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Starting in December 2024, Greece will require all Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
installations with capacities over 400 kW to have remote monitoring and control capabilities. This regulation is already
in place for installations over 1 MW.
With this new measure, grid operator HEDNO can quickly respond to severe grid stability issues by remotely modifying the
output of these installations.
Remote monitoring is the real-time tracking of key parameters of a generating installation from a distance, important to the grid operator and other market players. Remote control, respectively, allows remote intervention in the operation of the installation for adjustments based on predefined commands.
It has been made mandatory by grid operator HEDNO in October for any Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) installations with capacities over 1 MW, and will be in December for installation over 400 kW.
Its primary function is to allow grid operators to directly control and limit the power output of the installations in times of acute grid congestion or other grid issues. In other words, it’s an “emergency brake” to protect the grid. Discover below it’s legal framework, advantages, technical design and what you need to install to comply:
The inception of the Law 5106/2024 is rooted in European legislation, specifically through the Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631, issued in April 2016. This regulation, known as the
Requirements for Generators (RfG), aims to standardize grid connection requirements for power-generating units across the European Union. This regulation is part of the EU’s broader strategy to promote sustainable energy, enhance energy security, and develop a unified energy market.
In the RfG, the Article 14.2(b) addressing Type B units (1 to 50MW capacity) specifies that grid operators can require an interface to remotely control these units’ output in case of serious grid instability. The grid operators must specify its requirements.
In Greece, those requirements have been reinforced by the Article 111 of Law 5106/2024 and the application threshold has been lowered to 400 kW.
If equipment is not installed by the deadline, HEDNO may deactivate the grid connection until requirements are met. For installations not yet active by the deadline, remote monitoring and control equipment installation is required for grid activation.
See announcement on HEDNO’s website.
The mandatory remote control and monitoring is a response to the challenges posed by the growing integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, which has increased the unpredictability and complexity of managing the grid. One of the main challenges observed all over Europe are
grid balancing (matching supply and demand at all time) and
grid congestion (when the demand for transmission capacity exceeds the grid’s capacity).
HEDNO has set goals to better tackle these challenges and modernize its network, especially through its digitization and active management. Thus, these requirements serve the needs of grid stability and better network management.
With the installations of more than 400 kW expected to join the Control Centers of HEDNO, the grid operator will be able to remotely manage more than 70% of the RES power currently connected to the grid.
As an installation owner, ensuring compliance with Law 5106/2024 involves meeting specific technical and operational
requirements for your remote control and monitoring equipment.
Your installation, if over 400 kW, must connect with the grid operator’s control system (SCADA/DMS) to
facilitate its ability to monitor and manage energy output. Key equipment must support remote control functions,
including the ability to adjust active power output and ensure immediate response capabilities during grid instability
events.
Your equipment should include Ethernet-based communication using the IEC 60870-5-104 protocol, a standardized
interface that allows seamless data exchange with the SCADA/DMS of the grid operator. Additionally, the equipment must
have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for at least two hours to maintain connectivity during outages. Data
storage and timestamping are also essential, allowing data to be retrieved and sent once communication is restored if
temporarily lost.
It’s also important that your equipment is future-proof. This means it should support or be capable of
incorporating Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and expansion ports to adapt to evolving grid requirements.
To
ensure your installation’s compliance and operational reliability, regular maintenance and adherence to documented
test protocols are necessary. This includes submitting a Declaration of Conformity and undergoing required testing to
verify that your equipment is compatible with the grid operator’s SCADA/DMS.
Click on the (simplified) diagram to enlarge it.
As an asset owner with an installation > 400 kW, you are obliged to have controllable assets.
The Teleport Gateway is an independent controller designed to help Renewable Energy Source (RES) installation owners comply with the technical requirements outlined in Law 5106/2024. It complies with all the technical remote control and monitoring requirements by HEDNO, and other European grid operators.
Compatible with the IEC 60870-5-104 protocol, it ensures smooth communication with the SCADA/DMS system of HEDNO. The device is durable for industrial settings, scalable for future upgrades, and supports data logging to comply with communication and storage standards.
To ensure security, all critical data streams are sent in a secured way, and the Teleport has incorporated the principles of the European Network for Cyber Security into its design.
Additionally, the Teleport can also ensure that on-site batteries adhere to the curtailment imposed by HEDNO. The Teleport can also be used by the asset owner or trader to remotely control energy production.
Discover the Teleport, your compliant asset controller.
If your installation is over 400 kW, here’s how you can get started:
You can begin your journey by acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the requirements. To help you, HEDNO summarised equipment requirements in this document, and published a
comprehensive FAQ for additional details.
Bear in mind that the cost of installation, maintenance and operation of the equipment needs to be covered by the asset owner.
The Teleport Gateway is an asset controller that has been developed in collaboration with European grid operators and rigorously tested.
Beyond grid operator control, the Teleport can also allow your energy trader to remotely control your assets, making market participation and extra revenue streams possible.
To get started with the Teleport, contact us.
After installation of the Teleport, you have to submit a Declaration of Conformity on the RES/CHP online platform to the in which you declare compliance with the remote monitoring and remote control requirements.
HEDNO will then provide a modem that directly connects to their SCADA system and carry out the necessary tests and checks in order to confirm compliance.
If the above steps seem complex or you are short on resources, Withthegrid can support you with project management.
The equipment is used to connect your RES & CHP installations to the remote control system of HEDNO. It gives HEDNO remote control and monitoring capabilities for network security and stability: with these capabilities they can curtail your assets when needed.
The responsibility for the supply and maintenance of the equipment belongs to you, the owner of the installation. The Teleport Gateway and peripherals meet the requirements of HEDNO.
The equipment must be able to interface with a HEDNO router that will be installed on-site over IEC 60870-5-104, which the Teleport has. The HEDNO router will connect to the HEDNO cloud using a cellular connection for which the asset owner has to provide the SIM-card. This SIM-card is included in our offering.
The monitoring includes the control of the opening of the automatic circuit breaker, the monitoring of its position and status (local/remote). We require that the on-site automatic circuit breaker has an interface for the Teleport Gateway to control and read it out.
The equipment must support the ability to receive commands to control active power, and at a later stage, reactive power and the power factor.
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is required to power the equipment and the HEDNO router for at least two hours to ensure the operation of the equipment even in the event of a power failure. Such a UPS is included in our offering.
In the event of a loss of communication between the HEDNO router and the equipment, the equipment must restart the HEDNO router by temporarily breaking the power supply circuit.
It is necessary to carry out tests provided by HEDNO to confirm the compatibility and correct operation of the equipment. Withthegrid will provide support in passing those tests.
The equipment is required to be scalable and upgradable to meet new technological requirements as needed. Withthegrid manages the Teleport Gateway firmware, which meets that requirement.
The equipment must be placed in a safe and protected environment in order to avoid damage from external conditions and to prevent unauthorized access. Withthegrid will provide an IP-enclosure for this. The box is expected to be installed in a locked space.
In the event of a communication interruption, the equipment continues operation according to the last settings applied before the interruption, something the Teleport is designed to do.
If you have a question, wish to discuss your project needs, or get started with the Teleport, please fill the form below. Our team will contact you in less than 24 hours.
Or directly contact our expert Paul Mignot:
paul@withthegrid.com