Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for an operation of an electric power plant comprising a renewable energy resource and an energy storage device. The method may comprise determining, at a first time, a forecast of predicted energy production by the electric power plant over a time period subsequent to the first time based on a forecast for the time period; detecting a current state of charge of the energy storage device; calculating a range of automatic generation controls the electric power plant is capable of satisfying for the time period based on the forecast of predicted energy production and the detected current state of charge of the energy storage device; and signaling, from the electric power plant to a central utility controlling a power grid, the range of automatic generation controls the electric power plant is capable of satisfying for the time period.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a state of charge (SOC) schedule for an energy storage device and a time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production by a renewable electrical energy generation resource; generating a time-varying charge/discharge control signal for the electrical energy storage device based on the time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production, wherein the time-varying charge/discharge control signal is configured to maintain an average SOC of the energy storage device as low as possible while satisfying the SOC schedule; and controlling charging and discharging of the energy storage device with the time-varying charge/discharge control signal.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from sensors, determining whether one or more solar modules of a plurality of networked power plants will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time based on the irradiance data, and generating, based on the determination, a power output prediction for each power plant of the networked power plants at the third time. The method may further include receiving power delivery profiles for first and second loads, adjusting a power output of one or more power plants of the networked power plants based at least in part on the power output prediction and the power delivery profiles for the first and second loads, and allocating a combined power output of the power plants to the first and second loads based on first and second load reliability thresholds.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from sensors, determining whether one or more solar modules of a plurality of networked power plants will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time based on the irradiance data, and generating, based on the determination, a power output prediction for each power plant of the networked power plants at the third time. The method may further include receiving power delivery profiles for first and second loads, adjusting a power output of one or more power plants of the networked power plants based at least in part on the power output prediction and the power delivery profiles for the first and second loads, and allocating a combined power output of the power plants to the first and second loads based on first and second load reliability thresholds.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for managing electrical energy generated by a renewable microgrid. One or more processors of a system may store priorities for one or more consumer loads; forecast an amount of available electrical energy for a time period; allocate a first electrical energy amount to a first consumer load to a first energy limit for the time period; determine more electrical energy is forecast to be available from the RES or the ESS for the time period; identify a second consumer load of the one or more consumer loads; allocate a second electrical energy amount to the second consumer load for the time period; and direct electrical energy from the RES or the ESS to the first and second consumer loads according to the allocations.

Abstract: Methods for implementing power delivery transactions between a buyer and a seller of electrical energy supplied to an electrical grid by an integrated renewable energy source (RES) and energy storage system (ESS) of a RES-ESS facility are provided. Estimated total potential output of the RES is compared to a point of grid interconnect (POGI) limit to identify potential RES overgeneration, and the buyer is charged if potential RES overgeneration is less than potential overgeneration during one or more retrospective time windows. The method provides a basis for the RES-ESS facility owner to be paid for an estimated amount of energy that did not get stored as a result of a grid operator not fully discharging an ESS prior to the start of a new day.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for managing a temperature of a battery energy storage system (“BESS”). A method may comprise identifying operating temperature limitations of the BESS; obtaining a forecast horizon comprising a forecast of external environmental conditions for a time period; identifying a charging/discharging schedule of the BESS; simulating operation of the BESS for the time period for each of a plurality of sequences of thermal management modes according to the charging/discharging schedule and the forecast horizon, the simulating generating an energy consumption and an operating temperature forecast of for each of the plurality of sequences of thermal management modes; selecting a sequence of thermal management modes of the plurality of sequences; and operating the equipment according to the selected sequence of thermal management modes.

Abstract: A method for coordinated control of a renewable electrical energy source (RES) and an electrical energy storage (EES) device utilizes a time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production by the RES and a state of charge (SOC) schedule for the EES including at least one SOC target value. A time-varying charge/discharge control signal is configured to ensure that the SOC schedule is satisfied by charging at a rate necessary to meet the SOC target value, while periodically updating the generation of the charge/discharge control signal based upon an updated time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production and/or an updated SOC schedule. A configurable refresh period may be used to limit updates of the time-varying control signal including computation and use of a new basepoint value for aggregated energy supplied from the RES-ESS facility to an electrical grid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for serving two or more uncorrelated loads connected to a renewable energy powerplant. The uncorrelated loads comprise a power grid and one or more industrial processes. A system may comprise a renewable energy system (RES), an energy storage system (ESS), and a controller programmed to: discretize an upcoming forecast horizon into a plurality of time periods; calculate one or more metrics for sending energy generated by the first RES to: (1) the ESS, (2) the power grid, and (3) the one or more industrial processes; prioritize the: (1) ESS, (2) power grid, and (3) one or more industrial processes.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of operating a power plant, comprising: obtaining an energy production forecast for a forecast period; generating a plurality of simulation results associated with simulated operation of the power plant for the forecast period, wherein the plurality of simulation results are generated by simulating operation of the power plant using a plurality of control algorithms; assigning a score to each of the plurality of control algorithms based on the generated plurality of simulation results; selecting a control algorithm from the plurality of control algorithms for the forecast period based on the assigned score for the control algorithm; and operating the power plant in accordance with the control algorithm for a duration of the forecast period.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for managing a temperature of a battery energy storage system (“BESS”). A method may comprise identifying operating temperature limitations of the BESS; obtaining a forecast horizon comprising a forecast of external environmental conditions for a time period; identifying a charging/discharging schedule of the BESS; simulating operation of the BESS for the time period for each of a plurality of sequences of thermal management modes according to the charging/discharging schedule and the forecast horizon, the simulating generating an energy consumption and an operating temperature forecast of for each of the plurality of sequences of thermal management modes; selecting a sequence of thermal management modes of the plurality of sequences; and operating the equipment according to the selected sequence of thermal management modes.

