Industrial Energy & Automation Glossary

Use the glossary with the engineering guides

Definitions explain terminology; design decisions still depend on the actual SLD, equipment capabilities, protection philosophy and operating objective.

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Plain-language definitions for terms used in industrial EMS, SCADA, BESS, solar–genset control, protection and automation.

BESS

Battery Energy Storage System. A system combining battery cells/modules, BMS, DC architecture, PCS/inverter, controls, thermal management, protection and often EMS/SCADA integration.

BMS — Battery Management System

Monitors and protects battery cells/modules, including voltage, temperature, state estimation and balancing functions.

PCS — Power Conversion System

The bidirectional power-electronic interface that converts between battery DC and AC system power.

C-rate

Charge or discharge power relative to usable battery energy capacity. A 1C discharge can theoretically deliver the rated energy in about one hour; 0.5C in about two hours, subject to system limits.

DoD — Depth of Discharge

The portion of total battery capacity used between the selected upper and lower state-of-charge limits.

RTE — Round-Trip Efficiency

The ratio of energy recovered from storage to the energy used to charge it over a complete charge/discharge cycle.

EMS & SCADA

EMS — Energy Management System

A supervisory system that measures, coordinates and optimizes energy sources, loads and storage according to operating objectives.

SCADA

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition: visualization, alarms, trends, historian, control and reporting around plant or energy-system data.

Generator & Hybrid Power

Reverse Power

A condition where real power flows into a generator rather than out of it. In hybrid systems, this can occur if another source exceeds the local load while the genset remains connected without appropriate control/protection.

Minimum Genset Loading

The minimum operating load selected for a generator based on engine/generator requirements and the operating philosophy. Hybrid controllers can curtail solar or coordinate BESS to maintain it.

Load Sharing

Controlled distribution of real and reactive power between generators or other parallel sources.

Peak Shaving

Reducing short-duration facility demand peaks using controllable sources, storage or load management to limit imported power or demand charges.

Zero Export

A control objective that prevents or limits power export from the site to the utility grid.

Communications & Controls

Modbus RTU / TCP

Common industrial communications protocols used to exchange register-based data between meters, controllers, PLCs, HMIs, BESS and SCADA/EMS systems.

For deeper explanations, browse the JME Knowledge & Engineering Guides.

Technical review: JME Energy & Automation Technical Team · Updated September 2026
Engineering guidance is application-dependent. Verify equipment ratings, protection, control modes and site conditions before final design.