Critical power system saves customer 30%

Mission-critical site replaces PLC solution and saves money

One of the most power critical sites in the GCC region (The Gulf Cooperation Council) needed a new redundant power management system for its generator sets, and the engineering team from  DEIF Middle East in Dubai (DEIF UAE) was asked to make a proposal for the system architecture. The former system consisted of six gensets of various types and sizes, all equipped with PLC’s and controlled by a redundant master PLC. According to the request for quotation (RFQ), the new system should be a fully redundant PLC-based solution with synchronising controllers and an HMI that could be controlled by a PLC. DEIF’s scope of supply was initially only a solution for synchronising and load sharing. However, the team from DEIF UAE came up with a turnkey solution that both saved the customer money and provided him with more flexibility than the solution requested. 

The customer is (not) always right

Usually, we strive to meet the customer’s requirements but, in this case, DEIF UAE’s engineering team did not comply as the engineers were convinced that they could provide the customer with an even better solution by leaving out the PLC’s. 

Having lots of experience from making various datacentre applications, the team designed an alternative solution that not only was much more flexible than the one described in the RFQ but also at a lower cost. Instead of having a redundant master PLC, DEIF’s solution featured a redundant application for each of the six gensets on-site plus a redundant HMI solution. 

Up to 30% savings

Even though DEIF’s solution did not meet the customer’s initial requirements, he was interested in learning more about DEIF’s proposal and asked for a meeting to learn more about the system.

Usually, best practice in the GCC region is that PLCs handle the load control on genset level, even also in datacentres. However, DEIF’s solution featured a complete power management system with integrated load management, which was an important value proposition to the customer as he then could omit PLCs in the project and reduce the capital expenditures. Actually, the customer calculated that he could save 25-30% on choosing DEIF’s solution instead of making the PLC-based solution. Besides, DEIF’s solution would allow him to scale and modify the application as needed, providing him with a better and more flexible solution.

Having met with the team from DEIF, the customer was not only convinced about the system architecture but also was very impressed by the systems’ flexibility and decided to go with DEIF and drop the idea of having a PLC based solution. 

Due to Covid-19, the system is not yet commissioned but it is expected to be completed within the next couple of months.