Abstract: An REPP may include a renewable energy source (RES), a first meter associated with a first load, a second meter associated with a second load, a first ESS electrically coupled to the RES and the first meter, a second ESS electrically coupled to the RES and the first meter through a switch, and a controller configured to set a first charge/discharge for the first ESS and a second charge/discharge for the second ESS such that the REPP delivers power to the first load longer than the RES produces power, in response to a trigger condition, actuate the switch such that the second ESS is electrically coupled to the second meter, and set a fourth charge/discharge for the second ESS such that the second ESS maintains a portion of its charge in reserve for the second load.

Abstract: A method described delivers power to a first load and a second load from networked power plants. The method may include receiving a power delivery profile for the first load, receiving a power delivery profile for a second load, determining a power output capability of a first renewable energy power plant (REPP), and determining a power output capability of a second REPP. The method may also include setting a power output for the first REPP and a power output for the second REPP based on the power delivery profile for the first and second loads and the power output capabilities of the first and second REPPs. The method may also include allocating a combined power output of the first and second REPPs to the first and second loads and delivering the allocated combined power output to the first and second loads.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is method for power distribution optimization. In some embodiments, the method includes determining an efficiency for each power block of a plurality of power blocks of a power distribution optimization system, determining a characteristic for each power block, determining a power to provide, selecting a first percentage of the power that a first power block is to provide and a second percentage of the power that a second power block is to provide at least based on the efficiency for each power block, the characteristic for each power block, and the power to provide, wherein the first percentage of the power is greater than the second percentage of the power, and sending a dispatch command to cause the first power block to provide the first percentage of the power and the second power block to provide the second percentage of the power.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for managing a temperature of a battery energy storage system (“BESS”). A method may comprise obtaining a charge/discharge schedule for a battery energy storage system (BESS) for a first time period; identifying, from the charge/discharge schedule, a charge or discharge time period of the BESS within the first time period; calculating a beginning time of a temperature control time period in which equipment operates to control a temperature of the BESS to reach a target temperature by a beginning time of the charge or discharge time period; and controlling the equipment operating to control the temperature of the BESS for the temperature control time period such that the temperature of the BESS reaches the target temperature by the beginning time of the charge or discharge time period.

Abstract: A method for coordinated control of a renewable electrical energy source (RES) and an electrical energy storage (EES) device utilizes a time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production by the RES and a state of charge (SOC) schedule for the EES including at least one SOC target value. A time-varying charge/discharge control signal is configured to ensure that the SOC schedule is satisfied by charging at a rate necessary to meet the SOC target value, while periodically updating the generation of the charge/discharge control signal based upon an updated time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production and/or an updated SOC schedule. A configurable refresh period may be used to limit updates of the time-varying control signal including computation and use of a new basepoint value for aggregated energy supplied from the RES-ESS facility to an electrical grid.

Abstract: A method may include determining a position and movement of a shadow on a plurality of solar modules of a solar power plant using an analysis of irradiance data from sensors disposed proximate the plurality of solar modules. The method may include predicting future power output for the plurality of solar panels based on the movement of the shadow over the plurality of solar modules and modifying a power output of the solar power plant based on the predicted future power output.

Abstract: Methods for implementing power delivery transactions between a buyer and a seller of electrical energy supplied to an electrical grid by an integrated renewable energy source (RES) and energy storage system (ESS) of a RES-ESS facility are provided. Estimated total potential output of the RES is compared to a point of grid interconnect (POGI) limit to identify potential RES overgeneration, and the buyer is charged if potential RES overgeneration is less than potential overgeneration during one or more retrospective time windows. The method provides a basis for the RES-ESS facility owner to be paid for an estimated amount of energy that did not get stored as a result of a grid operator not fully discharging an ESS prior to the start of a new day.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from sensors, determining whether one or more solar modules of a plurality of networked power plants will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time based on the irradiance data, and generating, based on the determination, a power output prediction for each power plant of the networked power plants at the third time. The method may further include receiving power delivery profiles for first and second loads, adjusting a power output of one or more power plants of the networked power plants based at least in part on the power output prediction and the power delivery profiles for the first and second loads, and allocating a combined power output of the power plants to the first and second loads based on first and second load reliability thresholds.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for flexible renewable energy power generation. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for firming power generation from multiple renewable energy sources.