Since August 2024, the national and local governments have successively issued a series of policies and regulations requiring photovoltaic projects to possess the "four capabilities", promoting the upgrading and replacement of power station technology, and aiming to build a more stable, efficient, and intelligent photovoltaic energy system. Recently, Southern Power GridAccording to General Survey [2025] No. 10, the development of distributed photovoltaics in the Southern Power Grid region has seen a rapid increase in installed capacity in recent years, achieving a "doubling" growth for three consecutive years starting from 2022.

As of now, the installed capacity of distributed photovoltaics in the entire network has exceeded 56 million kilowatts, but related issues are gradually emerging. The Work Plan for Improving the Operation and Management of Distributed Photovoltaics in Southern Power Grid clearly requires that new distributed photovoltaic projects should achieve "observability, measurability, adjustability, and controllability" (hereinafter referred to as "four capabilities"), and existing distributed photovoltaic projects should complete the "four capabilities" transformation by the end of 2027.

(1) New distributed photovoltaic project

Southern Grid Medium Voltage (10KV and above) Distributed Photovoltaic Solution Architecture:

CET China Electric Technology provides a four capability solution for the construction of new distributed photovoltaic power stations, achieving precise sensing, intelligent analysis and warning, AGC/AVC power control for new energy generation, and assisting in the construction of new power systems and photovoltaic market transactions.

• Observable: The operational status of distributed photovoltaic power generation projects can be monitored in real-time, including key data such as equipment performance, environmental parameters, and power output.

• Measurable: Distributed photovoltaic power generation projects have accurate measurement capabilities for power generation, voltage, current, and other data.

• Controllable: By remotely controlling the grid connected cabinet to protect and control the opening and closing of the export control switch, the distributed photovoltaic power generation project is ensured to achieve automated control.

• Adjustable: via edge gatewayThe internal intelligent AGC algorithm realizes group adjustment and control of inverter output, and adjusts the active/reactive power output of the power station according to the load demand of the power grid.

(2) Distributed Photovoltaic Renovation Project

① Scenario 1: Without configuring automation equipment, direct procurement scheduling cannot be achieved

Some distributed photovoltaic projects have not been equipped with automation equipment on site and have not achieved direct dispatch and procurement. In response to the technical specifications of "direct dispatch and procurement control" for medium voltage distributed photovoltaics issued by Southern Power Grid Company, according to management regulations and technical specifications, it has been found that there are no automation equipment on site. Therefore, it is necessary to configure grid connection point measurement and control devices, edge gateways, data acquisition devices/protocol conversion devices, and distribution safety protection devices.

CET, as a new energy solution provider, has built a three-layer architecture system of "gateway layer+routing layer+acquisition layer", which can realize the establishment of intelligent acquisition networks by station area and connect the "last mile" of distributed photovoltaic access. The edge gateway collects and reads data from the remote control device, and connects the inverter to the edge gateway through an RS-485 splitter and serial server, without affecting the original system communication.

Attention: It is necessary to obtain the three remote point table of the remote control device and the protocol point table of the inverter manufacturer.

② Scenario 2: Automatic switch and measurement and control are configured, but power regulation is not achieved.

Strictly responding to the "four permissible" policies and regulations of the National Energy Administration, according to management regulations and technical specifications, the site is equipped with automated switches and measurement and control devices, requiring the configuration of edge gateways, data acquisition devices/protocol conversion, and distribution safety protection devices.

CET technology collects and reads secondary remote data from remote control devices through edge gateways, and protects the measurement and control devices by accessing the edge gateway through the network; By connecting the inverter to the edge gateway through an RS-485 splitter and serial server, it does not affect the original system communication and promotes the effective implementation of the "scheduling, procurement, and control" regulations.

Attention: It is necessary to obtain the remote control device two remote point table, inverter manufacturer protocol point table, and protection device point table.

(3) Product Introduction

① PMC-1606-CEP Type II and III Edge Gateway

PMC-1606 adopts high-performance multi-core processors and encryption chips to meet the requirements of domestic independent controllability and national level 2 encryption. The standard protocol is plug and play, realizing the rapid online deployment of distributed energy equipment. It deploys various auxiliary control algorithms such as AGC/AVC/PCS, and can receive edge group instructions to achieve power grid operation mode conversion, peak shaving/frequency regulation and other instruction operations, supporting dispatch operation and market operation of virtual power plants; Realize remote maintenance, upgrade, and management of on-site equipment through the collaborative capabilities of remote OTA and cloud operation and maintenance platform CET-DEV.

② ISmartGate series data acquisition device

The iSmartGate 8 intelligent gateway is a communication hub used for the edge nodes of the intelligent energy Internet of Things, which realizes the comprehensive perception of end devices, fast access, large capacity data storage, edge computing and logic control, protocol conversion, data encryption and cloud uploading, and provides users with safe, reliable and efficient data transmission channels.

Unleashing the potential of data and prioritizing energy consumption collection, the iSmartGate series intelligent gateway serves as a data bridge between energy consumption collection terminals and monitoring platforms, enabling comprehensive perception of end devices and providing the ability to connect end devices with cloud platforms. It enables distributed and centralized monitoring of energy, and builds an energy Internet of Things.

The introduction of the "Four Transformations of Distributed Photovoltaic" policy marks a new stage of intelligent and standardized development in China's photovoltaic industry. By strengthening the requirements for the integration of the "four capabilities", not only can the power generation efficiency and grid compatibility of distributed photovoltaics be improved, but it can also lay the foundation for the sustainable and healthy development of the photovoltaic industry.

With the continuous advancement of technology and the sustained support of policies, the "four feasible" transformation will play a more important role in the operation and management of distributed photovoltaic power plants. In the future, CET, as a new power system solution provider, will continuously optimize technological innovation and contribute to the efficient, safe, and stable operation of distributed photovoltaic power plants.