Abstract: An electric transmission line support structure. A crossarm depending perpendicularly from a vertical shaft has a first and a second mounting point. A central support depends from the crossarm between the first and the second mounting point. A first conductor bundle is attached to the first mounting point by a first structural string and to the central support by a second structural string. A second conductor bundle is connected to the central support by a third structural string and to the second mounting point by a fourth structural string. A fifth structural string, perpendicular to the crossarm and extending between the first conductor bundle and the second conductor bundle, connects the central mounting point to a third conductor bundle that is further from the crossarm than the first conductor bundle and the second conductor bundle. A sixth structural string connects the vertical shaft to the third conductor bundle.

Abstract: A controller of a power generation system provides, in response to a request or a determination to initiate a heating mode for a photovoltaic (PV) array, a first instruction to an inverter coupled between the PV array and a power grid to apply an initial backfeed voltage on PV modules of the PV array. The PV array comprises a plurality of strings of PV modules coupled in parallel, and a first subset of the strings of PV modules are online and a second subset of the strings of PV modules are offline. The controller monitors current data from a set of current sensors that each measure current provided from a corresponding set of strings of PV modules of the plurality of strings of PV modules of the PV array. The controller also provides a second command to the inverter to adjust the backfeed voltage.

Abstract: An exoskeleton for installation of solar panels. The exoskeleton includes a central connection structure, at least one leg structure rotatably depending from the central connection structure. Each leg structure has a foot structure depending therefrom to contact a ground surface. At least one arm structure rotatably depends from the central connection structure. At least one solar panel holder depends from an arm structure and releasably holds a solar panel being supported by the arm structure. At least one limb actuator controllably provides forces to rotate the at least one leg structure and the at least one arm structure about the central connection structure to transfer forces from the respective arm supporting the solar panel to the ground surface through the at least one leg structure. A rotatably attached at least one auxiliary tool strut is movably positioned to operate beneath the solar panel as it is mounted onto a support.

Abstract: An electric transmission line support structure. A first vertical shaft and a parallel second vertical shaft are connected by a crossarm. A first conductor attachment point is connected to the first vertical shaft at a first vertical shaft attachment by a first structural string. A second conductor attachment point is connected to the second vertical shaft at a second vertical shaft attachment point by a second structural string and to the first conductor attachment point by a third structural string. A third conductor attachment point connected to the first vertical shaft at a third vertical shaft attachment point by a fourth structural string and to the second vertical shaft at a fourth vertical shaft attachment point by a fifth structural string. The third vertical shaft attachment point is below the first vertical shaft attachment point, and the fourth vertical shaft attachment point is below the second vertical shaft attachment point.

Abstract: One example includes a battery power system that includes a plurality of battery containers. Each of the battery containers can include a plurality of battery modules that provide output power to a point-of-interconnect associated with a power grid. Each of a portion of the plurality of battery containers includes a plurality of original battery modules and at least one of a plurality of redistributed battery modules from a redistributed battery container. The redistributed battery container includes battery modules of a substantially similar state-of-health to the plurality of original battery modules of each of the portion of the plurality of battery containers. The redistributed battery container includes a plurality of newer battery modules with a substantially similar state-of-health that is greater than the state-of-health of the plurality of original battery modules and which were subsequently installed after redistribution of the plurality of redistributed battery modules.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating electrical energy within a storage cell. Energy stored in an energy storage cell is allocated to multiple energy sub-partitions. Each energy sub-partition is associated with a user. A request to buy an amount of energy from an energy sub-partition assigned to another user is sent by a present user to at least one respective user in the plurality of users. Based on sending the request to sell an amount of energy, at least one response with an offer to sell energy to the present user is received. Acceptance of a selected offer within the at least one response is received, where the selected offer was sent by a winning user. The amount of energy is re-allocated from an energy sub-portion allocated to the winning user to an energy sub-portion associated with the present user based on receiving the acceptance.

