> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.voltmasters.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.voltmasters.io/voltmasters-platform/10.-project-settings/10.5-project-settings.md).
# Project settings
The project settings govern how the EMS manages energy for this project: grid protection, battery strategy and energy contract optimisation. They are spread over a few pages in the project menu, and this page describes all of them in that order.
| Settings | Where to find them |
| ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| Project details, deleting a project | **Settings → General** |
| Grid settings, grid connection references | **Configuration → Grid & market → Grid settings** |
| Strategy | **Configuration → Strategy** |
| Energy contract | **Configuration → Grid & market → Energy contract** |
Save changes using the **Save** button at the bottom of each page.
### Project details
Found under **Settings → General**.
| Field | Description |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Project name** | The name of the customer or site, as it appears throughout the platform. |
| **Address** | The physical address where the EMS controller is installed. |
Voltmasters EMS: project details
### Grid settings
Found under **Configuration → Grid & market → Grid settings**.
#### Main meter
Select the energy meter that acts as the **main meter** (head meter) for this installation. This is the meter that measures the total exchange with the electricity grid. Reports, dashboard figures and many screens that display grid data use this meter as their primary source.
#### Grid connection type
Configure whether the installation is **single-phase** or **three-phase** to match the actual grid connection at the site. This should correspond to what is stated on your connection document from the grid operator. If in doubt, check your connection document or ask your installer.
#### Import limit
The maximum power the site is permitted or desired to draw from the grid, expressed in kW. The EMS uses this value when deciding how and when to charge the battery or manage other controllable loads.
{% hint style="warning" %}
This value must never exceed your contracted **access capacity** with the grid operator. If the site draws more than the import limit continuously for longer than 15 minutes, a peak tariff surcharge from Fluvius may apply.
{% endhint %}
**Where to find your access capacity**: On [mijnfluvius.be](https://mijnfluvius.be) or in your grid connection contract.
**How to determine the right value**: The import limit is the maximum monthly peak you want to draw from the grid. How low you can set this depends on how much local energy (solar, battery) is available. The lower the import limit, the more the EMS will rely on local generation and storage to avoid exceeding it. There is no fixed formula. This value is site-specific and typically determined in consultation with your installer.
#### Export limit
The maximum power that may be injected into the grid from this installation, expressed in kW.
**Where to find it**: In your connection contract with the distribution network operator (DNO). The export limit is often set to the sum of the capacities of local generation sources or to the grid connection capacity. Always verify this against your current connection contract.
#### Import safety margin
A buffer subtracted from the import limit. The EMS uses the resulting value as its effective target when optimising battery charging and other controllable loads:
**Effective import target = Import limit − Safety margin**
**Example**: If your access capacity is 100 kVA and you want to target a monthly peak of 30 kVA, set the import limit to 100 kVA and the safety margin to 70 kVA. The EMS will then aim to keep grid import below 30 kVA when charging the battery or managing loads.
#### Export safety margin
A buffer subtracted from the export limit. This reduces the risk of accidentally exceeding your export capacity. Works in the same way as the import safety margin, but applies to injection.
Voltmasters EMS: grid settings
#### Applying a capacity change now or later
The import and export limits follow the **access capacity** in your contract with the grid operator. When that capacity changes on a date you already know (a new connection contract, an increase after an expansion, a seasonal arrangement), the new value does not have to be entered on the day itself. A change to the grid capacity can either be:
* **applied immediately**, so the EMS controls against the new limits straight away; or
* **scheduled for later**, with the date on which the new value must take effect.
Until that date the current limits stay in force, and the pending change remains visible in the settings. On the chosen date the platform applies the change by itself, without anyone having to intervene.
{% hint style="info" %}
Both the change and the moment it is applied are recorded in the project [change log](/voltmasters-platform/10.-project-settings/10.4-change-log.md), so you can always trace which limits were in force at a given time.
{% endhint %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
Schedule a capacity **increase** on the date the new capacity actually becomes contractual, not on the date it was granted. Applying a higher limit too early lets the EMS draw more power than your contract allows, with a peak tariff surcharge as a result.
{% endhint %}
#### Reactive power import and export limits
In addition to the active-power limits above, you can cap the **reactive power** the installation is allowed to exchange with the grid. Both fields are optional and are expressed as a **percentage (0–100%)**. The value is passed straight through to the EMS controller, which keeps the installation inside the configured reactive-power band.
{% hint style="info" %}
These limits follow the **Fluvius telecontrole (Netflex)** convention, so the values you enter here line up with what a grid operator would request over the telecontrole interface. See [How DSO RTU works](/dso-rtu/how-telecontrole-works.md) for the telecontrole side of reactive-power control.
{% endhint %}
**What reactive power is**
Active power (kW) does the actual work; **reactive power** (kVAr) is the power that continuously flows back and forth to magnetise transformers, motors and cables. It performs no net work, but it loads the grid and shifts the voltage at your connection point. Grid operators therefore limit how much reactive power an installation may draw or inject.
