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 a method for controlling a solar power plant comprising a plurality of solar modules. The method may comprise (a) obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from a plurality of sensors disposed among or adjacent to the plurality of solar modules; (b) processing the irradiance data at the first time and the second time to generate an output that indicates whether one or more solar modules of the plurality of solar modules will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time; (c) generating, based at least in part on the output, a power output prediction for the plurality of solar modules at the third time; and (d) adjusting a power output of the solar power plant based at least in part on the power output prediction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a solar power plant comprising a plurality of solar modules. The method may comprise (a) obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from a plurality of sensors disposed among or adjacent to the plurality of solar modules; (b) processing the irradiance data at the first time and the second time to generate an output that indicates whether one or more solar modules of the plurality of solar modules will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time; (c) generating, based at least in part on the output, a power output prediction for the plurality of solar modules at the third time; and (d) adjusting a power output of the solar power plant based at least in part on the power output prediction.

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: 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.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a solar power plant comprising a plurality of solar modules. The method may comprise (a) obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from a plurality of sensors disposed among or adjacent to the plurality of solar modules; (b) processing the irradiance data at the first time and the second time to generate an output that indicates whether one or more solar modules of the plurality of solar modules will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time; (c) generating, based at least in part on the output, a power output prediction for the plurality of solar modules at the third time; and (d) adjusting a power output of the solar power plant based at least in part on the power output prediction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an energy storage system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an energy storage system includes receiving a power demand associated with a grid service operation for an energy storage system and accessing data indicative of a time shift for responding to the power demand. The method includes implementing the time shift in the power demand to obtain a time shifted power demand; and controlling the charge or discharge of one or more energy storage devices in the energy storage system based at least in part on the time shifted power demand.

Abstract: There is provided a power converter unit that can include an inverter and a plurality of batteries. The power converter unit can include a battery energy storage system (BESS) and an inverter. The BESS and the inverter can share at least one protection circuit.

Abstract: There is provided a power converter unit that can include an inverter and a plurality of batteries. The inverter and the plurality of batteries can be cooled by a common thermal management system. Furthermore, the power converter unit that can include a battery enclosure and the inverter can be co-located with the plurality of batteries inside the battery enclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a heat flux assembly for an energy storage device. The energy storage device includes a housing with a plurality of side walls that define an internal volume and a plurality of cells configured within the internal volume. The heat flux assembly includes a plurality of heat flux components configured for arrangement with the side walls of the housing of the energy storage device and one or more temperature sensors configured with each of the plurality of heat flux components. Thus, the temperature sensors are configured to monitor one or more temperatures at various locations in the plurality of heat flux components. The heat flux assembly also includes a controller configured to adjust a power level of each of the heat flux components as a function of the monitored temperature so as to reduce a temperature gradient or difference across the plurality of cells during operation of the energy storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling performance parameters for an energy storage device include providing primary control signals to an energy storage device that indicate at least one operating value in a range defined by at least one set point value for one or more performance parameters of the energy storage device. In one embodiment, an actual performance score for the energy storage device operated in accordance with the primary control signals is determined and compared with a required performance score to determine a performance score evaluation parameter. Additional control signals are then determined and provided to the energy storage device in a manner that adjusts the at least one operating value of the one or more primary control signals relative to the at least one set point value for the one or more performance parameters based at least in part on the performance score evaluation parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a tap location associated with a string of an energy storage system are provided. In one embodiment, an energy storage system can include one or more strings. Each of the one or more strings can include a plurality of energy storage cells coupled in series. Each of the one or more strings can be associated with a selectively adjustable tap location to control the number of cells in the string that provide power to a power system. The energy storage system can further include a one or more control devices that can be configured to detect a change in a voltage associated with one or more of the one or more strings. The one or more control devices can be configured to adjust the tap location for at least one of the one or more strings in response to the change in the voltage.

Abstract: An energy storage system can include an energy storage device, such as a battery energy storage device, having a first terminal and a second terminal. A first unidirectional contactor can be coupled to the first terminal. A second unidirectional contactor can be coupled to the second terminal. The first unidirectional contactor can be coupled to the energy storage device with opposite polarity relative to the second unidirectional contactor. The first unidirectional contactor and the second unidirectional contactor can be controlled based on direction of current flow associated with the energy storage device.

Abstract: There is provided a power converter unit that can include an inverter and a plurality of batteries. The power converter unit can include a battery energy storage system (BESS) and an inverter. The BESS and the inverter can share at least one protection circuit.

Abstract: There is provided a power converter unit that can include an inverter and a plurality of batteries. The inverter and the plurality of batteries can be cooled by a common thermal management system. Furthermore, the power converter unit that can include a battery enclosure and the inverter can be co-located with the plurality of batteries inside the battery enclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the charge of an energy storage device include determining an estimated energy production prediction for an energy source from a present time to a target time by which an energy storage device is desired to reach a top of charge (TOC) energy level when being charged by the energy source. An available amount of energy for storage at the energy storage device if the energy storage device is charged from the energy source at a first charge rate from the present time until the target time is determined. A present charge rate for the energy storage device is controlled to be the first charge rate when the available amount of energy is less than the energy storage capacity of the energy storage device and to be a second charge rate less than the first charge rate when otherwise.

Abstract: Systems and methods associated with example power converter systems are disclosed. For instance, a power converter system can include a power converter couplable to an input power source and configured to generate an output power substantially at a grid frequency. The power converter can include one or more inverter bridge circuits, each associated with an output phase of the power converter. Each inverter bridge circuit can include one or more first switching modules having a pair of switching elements coupled in series with one another, and an output coupled between the pair of switching elements. At least one switching element of each first switching module includes a reverse blocking transistor. The power converter further includes one or more input bridge circuits having a plurality of second switching modules coupled in parallel, each second switching module comprising a pair of silicon carbide transistors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the charge of an energy storage device include determining an estimated energy production prediction for an energy source from a present time to a target time by which an energy storage device is desired to reach a top of charge (TOC) energy level when being charged by the energy source. An available amount of energy for storage at the energy storage device if the energy storage device is charged from the energy source at a first charge rate from the present time until the target time is determined. A present charge rate for the energy storage device is controlled to be the first charge rate when the available amount of energy is less than the energy storage capacity of the energy storage device and to be a second charge rate less than the first charge rate when otherwise.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling performance parameters for an energy storage device include providing primary control signals to an energy storage device that indicate at least one operating value in a range defined by at least one set point value for one or more performance parameters of the energy storage device. In one embodiment, an actual performance score for the energy storage device operated in accordance with the primary control signals is determined and compared with a required performance score to determine a performance score evaluation parameter. Additional control signals are then determined and provided to the energy storage device in a manner that adjusts the at least one operating value of the one or more primary control signals relative to the at least one set point value for the one or more performance parameters based at least in part on the performance score evaluation parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an energy storage system are provided. In one embodiment, an energy storage system can include a plurality of energy storage units and a plurality of buses. The energy storage system can further include a control system that can be configured to receive one or more signals indicative of a voltage associated with each energy storage unit of the plurality of energy storage units. The control system can be configured to send one or more command signal to selectively couple each energy storage unit to one of the plurality of buses based at least on the voltage associated with the energy storage unit.