Abstract: A method for performing uptower maintenance of a wind turbine in order to replace the main bearing on the turbine shaft is disclosed. Embodiments of this method to perform maintenance may include installing a rotor lock to resist rotation of the main shaft during maintenance, providing a lifting device in order to elevate the main shaft, removing the main bearing from its main bearing housing, and installing a replacement split main bearing. A crane may also be installed uptower to assist in the maintenance.

Abstract: A system for generating power includes an environmental engine operating on one or more computing devices that determines a wind flowing over a blade of a wind turbine, wherein the wind flowing over the blade of the wind turbine varies based on environmental conditions and operating parameters of the wind turbine. The system also includes an artificial intelligence (AI) ensemble engine operating on the one or more computing devices that generates a plurality of different models for the wind turbine. Each model characterizes a relationship between at least two of a rotor speed, a blade pitch, the wind flowing over the blade, a wind speed and a turbulence intensity for the wind turbine. The AI ensemble engine selects a model with a highest efficiency metric, and simulates execution of the selected model to determine recommended operating parameters.

Abstract: A system for preventing unauthorized access to a network can include a secure container having an access portal for controlling access to contents of the secure container and a security checkpoint configured to determine a state of the access portal and to receive an authorization code for opening the access portal. The security checkpoint can also include a logical lock module that switches to a breach mode of operation in response to a signal from the security checkpoint indicating that the access portal has been opened without receipt of the authorization code within a predetermined amount of time. The system can also include a network switch disposed within the secure container. The network switch is configured to communicate on a network and disable outgoing network communications to the network in response to a breach signal indicating that the logical lock module has switched to the breach mode.

Abstract: In some examples, sensor data comprising a first set and second set of sensor data can be received. The first set of sensor data can be provided to a rule-based classifier to identify a first normalized data tag. The second set of sensor data can be provided to a trained classifier to identify a second normalized data tag. The trained classifier can include a machine-learning model that has been trained based on tag sensor training data for classifying the second set of sensor data into a respective class associated with the second normalized data tag. The first and second sets of sensor data can be updated with respective first and second normalized data tags to normalize the first and second sets of sensor data to provide a standardized data label for each of the first and second sets of sensor data.

Abstract: A drone for replacing a removeable device can include a drone body with at least three lift-generating rotors spaced apart from the drone body and operating in concert that provide lift sufficient to propel the drone in at least six directions. The drone can include a first bay attached to the drone body, the first bay comprising a first mounting mechanism to dismount a first removeable device from a device receptacle and to securely stow the first removeable device. The drone can also include a second bay attached to the drone body comprising a second mounting mechanism to stow a second removeable device and to mount the second removeable device on the device receptacle.

Abstract: A system and a method for regulating charging and discharging of an energy storage device as part of an electrical power distribution network is described. The invention is a smart control algorithm for a bi-directional switch in which an energy storage device, such as a battery set, is charged when electricity prices are low and discharged when electricity prices are high. The invention uses two different types of pricing data: forecasted price data and real-time price data. The forecasted price data is used to set a threshold. When the real-time price data of electricity exceeds this threshold, the energy storage device is set to discharge and send power to the grid. Otherwise the energy storage device is set to charge. The threshold is set periodically, typically in 30 minute to several hour intervals to capture the latest data.

Abstract: One example includes a method for generating a solar farm design. Geographic map data defines geographic features and boundaries of a geographic region. A solar panel block library that stores virtual solar panel block types is accessed. Each of the virtual solar panel block types corresponds to a design of a respective solar panel block that includes solar panels, an inverter, and an access road, and each virtual solar panel block type includes predetermined dimensions and a predefined output power rating. An array of a virtual solar panel block type to fit within the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map is generated based on the dimensions of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array. The array is iteratively modified to optimize a criterion of the solar farm design, and the design is stored in a memory for subsequent solar farm installation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a plurality of wind turbines can include a turbine categorizer, executing on one or more computing platforms that categorizes each of a plurality of wind turbines as being damaged or undamaged to form a list of potentially damaged wind turbines. The system can also include a damage evaluator executing on the one or more computing platforms that predicts a damage type and a stage for each wind turbine in the list of potentially damaged wind turbines. The system can further include an impact engine executing on the one or more computing platforms that assigns a repair window and a priority for each wind turbine in the list of potentially damaged wind turbines based on a respective predicted damage type and stage.

