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: An articulating joint for a wind turbine having a tower defining a shaft and a deck provided in the shaft includes a bracket extending from a first end having a fixed connection with the deck to a second end including an opening. A fastener includes a head pivotably connected to the tower and a shaft extending through the opening. A washer connected to the bracket is aligned with the opening for receiving the shaft such that the fastener is pivotable with the washer relative to the opening to allow for relative movement between the tower and the deck.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring an operational system. A data set with output power values and associated environmental data values for an electrical generation system are accumulated. Statistical relationships are determined for output power values and environmental data values. Outlying data is determined based on the statistical relationships and are removed from the data set to create selected data. A regression model is developed from the selected data to map predicted output power values to values of environmental data. Data with present output power values and present associated environmental data for the electrical generation system are later received. Predicted output power values are predicted by the regression model for the present associated environmental data. An output power discrepancy is identified by comparing the predicted output power to the present output power. A notification of an anomaly is provided based on identification of the output power discrepancy.

Abstract: One example includes a forecast engine that generates forecast data that characterizes predicted operating conditions of an energy storage system for a given time period in the future, wherein the predicted operating conditions are based on a load history for a power consuming premises coupled to the energy storage system and on a value history for power provided to and consumed from a power grid. The load history of the power consuming premises characterizes unmetered power transferred to the power consuming premises, metered powered transferred from the power grid to the power consuming premises and metered powered exchanged from the energy storage system to the power grid. In the example, a schedule manager generates an operation schedule for operating the energy storage system. The operation schedule includes charge and discharge patterns for an energy storage source that are tuned to curtail power costs and/or elevate power revenue value.

Abstract: A system for generating power includes an environmental engine operating on one or more computing devices that determines a Reynolds number for a wind turbine, wherein the Reynolds number characterizes wind flowing over a blade of the wind turbine that varies based on the wind speed, a rotor speed and characteristics of the blade 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 the rotor speed and a blade pitch for the wind turbine, the Reynolds number, wind speed and 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 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: One example includes a utility power system. The system includes a power generator system, the power generator system comprising a generator step-up (GSU) transformer and a power generator. The power generator can be configured to provide generator power to a power transmission system via the GSU transformer in a feedback manner based on a predetermined setpoint. The system further includes a voltage droop compensation controller configured to monitor the generator power at a high-side of the GSU transformer and to adjust the predetermined setpoint based on the monitored generator power to substantially mitigate circulating currents.

Abstract: A power generation and storage system is provided that supplies power to a power grid. The system includes a wind turbine, a doubly-fed induction generator coupled to the wind turbine, and one or more DC energy sources. A controller determines power requirements for the power grid and controls the operation of the wind turbine and the DC energy sources to meet the power requirements of the power grid.

Abstract: A system can include a data server that calculates a risk level of each of a plurality of wind turbines at a turbine site based at least in part on a base risk level and mortality data that characterizes a mortality of a volant animal caused by a given wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines. The system can also include a turbine monitor server that stores the risk level of each wind turbine in a database and generates a graphical dashboard based on data in the database. The system can further include a turbine site control server that retrieves data from the database and sets cut-in speed of each of the plurality of wind turbines based on the data retrieved from the database.

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 power generation system is disclosed that includes a photovoltaic (PV) array having a number of strings of PV modules switchably connected to a respective input node, an inverter comprising a plurality of inputs each coupled to each respective input node, each respective input node being coupled to a respective input of a DC-to-DC converter. An output of the DC-to-DC converter is switchably connected to an energy storage source, wherein the DC-to-DC converter charges the energy storage source with a portion of an output power of the PV array that exceeds a maximum inverter power. A controller incrementally disconnects subsets of the plurality of strings of PV modules from the respective input nodes to decrease an input current and input power to the inverter in response to an output voltage or output current of the PV array exceeding a threshold and the energy storage source being un-chargeable or unavailable.

