Enhancing statcom control efficiency in power networks with photovoltaic power plants based on the integration of simatic energy suite and sentron PAC4200
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31548/Abstract
This paper presents an approach to integrating the SIMATIC Energy Suite and SENTRON PAC4200 platforms into the control system of a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in order to improve power quality in a 35 kV medium-voltage network with an interconnected photovoltaic power plant (PVPP). The relevance of the study is driven by the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources, which introduce voltage fluctuations, reactive power imbalance, and harmonic distortion into distribution networks. An integrated monitoring and control architecture is proposed, combining real-time data acquisition, analysis, and optimization functions. The SENTRON PAC4200 device is employed as the measurement layer for monitoring power quality parameters (voltage, current, power, THD, flicker, and PQ events) at key network points, while SIMATIC Energy Suite provides telemetry processing, KPI generation, implementation of automated control rules, and transmission of control commands to the STATCOM controller or PV inverters via industrial communication protocols such as IEC 61850, Modbus TCP, and OPC UA. A two-level control structure is introduced: a fast local STATCOM control loop for voltage regulation (Volt–VAR) and a supervisory SIMATIC-based loop for photovoltaic operation optimization (Volt–Watt or Watt-Priority modes). The results demonstrate that the proposed integration enhances voltage stability, reduces total harmonic distortion (THD), improves power factor, and increases system resilience during short-term grid disturbances. The system shifts from reactive compensation to proactive, data-driven power quality management, enabling loss minimization, improved PV plant availability, and reduced protection trips. The obtained results provide a foundation for implementing intelligent compensating systems in medium-voltage networks and for developing standardized integration solutions combining SIMATIC, SENTRON, and STATCOM technologies in renewable-based power infrastructure.
Recieved: 18.03.2026. Recieved: 01.06.2026. Accepted: 22.06.2026
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