**What the percentage means**
Both fields are a **percentage of the installation's reference power** — the combined rated power of the flexible assets that can deliver reactive power (the battery inverters and PV inverters). A value of `0` means no reactive-power exchange is allowed in that direction; `100` allows the full reference power to be used for reactive power.
| Field | Direction | Physical meaning |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Reactive power import limit** | Grid → installation (consumption) | The maximum **inductive** reactive power the site may draw. Inductive reactive power is *underexcited* and **lowers** the connection-point voltage. |
| **Reactive power export limit** | Installation → grid (injection) | The maximum **capacitive** reactive power the site may inject. Capacitive reactive power is *overexcited* and **raises** the connection-point voltage. |
Together the two values define the **allowed reactive-power band** at the connection point: from the export limit on the capacitive side to the import limit on the inductive side. The EMS distributes the required reactive power across the batteries and PV inverters, within each device's apparent-power headroom, and never exceeds these limits.
**Sign convention (Fluvius Netflex)**
Fluvius uses the **consumer reference frame** for both measurements and setpoints:
* **Positive** reactive power flows from the grid into the installation → **inductive** (underexcited) → **lowers** the grid voltage. This is the **import** direction.
* **Negative** reactive power flows from the installation into the grid → **capacitive** (overexcited) → **raises** the grid voltage. This is the **export** direction.
**Example**
Suppose the flexible assets add up to a reference power of 100 kVA, the **import limit** is set to `33` and the **export limit** to `33`:
* The installation may draw at most **33 kVAr inductive** from the grid.
* The installation may inject at most **33 kVAr capacitive** into the grid.
* The EMS keeps the net reactive power at the connection point inside the band **−33% … +33%** at all times.
{% hint style="info" %}
Fluvius recommends keeping reactive-power setpoints around **33%** and not higher, because flexible assets are typically only required to deliver ±33% reactive power (Synergrid C10/11). Consult your installer or grid operator for the correct values for your connection.
{% endhint %}
For the authoritative definition, see the *Q-regeling / Reactief vermogen* section of the [Fluvius Netflex DER technical specification](https://www.fluvius.be/sites/fluvius/files/2026-04/netflex-der-technische-specificatie-klant.pdf).
### Grid connection references
Found on the same **Grid settings** page, below the grid settings themselves. The section is shown for **Belgian projects only**, because the data mandate it feeds is offered by Fluvius for Belgian connections.
Your **EAN number** is the unique identifier for your grid connection point. You can find it on your grid connection contract or on your electricity bill. Add one reference per meter point and pick whether it covers consumption, production or both.
The references have no effect on EMS operation or optimisation. They identify the connection towards the grid operator: a reference is what a [data mandate](/device-integrations/energy-meters/fluvius/data-mandate-and-comparison.md) is requested for, which lets the platform retrieve the official metering data and compare it against the measurement taken on site.
Voltmasters EMS: grid connection references
### Strategy
Found under **Configuration → Strategy**.
#### Choosing a strategy
The strategy determines the primary objective of the battery and controllable devices.
| Strategy | Description |
| --------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Voltmasters Cost Optimisation** | The EMS buys and sells energy at the most financially favourable times, based on EPEX day-ahead prices and your energy contract. Best suited for dynamic energy contracts. |
| **Self-supply** | The battery is used primarily to maximise self-consumption of locally generated energy (PV). Grid interaction is minimised. |
| **No control** | The EMS does not actively control the battery or other devices. |
Consult your installer if you are unsure which strategy best suits your installation and energy contract.
#### Minimum price difference
The minimum margin between the buy and sell price, in €/MWh, that must exist before the EMS will trade energy via the battery. A common starting value is **€20/MWh**. You can adjust this threshold to make the system more or less active in price-based trading.
#### Grid power dead zone
A small power band around zero within which the EMS does not make control adjustments. This prevents constant small corrections and unnecessary wear on controllable equipment. A common value is **0.5 kW**.
When a **grid power target** is configured, this band is centred on that target instead of on zero.
#### Grid power target
The grid power the battery balances towards instead of 0 kW. Leave it at **0 kW** to keep the connection balanced to zero, which is the right value for an ordinary installation.
A positive value keeps that much import standing. Use it on sites where an external device curtails solar production to prevent injection: the extra charging shows up as import, which makes that device release more production, which the battery then stores. This repeats until production can no longer follow, and the import settles at this value.
Keep the value small, in the order of a few kW. Whenever production runs without a surplus left to release, the target is simply bought from the grid. See [grid power target](/control-algorithms/grid-power-target.md) for the full mechanism and a worked example.
#### Grid power target only while producing
Determines whether the target applies around the clock or only while the installation is generating.
| Setting | Behaviour |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **On** (recommended) | The target is capped at the current on-site generation, so it drops to 0 kW when nothing is being produced and no import is bought overnight. Generation below the target still builds up, because every step releases more production. |
| **Off** | The target is held around the clock, so the site keeps importing it at night and whenever there is nothing to release. |
{% hint style="info" %}
Both fields require an EMS controller running **version 0.0.323 or newer**. On an older controller they stay hidden, because the balancing logic that aims at the target is not present there.