Abstract: A defect detector can receive measured data characterizing an operational performance of a population of sets of parallel operating power sources of a power supplier for a power distribution system. The defect detector can employ statistical analysis to detect a potential defect in a subset of the parallel operating power sources of the power supplier based on the measured data. Each of the parallel operating power sources can be configured to provide a given output in response to a given input.

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 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: A method of creating an interconnected combination of a stored energy electric generation system to a variable electric power generation system, said combination, and a method of operating same. A stored energy electric generation system is added to a variable output electric power generation system. An input/output of the stored energy electric power generation system is connected to a power output of the variable electric power generation system and an indicator of power flow level through the power input/output of the stored energy electric power generation system is provided to a controller of the variable electric power generation system. The controller is configured to adjust the output power of the variable electric power generation system based on the indicator of the present stored energy system electric power flow level and a present site output electric power level.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a pier/mat foundation and assemblies for same. Retrofitting includes attaching fortification brackets around an outside of a pier of a pier/mat foundation of a wind turbine structure. Fortification rod bottom ends are secured to the mat outside of the pier and near a location under an outer portion of each installed fortification bracket. Fortification rod top ends are attached to openings in outer portions of the fortification brackets. A retrofitting foundation fortification assembly includes a top bracket with at least one hole to receive a foundation anchor holding a wind turbine tower to a pier/mat foundation; a vertical portion dependent from the top bracket near a vertical face of the pier when the at least one hole receives foundation anchors; and a fortification rod hole located outside of the pier when the at least one hole receives the foundation anchors.

Abstract: One example includes a forecast engine that generates forecast data that characterizes predicted operating conditions of an energy storage system for a given time period in the future, wherein the predicted operating conditions are based on a load history for a power consuming premises coupled to the energy storage system and on a value history for power provided to and consumed from a power grid. The load history of the power consuming premises characterizes unmetered power transferred to the power consuming premises, metered powered transferred from the power grid to the power consuming premises and metered powered exchanged from the energy storage system to the power grid. In the example, a schedule manager generates an operation schedule for operating the energy storage system. The operation schedule includes charge and discharge patterns for an energy storage source that are tuned to curtail power costs and/or elevate power revenue value.

Abstract: Systems and methods enable yaw offsets on wind turbines in a wind farm. A wind turbine yaw controller receives a present wind direction signal from a local wind direction sensor and aligns the wind turbine in a substantially perpendicular direction based upon the present wind direction signal. A yaw controller is retrofitted between the wind direction sensor and the yaw controller to provide an adjusted wind direction signal to the yaw controller based upon the present wind direction signal and a yaw offset signal. An offset table relating yaw offsets with wind direction signal values may be stored locally at a wind turbine or at a site controller in communication with the wind tribune. Each wind turbine in the wind farm may be retrofitted with the yaw controller to enhance the power output of the wind farm by adjusting the wake effect between wind turbines of the wind farms.

Abstract: One example includes a wind farm power control system. The system includes a wind farm controller configured to monitor a power characteristic at a high-side of a generator step-up (GSU) transformer. The high-side of the GSU transformer is coupled to a point-of-interconnect (POI) that provides power from the wind farm to a power grid. The system also includes an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) configured to monitor a voltage of a power bus associated with a low-side of the GSU transformer, the power bus being provided power from a plurality of feeder groups. Each of the plurality of feeder groups includes a plurality of wind turbines. The AVR can be further configured to regulate the power characteristic at the high-side of the GSU transformer to within a predetermined range of amplitudes based on the voltage of the power bus.

Abstract: Systems and methods to incorporate control of reactive power produced by a variable reactive power output inverter that is installed in an existing installed power generation site. A reactive power output command value limiter is integrated with the variable reactive power output inverter. The reactive power command limiter iteratively: receives a reactive power command value, determines a threshold reactive power output value based on present real power output, determines that the reactive power command value exceeds the threshold reactive power output value, changes, based on the determining that the reactive power command value exceeds the threshold reactive power output value, the reactive power output command input value to a limited value reactive power output command that is one of equal to or less than the threshold reactive power output value, and outputs the limited value reactive power output command to the variable reactive power output inverter.