Grid compliance & telecontrol
Telecontrol and grid conformity without the headaches
From 100 kVA of storage, grid operators increasingly require telecontrol. Voltmasters connects the Voltmaster Controller directly to the grid operator's RTU, in the protocol that operator requires, treats the signals as constraints in the optimisation and guides certification end to end. Exact requirements and protocols differ per country and grid operator, so we work out how it operates country by country.
What is telecontrol?
Telecontrol means the grid operator can monitor an installation remotely and intervene when needed: reading power, voltage and current, but also imposing power limits or disconnecting. That communication runs over an RTU (Remote Terminal Unit), the field device the grid operator uses to connect to the installation. Which protocol it uses differs per grid operator and country: IEC 60870-5-104 is common in Europe and is what Fluvius uses, elsewhere protocols such as DNP3, IEC 61850 or Modbus are typical. Driven by growing grid congestion, the massive rise of battery systems and new flexibility programmes, 100 kVA is increasingly used as the relevant threshold, exact requirements differ per grid operator and location.
The Voltmasters EMS processes telecontrol signals as a constraint within the optimisation: the battery ramps down in a controlled way, without operational disruption for your customer.
Telecontrol integration, end to end
- RTU interface in the grid operator's protocol (such as IEC 60870-5-104, DNP3 or IEC 61850): the grid operator's RTU ↔ Voltmaster Controller ↔ assets
- Voltmasters IO extension on site for the DSO signals, including a hardware emergency stop
- Validation against real measurements: active and reactive power, Q mode, emergency stop and feedback per category
- Guided DSO certification with real-time diagnostics, often completed in a single session
- Configured per grid operator: we align each project with the local grid code and the requirements of the operator involved
The control loop, visualised
The grid operator commands, the controller regulates, the site reports back
The grid operator sets a power limit. The Voltmaster Controller ramps the assets down in a controlled way and feeds the measurements back in real time, with an independent hardware emergency stop that the controller executes through its IO extension as a safety net.
Grid compliance by country
Every country has its own grid operators, connection terms and compliance requirements for PV and battery storage (BESS). Voltmasters aligns each project with the local grid code. See how it operates per country below.
Belgium
AvailableFluvius (Flanders), Sibelga (Brussels), ORES and RESA (Wallonia). Telecontrol over IEC 60870-5-104, direct A1 meter integration and guided certification, often completed in a single session.
Germany
Coming soonWestnetz, Bayernwerk Netz, Avacon Netz, E.DIS Netz and Schleswig-Holstein Netz. Connection to the Westnetz-Gateway 2.0 over IEC 60870-5-104 above 500 kW, and over the E.ON Modbus TCP profile from 100 to 500 kW.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about grid compliance and telecontrol
From what capacity is telecontrol mandatory?
That differs per country and per grid operator. With growing grid congestion and the rapid growth of battery systems, 100 kVA is increasingly used as the threshold. The exact requirement is set out in the connection conditions of the grid operator for your project.
Which protocols does the controller support?
Whichever protocol the grid operator requests. IEC 60870-5-104 is common in Europe and is what Fluvius uses, elsewhere DNP3, IEC 61850 or Modbus appear. The chain runs from the grid operator's RTU through the Voltmaster Controller to the assets.
What happens with a curtailment command from the grid operator?
The EMS handles telecontrol signals as a constraint inside the optimisation. The battery ramps down in a controlled way instead of tripping, so your customer notices as little as possible in daily operation.
How does certification with the grid operator work?
Voltmasters guides it from start to finish. We validate the signals against the real measurements on site, from active and reactive power through Q mode to the emergency stop and the feedback signals per category, and follow the session with real-time diagnostics. Certification is usually completed in a single session.
Which countries are covered?
Belgium is available, with Fluvius, Sibelga, ORES and RESA. Germany follows soon. Because requirements, thresholds and protocols differ per country and per grid operator, we work out the specifics country by country instead of making one general promise.
Looking for the technical details and step-by-step configuration? You will find them in our documentation.
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