{% endhint %}
#### Peak shaving reserve
A percentage of the battery's state of charge (SOC) that is reserved to keep the grid import below its limit. As long as the SOC is above this reserve, the battery is used freely by the active strategy. Below it, discharging for other purposes is blocked and the reserve is refilled with priority — but the battery may still discharge to hold the grid at its import limit, for any load (general consumption as well as DC fast charging).
Set this value if the installation must never exceed its grid import limit (for example a limited transformer or connection capacity), or if part of the battery capacity must always remain available for DC fast charging. See [peak shaving reserve](/control-algorithms/peak-shaving-reserve.md) for how it works, and consult your installer for the appropriate value for your specific installation.
#### Battery load balancing strategy
Determines how power is distributed across multiple battery inverters when more than one is present.
| Mode | Description |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Cascade** | Battery inverters are activated one by one as more power is needed. The activation order rotates regularly to spread wear evenly across all units. |
| **Pro Rata** | All batteries operate simultaneously. The required power is distributed proportionally based on each battery's remaining usable capacity (kWh), within the maximum charge and discharge rates of each unit. |
#### Selling via battery injection
When this option is enabled, the EMS is permitted to discharge the battery and inject the stored energy into the grid when the injection price is sufficiently favourable.
Enable this when using the **Cost Optimisation** strategy with a dynamic energy contract, if you want the system to generate revenue by selling stored energy. When disabled, the EMS will not plan or execute injection sales via the battery based on energy prices.
#### Grid charging for injection
When this option is enabled (in addition to *Selling via battery injection*), the EMS may also **buy energy from the grid during cheap periods purely to sell it back** at moments with a high injection price. Purchases are only planned when the injection price beats the purchase price after round-trip losses plus the minimum price difference, so every buy/sell pair is profitable on its own.
Enable this when the spread between cheap hours and injection peaks in your contract is large enough to make pure price arbitrage worthwhile. When disabled, the EMS only sells energy that is already in (or naturally flows into) the battery. See [Selling energy to the grid](/control-algorithms/cost-optimization/selling-energy-to-the-grid.md) for how the two options work together.
Voltmasters EMS: strategy settings
### Energy contract
Found under **Configuration → Grid & market → Energy contract**.
#### Contract type
| Type | Description |
| ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Dynamic contract** | Energy prices are settled on the basis of quarter-hour or hourly market prices (EPEX spot). The price moves with the actual market, enabling the EMS to optimise more effectively. |
| **Flexible contract** | Rates are adjusted periodically (for example monthly or quarterly) but remain fixed within that period. |
| **Fixed contract** | The price is agreed in advance for the entire duration of the contract and does not change with the market. |
| **Fixed (Spain — time-of-use)** | A Spanish access tariff (3.0 TD / 6.1 TD / 6.2 TD) with a fixed price per tariff period (P1–P6). Only shown for projects located in Spain. |
{% hint style="info" %}
For a full explanation of each contract type — including the Spanish time-of-use periods and which parameters each type needs — see [Energy contracts](/voltmasters-platform/10.-project-settings/10.11-energy-contracts.md).
{% endhint %}
#### Consumption scaling factor
A multiplier applied to the measured consumption to better approximate your actual billing by your energy supplier. A value of **1** means no correction is applied. If your supplier uses separate day and night tariffs, use the average of both. A common value is **1** or **1.05**.
#### Consumption cost
The cost you pay for energy drawn from the grid, expressed in €/MWh. Find this value in your energy contract or ask your energy supplier.
If you do not know this value, leave the field blank. The EMS will fall back to default values, but this will reduce the accuracy of the cost optimisation calculations.
#### Distribution cost
The total of all grid costs charged per MWh on your electricity bill, expressed in €/MWh. Find this in your energy contract or on your electricity bill.
{% hint style="info" %}
Add up all per-MWh charges on your bill: transport, distribution, taxes, and levies. Do **not** include the monthly or yearly access capacity charge, as this is a fixed charge not calculated per MWh.
{% endhint %}
If unavailable, leave the field blank and the EMS will use default values.
#### Injection scaling factor
A multiplier applied to the measured injection, equivalent in purpose to the consumption scaling factor but for energy injected into the grid. Find this in your energy contract or ask your supplier. Defaults apply if left blank.
#### Injection cost
The net compensation or cost associated with injecting energy into the grid, expressed in €/MWh. This value can be negative during periods of negative market prices. Find this in your energy contract. Defaults apply if left blank.
Voltmasters EMS: energy contract settings
### Deleting a project
To permanently delete this project, use the **Delete project** option at the bottom of the **Settings → General** page.
{% hint style="warning" %}
Deleting a project is permanent and cannot be undone. All associated data, devices, and settings will be removed.
{% endhint %}
Voltmasters EMS: delete project
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.voltmasters.io/voltmasters-platform/10.-project-settings/10.5-project-settings.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.