Smart Microgrid Control with GOcontroll

Introduction

Smart microgrids need clear insight and reliable control. With a GOcontroll Moduline M1, buildings can balance solar, storage, and grid power in real time.

Introduction

Smart Microgrid Control with GOcontroll is becoming essential as homes and businesses install solar panels, batteries, EV chargers, and flexible loads. These systems need a dependable controller that can read sensors, switch power paths, and manage energy safely. The GOcontroll Moduline M1 offers a compact, robust platform with up to four IO modules, CAN communication, and Linux-based software such as Node-RED and Simulink. This combination makes it a powerful foundation for microgrids that must monitor energy flow, protect hardware, and react fast to changing conditions. Thanks to modular hardware and flexible software tools, users can create microgrid controllers that scale from small research setups to full building systems.

Using the Moduline M1 as a Smart Microgrid Core

Real-Time Sensor Monitoring and Electrical Feedback

Smart microgrids depend on accurate, fast measurements. The Moduline M1 can host modules such as:

• 6-channel input modules for voltage, frequency, or digital status signals
• 10-channel input modules for dense monitoring points
• 4-20 mA modules for industrial-grade sensors such as power meters or energy flow transmitters

Each of these modules processes signals locally and reports stable data to the application processor. This helps the controller run load-balancing or protection logic without latency. Combined with built-in CAN interfaces, the controller can read inverter data, battery telemetry, and EV-charger messages over standardized protocols.
With these measurements available in real time, users can implement peak shaving, dynamic load control, and fault triggers in a stable and predictable way.

Switching Between Grid, Solar, and Storage

Visual Control and Dashboarding with Node-RED

Node-RED is pre-installed on the Moduline M1 and can run flows automatically at boot. Dedicated GOcontroll nodes make it simple to read module data, write outputs, and share system states.
For microgrid control, users can build dashboards that show:

• Live PV yield
• Household or building consumption
• Battery state
• Grid import/export rate
• Contactor or breaker states
• Mode selection (priority solar, priority battery, or auto)

Because Node-RED supports MQTT, HTTP, and TCP, the controller can transmit data to cloud dashboards or local servers. This makes remote access, energy visualization, and research-grade logging straightforward, even across multiple buildings.

Simulink for Fast Control Algorithm Development

For advanced energy-management research or product development, the Moduline M1 can run compiled MATLAB Simulink models. GOcontroll provides a custom Simulink blockset that exposes:

• All module IO
• CAN communication
• Supply-voltage monitoring
• LED indicators
• Shell-command execution
• Memory blocks for system states

Simulink is ideal for experimenting with load-balancing logic, battery-charging strategies, or predictive control. After compiling the model, users can upload it directly to the controller. Boot times for Simulink models are short, so the controller becomes ready quickly after a reset or a power cycle.

A Future-Proof Controller for Evolving Microgrids