Solution
Coming soonMore power than the connection allows, without grid reinforcement
Is your customer stuck with a limited grid connection while peak demand sometimes exceeds it? Voltmasters EMS lets the installation disconnect from the grid at those moments and keep running in island mode. The battery takes over instantly, and the controller guards the state of charge by starting the generator when needed, curtailing PV and steering loads. As soon as the peak has passed, the system synchronises and safely reconnects to the grid.
The problem: the connection is the bottleneck
Grid reinforcement is expensive, and in congestion zones it can take years. Yet power demand keeps growing on many sites: extra machines, cooling, charge points or a production expansion. Without intervention you run into the limits of the connection:
- A main breaker that trips just when everything runs at once
- Peak power that drives up the bill month after month
- An expansion stuck on the grid operator's waiting list
The solution: intelligent island mode
On a limited connection with solar panels, batteries and a generator, the EMS orchestrates the interplay of all those sources. At peak moments it disconnects the installation from the grid and the site keeps running as an autonomous microgrid:
- The battery takes over the load instantly, without interruption
- The battery's state of charge (SoC) is monitored continuously
- The generator only starts when the battery really needs it
- On surplus generation the PV is curtailed, keeping the island balanced
- As soon as possible, the system synchronises and reconnects to the grid
A peak, visualised
Outside the peak moments the installation simply runs grid-parallel. When demand rises above the connection, the EMS disconnects and the battery picks up the load. The controller guards the SoC and steers the generator and the PV until the site can safely return to the grid.
The sequence of an islanding event
Disconnect, take over, steer, reconnect
The installation runs at full power, even when demand exceeds the connection. The grid is just the bottleneck, not the brake on your customer.
What the EMS orchestrates
Island mode only works when all sources operate as one. The Voltmaster Controller runs the optimisation locally and steers every source based on real-time measurements.
Grid connection
The site's fixed, limited capacity. The EMS stays within it as much as possible and only disconnects when demand structurally exceeds it.
Battery
The heart of the island. The battery absorbs the peak instantly and keeps voltage and frequency stable when the grid drops away.
Solar panels
Free power when the sun shines. On surplus in island mode the EMS curtails the PV, keeping production and consumption in balance.
Generator
The backstop for long peaks. The genset only starts when the SoC threatens to run too low, recharging the battery or carrying part of the load.
Loads
Large loads without a communication protocol switch along through the Voltmasters I/O module, keeping the island balanced on the demand side too.
Voltmaster Controller
The industrial edge controller that steers it all. The logic runs locally, so island mode keeps working, even during an internet outage.
How the controller guards the island
From the transition into island mode to the reconnection: at every moment the EMS takes the decision that keeps the island stable and the fuel cost low.
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1
Seamless disconnection
When demand exceeds the connection, the EMS opens the grid coupling. The battery takes over the load instantly, without any noticeable interruption for the site.
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2
Guarding the SoC
During island mode the controller continuously tracks the battery's state of charge and balances production and consumption in real time.
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3
Steering generator and PV
If the SoC drops too far, the generator starts to recharge. If there is too much sun, the PV is curtailed. The island always stays in balance.
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4
Safe reconnection
As soon as demand drops below the connection again, the EMS synchronises with the grid and closes the coupling, without any shock to the installation.
What it delivers for your customer
- More available power without waiting for grid reinforcement
- Lower peak power on the bill by keeping the peak out of the grid
- Sun first, generator only when truly needed, so less fuel
- Autonomous on the controller, so reliable even during an internet outage
- One platform and one app for grid, battery, PV and generator together
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about off-grid & islanding
What does island mode mean on a limited connection?
Island mode means the installation temporarily disconnects from the grid and keeps running autonomously on battery, solar panels and generator. That way a site can deliver more power at peak moments than the grid connection alone allows, without expensive grid reinforcement.
Will my customer notice the transition into island mode?
No. When the EMS disconnects from the grid, the battery takes over the load instantly. The transition happens without any noticeable interruption, so processes and machines simply keep running.
When does the generator start?
The generator only starts when the battery's state of charge (SoC) threatens to run too low. The site keeps running on sun and battery for as long as possible, and the generator is only used when truly needed. That keeps the fuel cost low.
Why is the PV sometimes curtailed?
In island mode, production and consumption must stay in balance. If there is more solar power than the site and the battery can absorb at that moment, the EMS curtails the PV to keep the island stable.
How does the installation reconnect to the grid?
As soon as demand drops below the connection again, the EMS synchronises the installation with the grid and closes the coupling again, without any shock. After that the site simply runs grid-parallel again.
Does island mode also work without internet?
Yes. All the logic runs locally on the Voltmaster Controller. The steering of battery, generator, PV and loads keeps working, even during an internet outage.
Is this solution available yet?
The off-grid and islanding solution is in development and will be available soon. If you have a project in sight, feel free to get in touch already, and we will look at the possibilities together.
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