Naturgy, Spain: Monitoring and controls of renewables with SCADA

Naturgy has taken a major step forward in managing its growing portfolio of renewable energy assets by implementing a state-of-the-art SCADA system designed by Siemens Energy. This system provides total transparency around production, enabling seamless monitoring and flexible control of solar and wind farms spread across different locations. By integrating various underlying systems into a standardized platform, Naturgy can operate these facilities efficiently and adapt quickly to changes in the energy market and technology. The SCADA solution also ensures maximum availability, high cybersecurity standards, and environmental responsibility—a vital foundation that supports Naturgy’s ambitious growth plans and commitment to the energy transition.

The Spanish energy company Naturgy uses Spain´s many renewable resources. It runs 68 wind farms and six solar power fields. By 2025, the company aims to triple its installed capacity from the current level of around 4.6 gigawatts to 14 gigawatts.

The plants are not limited to one area; they will be established across different regions globally. All the growth indicated in the strategic plan is based on a profound respect for local, environmental and heritage values. So, not only a wind control system was required, but a SCADA system that allows for operation and control of their renewable energy systems.

The current SCADA system had interface problems with maintenance, grid operators, and trading. It could not keep up with the growth of Naturgy’s renewable energy fleet. To reach their growth goals, Naturgy needed a flexible and scalable control system. They wanted a centralized SCADA solution for operations and monitoring. This system should have standardized interfaces to connect different plants. It should let users access all available data from one place. The solution is to bridge interface gaps for renewable energy growth with an advanced SCADA system.

Naturgy has successfully combined different technical platforms in its Renewables Controls Center. This new solution helps to simplify their processes. Ensuring consistency across multiple systems was a critical goal. Their central control room, responsible for monitoring and managing all their plants, now offers complete transparency on production. Additionally, the solution seamlessly integrates multiple underlying systems into a unified Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

To achieve this, Naturgy adopted Siemens Energy’s advanced controls solution, which provides a modern, scalable, and open SCADA architecture. Key features include automated generation control, real-time dashboarding, and a robust backup center. With the replacement of the old SCADA system, Naturgy can now focus more effectively on developing and operating its renewable energy business.