

The OPC UA protocol facilitates the transmission of data and commands from the wind farm to the Enex operations center via a remote link. It is also used for communication between the unit’s DCS and the wind turbine supervision software, enabling data exchange between servers and providing operational insights on turbine conditions, fully integrating the processes.

The DNP3 protocol is used for communication between the Porto and Step-Up Substations and the wind farm’s central control and supervision system. Meanwhile, the Modbus TCP standard is employed for communication between the DCS, power meters, and battery chargers.

Scope of the Solution Provided

Scope of the Solution Provided

The project scope encompasses the complete electrical design of protection, metering, and control panels for the Substations and the Control House, ensuring full compliance with operational and regulatory requirements.

It also includes the implementation of a billing metering system using ION technology, the modernization of the protection and control system at the Porto Substation in Sergipe, and the development of the supervision and control system for both the wind farm and its Step-Up Substation.

Additionally, the solution integrates the supervisory system with the Sinovel control server responsible for wind turbine management, as well as with the anemometric tower for data acquisition and transmission to the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The project scope is completed with comprehensive training for operation and maintenance teams.