Problem

Renewable energy operators managing distributed assets face increasing complexity in balancing generation, storage, and grid interaction in real time. Traditional SCADA and EMS systems are typically limited to monitoring and basic control, lacking the ability to dynamically optimize operations based on changing conditions such as energy pricing, demand patterns, and grid constraints.

In this project, EDF Power Solutions required a solution fit for an urban microgrid deployed within a school campus in a densely populated metropolitan area.

The system needed to manage battery charging and discharging schedules and ensure uninterrupted power availability for critical infrastructure. A key challenge Contel faced was enabling real-time control and optimization while maintaining high system reliability and availability. The Energynie solution needed to support both scheduled operation and dynamic response to real-time conditions, including the ability to disconnect from the grid and operate autonomously.

The microgrid combined battery storage, future PV integration, and grid interaction within a highly constrained urban environment, requiring precise coordination between all system components. The project had to integrate multiple energy sources and technologies while complying with strict spatial, regulatory, and operational constraints, making standard off-the-shelf solutions insufficient. In addition, the system had to integrate with multiple vendors and technologies, requiring a flexible and vendor-agnostic architecture capable of handling diverse protocols and data sources.

Another major challenge was adapting the system to the customer’s unique operational requirements. This included customizing control logic, user interfaces, and operational workflows to match the specific needs of the campus, while still maintaining a scalable architecture applicable to other sites.

Solution

Using Ignition as the core platform, Contel Smart Energy developed Energynie as a unified, scalable energy optimization system that integrates solar generation, battery storage, and grid interaction into a single operational framework.

The platform enables real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of distributed energy assets through a centralized architecture combined with edge connectivity. Each site includes a lightweight edge unit that securely streams data to a cloud-based Ignition environment, allowing for scalable multi-site deployment.

A key differentiator of the solution is its ability to support a full operational cycle, from production forecasting, through optimization, to real-time dispatch and control. The system incorporates forecasting models, scheduling capabilities, and automated control logic, enabling the creation and execution of optimized production plans while still allowing human intervention when required.

Energynie was specifically adapted to meet the unique operational requirements of the campus microgrid, including autonomous operation, grid disconnection capabilities, and precise battery scheduling. The platform also integrates third-party optimization services and environmental data sources to enhance decision-making.

On top of the core system, Contel developed advanced application layers using Ignition, including BI module, trend analysis tools, and a production recipe management module that allows operators to define, adjust, and execute optimized energy production strategies.

These tools provide both site-level and portfolio-level insights, enabling operators to monitor performance, analyze trends, and continuously improve system efficiency.

The platform’s architecture is vendor-agnostic and supports a wide range of protocols and hardware, ensuring seamless integration across PV systems, storage units, and grid infrastructure.

Result

Contel’s successful implementation delivered significant operational and financial value, enabling EDF to successfully deploy and operate a complex urban microgrid tailored to the campus’s unique requirements.

The system allows the site to perform advanced energy optimization strategies, including energy shifting, charging batteries during low-demand periods and discharging during peak pricing- maximizing the economic value of stored energy.

In addition, the platform reduces grid dependency and enables full microgrid operation, allowing the campus to operate independently from the grid for extended periods, ensuring resilience and continuity of critical services.

From an operational perspective, Energynie provides a unified, real-time view of system performance, enabling faster issue detection, reduced response times, and improved overall efficiency. The platform’s data-driven approach minimizes manual intervention and enhances decision-making across all operational layers.

Beyond the specific project, the solution is part of the Energynie platform, managing over 130 energy sites, with more than 3 GW of generation capacity and approximately 3 GWh of storage. Its scalable SaaS architecture enables rapid onboarding of new sites without additional infrastructure, supporting the rapid energy sector growth.

This project represents a shift in the renewable energy industry from traditional SCADA-based monitoring toward intelligent, optimization-driven platforms. By combining real-time control, advanced analytics, and flexible architecture, Energynie transforms renewable energy management ops from a static monitoring process into a dynamic, optimization-driven operation.

By leveraging Ignition as a flexible development framework, Contel Smart Energy was able to build a product layer that supports continuous innovation, including advanced analytics, AI integration, and future-ready capabilities such as predictive maintenance and autonomous decision-making.

The Energynie platform demonstrates how industrial software can be transformed into a strategic asset for energy operators, enabling scalability, flexibility, and long-term adaptability in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Project Team

The project was delivered by a multidisciplinary team at Contel Smart Energy, combining two dedicated R&D teams, one specializing in software and computer engineering, and the other in electrical engineering, alongside a project and integration team with deep expertise in control systems engineering.

The teams operated in close coordination under an agile product management methodology, enabling continuous delivery of updates, rapid iteration, and ongoing alignment with the fast- evolving energy market and the diverse requirements of different customers. This approach allowed the platform to remain flexible, scalable, and continuously optimized throughout the project lifecycle.

Contel Smart Energy’s team also includes two Ignition Gold Certified experts, ensuring best practices in system architecture, performance, and implementation.

The teams worked closely with EDF Power Solutions to understand the unique operational requirements of the campus microgrid and translate them into a robust and scalable solution. This collaboration ensured that the system not only met technical specifications but also delivered real operational value in a complex, real-world environment.

Project Scope

• Start Date: Oct. 2023

• Deploy Date: Feb. 2025

• Tags: 2,948,042

• Screens: 26

• Clients: 152 (# of users)

• Alarms: 1,143 (Specific types of alarms for different end devices)

• Devices: ~784 (Average of 8 PLC-type devices per site)

• Architectures: Hub & Spoke, IIoT

• Databases: 124 (All MSSQL databases)

• Historical data logged: 1,179,217

• Number of people on team: 20