New Satellite Communication Technology For Renewable Energy Power Plants

Power plant operators face difficult decisions in choosing communications systems. Direct cable access can prove too costly and existing wireless solutions are ineffective and costly. A new technology solution allows field engineers to maintain and monitor the facility remotely and eliminate time-consuming maintenance callouts.

By Adam M. Ferguson, P.E., RCDD

Cypress Creek Renewables operates a 10MW (single-axis solar tracker) power plant, located in Ontario, Oregon. Plant operators were reporting thousands of outages per year, with field callouts mostly dedicated to bringing communications back online. Additionally, the utility offtaker would consistently lose visibility into the asset, raising reliability and safety concerns. Plant communications are accomplished using a directional antenna kit connected to the local cellular network. Fiber and copper solutions are not readily available, and traditional satellite communications are impractical for this type of asset.

Enter Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based FMC GlobalSat, a satellite and cellular services provider, which delivered an effective means for plant communications and improved operations using state of the art satellite technology from Kymeta Corporation.

Our team has experience in renewable energy power plant development, engineering, construction, operations and maintenance. Above all, the team understands the challenges associated with the entire power plant life cycle. We also have a clear understanding of how important effective, constant plant communications can be in asset monitoring and reliability. Therefore, it was decided the new KymetaTM KyWay TM Satellite Communications Terminal would be an ideal fit for this site, given the ease of installation, no need for additional technician time for maintenance and a market-disrupting pricing plan.

The new KyWay terminal from Kymeta has no moving parts, requires no on-site maintenance, and uses holographic beamforming technology to automatically lock to satellites. The modem contains four DHCP ports which instantly interface to any customer VPN.

FMC GlobalSat provided installation services, which included the flat-panel technology, iDirect x7 modem, power supply, conduit, cabling, and custom mounting system. This system was installed next to the existing communications cabinet and required 2U rack space. After an easy installation with a two-person crew, the system was activated and self-connected to the Intelsat network in less than five minutes.

Choosing the KyWay Terminal allowed Cypress Creek to maintain dramatically improved connections. Overall field call outs to the site were dramatically reduced, allowing the plant technicians to focus on maintaining maximum uptime rather than dealing with communications failures. In the first quarter, three-month running uptime hit 99.18%, exceeding 98.5%, the standard service level agreements typical in the satellite industry. To see the satellite system in action, check out the testimonial video at www.fmcglobalsat.com.

Satellite Technology

Satellite communications at this scale have historically suffered from issues related to signal loss due to the slow speeds and high latency, resulting in data loss, or the need to provide on-site hold and store data equipment. With the latest ground station equipment and the new high-throughput communications (HTS) satellites, these issues have been mitigated.

The network is optimized to deliver 4Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream, with any variations based on weather conditions and as related to typical Ku-band communications. Network and bandwidth will continue to grow to support the 4/1 scenario, so there is no longer a need for contention ratio discussions (previously a 10Mbps link would always be throttled depending on the number of users).

Typical roundtrip from the site to the GEO satellite network and back to the teleport can range from 250-350ms, with additional latency due to network management and local conditions. Using the HTS (high-throughput satellite) network allows for higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which allows for more efficient modcods (error corrections) and, generally, push more data through those links. The HTS is more efficient with bandwidth, and owners and operators will maintain a higher level of service with more users on an HTS. This helps mitigate any potential data loss that was historically a major problem in choosing satellite systems.

Environmental Considerations

Historically, the data problem with certain environmental phenomenon, such as rain fade, came down to latency issue and packet loss at typical slow satellite transmit speeds, when the slow speeds would cause the receiving terminals to time out and result in data loss. Thus, the jitter and issues with video. This is where the technology of HTS is important, as we are no longer suffering from the performance issues related to contention ratios and prior technology, and instead, benefit from a high-performing managed network.

Security and Network

Intelsat operates the world’s largest satellite service network and is the leading provider of satellite communication services to the U.S. Government and other select military organizations.

A satellite communications link offers a robust and reliable foundation for network architectures having critical security and availability requirements. Intelsat developed its Information Security framework utilizing security controls from the most stringent industry standards and government regulations.