Abstract: Various embodiments charges battery for a renewable energy source. In one embodiment, a forecast having a plurality of predetermined time intervals with a predicted energy input level of the renewable energy source corresponding to each predetermined time interval is received. A setpoint is calculated for each predetermined time interval for an amount of power available to charge the battery based on the forecast. The battery is charged during a predetermined time interval according to its corresponding setpoint. An actual energy input level of the renewable energy source is monitored and compared to the predicted energy input level for its corresponding time interval to determine a lesser energy input level. The lesser energy input level is set as the setpoint for the corresponding predetermined time interval.

Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor a wind turbine azimuth drivetrain. Azimuth variation characteristics data are accumulated from wind turbines over a period of time. Clusters of values within the azimuth variation characteristics data are identified and a respective condition of the main drivetrain is associated with different clusters of values. After the associating, a measured set of azimuth variation characteristics data is received. A cluster corresponds to values in the measured set of azimuth variation characteristics data is determined and a condition associated with that cluster is determined to be a condition associated with the subject main drivetrain. That condition is then reported.

Abstract: Various embodiments distributively control a wind park having a plurality of wind turbines. Each wind turbine controlled by its own turbine controller. Each turbine controller determines power production capability of its dedicated wind turbine. The power production capability of the single wind turbine is communicated with a plurality of other turbine controllers in the wind park. A consensus power distribution schedule to distribute power to a power grid is determined using votes from each turbine controller in the wind park. Energy is discharged from each wind turbine to a power grid according to the power distribution schedule. When one wind turbine fails, a new power distribution schedule is determined using votes from each remaining turbine controller and energy is discharged from each wind turbine to the power grid according to the new power distribution schedule.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring an operational system. An initial set of sensor data is accumulated from a system over a substantially shorter time than is required to collect data to characterize a regression model for an operating parameter of the system. An initial regression model is created based on the initial set of sensor data. A subsequent set of sensor data is received from the at least one sensor after creating the initial regression model. An expected dependent value for the subsequent independent value is determined using the initial regression model. An operator is prompted to update the initial regression model based on a difference between a subsequent dependent value and the expected dependent value. The initial regression model is updated to incorporate the subsequent set of sensor data. A notification is provided based on a difference between presently received sensor data and the updated regression model.

Abstract: A non-transitory machine readable medium having machine executable instructions can include a charge control application. The charge control application can determine, in response to detecting that an electric vehicle (EV) is electrically coupled to a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interface, a degradation threshold state of charge (SoC) for a battery of the EV. The charge control application can also command the V2G interface to discharge the battery of the EV to a lower threshold SoC that is below the degradation threshold SoC. The charge control application can further command the V2G interface to charge the battery of the EV to an upper threshold SoC that is above the degradation threshold SoC at a return threshold time, wherein the return threshold time is a calculated amount of time prior to an expected return time of an operator of the EV.

Abstract: One example includes a test illumination system comprising a light source and a location controller configured to generate location data associated with a real-time location of the test illumination system. The test illumination system can be configured to move relative to a solar panel array in response to a solar testing protocol to provide illumination from the light source at a defined illumination time to each solar panel of the solar panel array in a sequence to provide a voltage amplitude. The system also includes a solar panel testing controller configured to correlate the location data of the test illumination system, the defined illumination time, and the voltage amplitude for each solar panel of the solar panel array in the sequence to determine an efficacy of each solar panel of the solar panel array.