Application Scenarios
On a remote island in the Philippines, diesel fuel costs exceeded $0.80/kWh, and outages were frequent due to aging submarine cables. The local utility deployed an ABB MicroGrid Plus system centered on the ABB MicroGrid Plus MGC690. integrating 2 MW solar, 4 MWh battery storage, and existing diesel generators. Within six months, diesel consumption dropped by 75%, and the MGC690 executed flawless islanding during three grid collapse events—each transition completed in under 15 milliseconds, with zero disruption to hospitals and water pumps. Here, the MGC690 wasn’t just a controller—it was the architect of energy independence.
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
Innovation Point 1: True Grid-Forming Orchestration – Unlike conventional grid-following EMS, the MGC690 commands grid-forming inverters to create stable voltage and frequency during island mode, acting as the “heartbeat” of the microgrid—enabling black-start capability without external grid reference.
Innovation Point 2: Adaptive Islanding Detection – Using vector shift, ROCOF (Rate of Change of Frequency), and impedance-based algorithms, the MGC690 detects grid faults faster than traditional relays, triggering seamless disconnection before voltage collapse occurs.
Innovation Point 3: Economic + Technical Optimization Engine – The MGC690 runs real-time optimization balancing fuel cost, battery degradation, carbon emissions, and grid tariffs—automatically dispatching DERs to minimize OPEX while maintaining stability margins.
Innovation Point 4: Cyber-Resilient by Design – Built on a hardened Linux platform with secure boot, encrypted firmware updates, and audit logging, the MGC690 meets NERC CIP and IEC 62443 requirements for critical infrastructure protection.
Application Cases and Industry Value
At a gold mine in Western Australia, unreliable grid supply caused daily production halts. ABB deployed a MicroGrid Plus MGC690 to manage 15 MW solar, 10 MWh BESS, and 20 MW diesel backup. The system now operates in >90% renewable mode during daylight, reducing annual CO₂ by 28.000 tons. Crucially, during a regional blackout, the MGC690 isolated the site in 12 ms and maintained full operations—avoiding $2.3M in lost output. Similarly, at a U.S. military forward operating base, the MGC690’s silent, low-thermal-profile operation and cyber-hardened design met stringent DoD resilience standards, proving its value beyond commercial use.
Related Product Combination Solutions
ABB PCS120 Flexible Power Conditioner – Provides dynamic voltage support synchronized with MGC690 commands.
ABB Ability™ e-mobility chargers – Controllable EV loads integrated into microgrid optimization.
ABB Emax2 Ekip Touch breakers – Smart circuit protection with communication to MGC690 for load shedding.
ABB Ability™ Microgrid Monitoring Portal – Cloud dashboard for remote visualization and analytics.
ABB Dynafin hydrokinetic turbines – Renewable source fully coordinated by MGC690 in off-grid river sites.
ABB Ability™ Asset Health for Batteries – Predictive maintenance data fed into MGC690 for optimal cycling.
ABB REL670 protection relays – Provide backup protection layer with GOOSE tripping via MGC690.
ABB MicroGrid Plus MGS690 – Local site controller that scales under MGC690 in hierarchical architectures.
Installation, Maintenance, and Full-Cycle Support
Deploying the ABB MicroGrid Plus MGC690 begins with a detailed site survey to map DER capabilities, load profiles, and grid interconnection rules. ABB engineers then configure the control logic using the MicroGrid Studio engineering tool—defining islanding strategies, priority lists, and economic rules. Installation involves rack mounting, fiber/Ethernet cabling to DERs and protection devices, and integration with SCADA via IEC 61850 or Modbus. Commissioning includes closed-loop simulation testing to validate all transition scenarios.
Post-installation, the MGC690 requires minimal routine maintenance thanks to its solid-state design and remote diagnostics. Firmware updates are delivered securely over encrypted channels, and health metrics (CPU load, communication latency, event logs) are continuously monitored. We offer 24/7 technical support, on-site commissioning services, and lifecycle management—including migration paths to future ABB Ability™ cloud-enhanced platforms. Every MGC690 is backed by a 3-year warranty and global spare parts logistics.