There are inherent factors in a satellite-based network that significantly reduce its attack surface compared to other approaches. The number of entry points and exit points in a well-designed satellite network are a small fraction of the possibilities in a network using technologies such as Wi-Fi or 3G/4G/5G.

Satellite systems are uniquely suited to the demanding requirements of this application and offer advantages from the following standpoints:

• Authentication/certification;
• Source system integrity;
• Application security;
• Reduced attack vectors;
• Near instantaneous global attack response;
• Fast-react to attack, globally, completely;
• Configuration management; and
• Comprehensive Intelsat Information Assurance program

Intelsat operates a 24/7 IP/MPLS-based online infrastructure consisting of eight teleports, dedicated fiber network, and numerous points of presence worldwide.

FMC GlobalSat provides 24/7 customer support with direct, instant escalation to Kymeta and Intelsat.

Satellites today provide the network of choice for the most secure communications built of government-grade security standards, with the number of entry and exit points eight or nine order-of-magnitude less than cellular.

All security updates to the antenna and ancillary electronic components are pushed to the terminal via the satellite link, providing the latest security measures when released with no additional labor requirements for the operator.

Customer data flow can be detected but not viewed or decoded by teleport personnel. The monitoring and control system is unable to see the information flowing through the system, only the signature of its presence.

As a satellite operator, Intelsat serves as the single, global vendor and can provide visibility into the entire communications path for the most secure and efficient method to respond to operational issues.

Intelsat maintains the highest standards of Information Assurance by assessing and building the Intelsat infrastructure, networks and third-party infrastructures against the most stringent DoDI 8500.2 MAC Level I controls NIST 800-53, and ISO 27000. Intelsat’s Information Assurance Program focuses on prevention and restoration by taking a systematic defense-in-depth approach that detects, prevents and mitigates attacks enhancing resilience and mission assurance in its satellite, ground and network infrastructure.

FMC GlobalSat provides customers the with the most robust, trusted networks and operators to constantly verify highly sensitive and critical data security and management.

Maintenance

The terminal receives and executes all maintenance and security updates remotely and without need for operator intervention. Additionally, the terminal continually performs health checks and can report all issues to the Network Operations Center.

Monitoring

Customer data is viewed using FMC GlobalSat’s Customer Portal, with custom alerts, usage, and other information as requested and implemented.

About FMC GlobalSat

FMC GlobalSat, a leading provider of global connectivity, provides best-in-class satellite and wireless solutions to markets and industries that requires long term visibility into cost, and demand strict adherence to regulatory requirements.

FMC GlobalSat is an exclusive global distributor of Kymeta communication solutions for the renewable energy industry. The company configures, integrates and deploys Kymeta solutions to support the renewable energy market with reliable, high-throughput satellite communications; leveraging 53 Satellites, 8 teleports, 20,000 miles of fiber optic, 24/7 enterprise grade technical support with 56 points of presence in 37 cities around the world.

About Kymeta Corporation

The world’s demand for ubiquitous mobile connectivity is irrefutable. A global, mobile network is the answer to connecting people and places that have never been connected before.

Kymeta is making seamless, always-connected mobile communications possible with a unique hybrid approach that enables satellite and cellular networks to deliver a single, global, mobile network. End-to-end mobile communications are delivered with Kymeta KĀLO™ connectivity services, and the world’s first and only electronically-steered, flat-panel satellite terminal that goes places traditional satellite dishes cannot. The Kymeta KyWay™ satellite terminal makes high-throughput, mobile communications possible in cars, trains, buses, trucks, boats, and much more.

If it moves, Kymeta keeps it connected.

For more information, visit kymetacorp.com and KALO.net.

About the Author

Adam M. Ferguson, P.E., RCDD, is Chief Technology Officer at FMC GlobalSat, has more than seventeen years in the power generation and communication industries, with the last eight as president and principal electrical engineer for a commercial, industrial, and utility consultancy. He brings extensive knowledge of the energy industry’s challenges and is both a licensed Professional Engineer and Registered Communications Distribution Designer.