Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing energy elasticity services via distributed virtual batteries are provided herein.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining sensor placement and a reward sharing mechanism based on shared energy forecasting information are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes processing multiple data streams derived from multiple respective energy-related sensors within a network, wherein each of the multiple energy-related sensors is linked to a respective one of multiple spatially distributed prosumers of the network; computing an expected utility, with respect to forecast accuracy of energy production within the network, of information captured by each of the multiple energy-related sensors based on said processing; determining a reward structure for each of the prosumers of the network based on the expected utility of the information captured by the energy-related sensors linked to each of the prosumers; and outputting a reward to each of the prosumers of the network in accordance with the determined reward structure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for operating re-configurable solar energy generators for increasing yield during non-ideal weather conditions are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes determining, for each of multiple portions of the sky, by using one or more machine learning algorithms, a respective level of diffuse irradiance corresponding to image data from that portion; identifying one or more portions of the image data corresponding to the multiple portions of sky image data that include a higher level of diffuse irradiance, as compared to other portions of the image data; and configuring one or more solar photovoltaic modules based at least in part on the one or more identified portions of image data that include a higher level of diffuse irradiance.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for user-preference driven control of electrical and thermal output from a photonic energy device are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes automatically modulating an amount of thermal output and/or electrical power output generated by a solar photovoltaic module in response to an input of one or more user preferences by: adjusting at least one variable pertaining to a fluid positioned on the solar photovoltaic module based on the one or more user preferences; and adjusting at least one variable pertaining to one or more reflective surfaces physically connected to the solar photovoltaic module based on the one or more user preferences.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for user-preference driven control of electrical and thermal output from a photonic energy device are provided herein. A system includes a solar photovoltaic module, and a fluid positioned on the solar photovoltaic module. The system also includes configurable reflective surfaces that collect and distribute direct solar and diffuse solar radiation across multiple portions of the fluid and/or portions of the solar photovoltaic module. Additionally, the reflective surfaces is physically connected to the solar photovoltaic module at an angle that is variable in relation to the surface of the solar photovoltaic module. Further, the system includes a controller that modulates an amount of thermal output and/or electrical power output generated by the solar photovoltaic module by transmitting a signal to adjust at least one variable pertaining to the fluid, and transmitting a signal to adjust at least one variable pertaining to the reflective surfaces.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for tunable photonic harvesting for solar energy conversion and dynamic shading tolerance are provided herein. A method includes determining one or more of multiple portions of a solar photovoltaic module that are underperforming in relation to separate portions of the solar photovoltaic module; configuring multiple reflective surfaces to produce a given configuration of the multiple reflective surfaces in relation to a surface of the solar photovoltaic module based on said determining; collecting (i) direct solar radiation and (ii) diffuse solar radiation incident on a plurality of the multiple reflective surfaces; and distributing (i) the collected direct solar radiation and (ii) the collected diffuse solar radiation across the multiple portions of the solar photovoltaic module in a targeted manner based on the given configuration of the multiple reflective surfaces to offset the underperforming portions of the solar photovoltaic module by a given amount.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided herein in connection with IoT-enabled solar PV health monitoring and advising related thereto.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for tunable photonic harvesting for solar energy conversion and dynamic shading tolerance are provided herein.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for tunable photonic harvesting for solar energy conversion and dynamic shading tolerance are provided herein. An apparatus includes a solar photovoltaic module; a sensor device operative to determine portions of the solar photovoltaic module that are underperforming in relation to separate portions; reflective surfaces of a first type, each physically connected to the solar photovoltaic module at a given angle in relation to the surface of the solar photovoltaic module; and reflective surfaces of a second type, each physically connected to a respective one of the reflective surfaces of the first type; wherein the reflective surfaces of the first type and second type are configurable based on a determination of the underperforming portions of the solar photovoltaic module to collect and distributed direct solar radiation and diffuse solar radiation across the solar photovoltaic module to offset the underperforming portions by a given amount.

Abstract: Techniques for detailed monitoring and evaluation of individual subsystems within solar photovoltaic power generation systems are provided. In one aspect, a method for monitoring a photovoltaic system having at least one array of photovoltaic panels and at least one inverter system configured to convert output from the panels from DC to AC includes the steps of: obtaining sensor data from the photovoltaic system; computing an efficiency of the panels and an efficiency of the inverter system using the sensor data; computing an aging parameter for the panels using the efficiency of the panels; computing an aging parameter for the inverter system using the efficiency of the inverter system; determining whether the aging parameter for the panels or for the inverter system exceeds a predetermined threshold level; and taking action if either the aging parameter for the array or for the inverter system exceeds the predetermined threshold level.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving photovoltaic output from a solar module, the solar module comprising a plurality of solar panels electronically connected together by a plurality of strings, wherein the photovoltaic output corresponding to any given one of the strings is limited by the lowest performing solar panel in said given one of the strings; determining a reflection profile for the solar module, wherein the reflection profile describes an illumination pattern of light incident onto the solar module; and increasing, based upon the determined reflection profile, the photovoltaic output of the solar module to match a requested photovoltaic output, wherein the increasing comprises electrically reassigning one or more solar panels within the solar module from one string to a different string, such that each string electrically ties together solar panels that produce a photovoltaic output within a predetermined range of each other.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: executing, using at least one processor, computer readable program code to: identify a plurality of possibilities at the disposal of a data center for changing its energy demand in its role as a consumer of energy, wherein each of the possibilities is associated with: a time interval during which change in energy consumption of the data center is to take place; and an amount of energy to be drawn, during the time interval, by the data center from an electric provider through a connection to a power grid; wherein the plurality of possibilities are different from each other; proactively determine, based on the identified plurality of possibilities, the ability of the data center to change its energy consumption, thereby changing the amount of energy drawn by the data center from the energy provider; and communicate, to a remote device that is in direct communication with an energy supplier, data indicating the ability of the data center to change its energy consumpti

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving configuration input for a solar structure; the configuration input comprising (i) a geographical location, (ii) module configuration input, and (iii) reflector configuration input; identifying the position of the sun; determining an angle between the solar reflector and the solar module corresponding to a predetermined power gain for the solar module, wherein the determining comprises (i) identifying the corresponding area of the solar module that is illuminated by the solar reflector and (ii) totaling the contributions from each of the solar reflectors to calculate an irradiance for each solar cell; adjusting the angles of at least some of the solar reflectors with respect to the solar module to angles determined to correspond to the predetermined power gain using at least one actuator; and dynamically changing how the solar cells are electrically connected together to form a plurality of strings.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method including: prior to an initial period of operation of an appliance, storing in memory a first set of characteristics of the appliance; during an initial period of operation of the appliance, learning a second set of characteristics of the appliance; during subsequent operation of the appliance: detecting an adverse operating condition of the appliance; and based on the first set of characteristics, the second set of characteristics and the detected adverse operating condition, determining a corrective action to be taken with regard to the appliance, the corrective action comprising at least one of: switching off the appliance and warning a user of the detected adverse operating condition. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system for incentivizing travel patterns to reduce traffic congestion includes a negotiator that receives a travel template from a traveler, transmits a set of journey options to the traveler, receives a journey selected from the journey options, and sends a journey contract to the traveler based on the selected journey, a journey generator that determines the set of journey options based on the travel template, the traveler's historical behavior, and current network conditions, a rewards engine that calculates the reward associated with each journey option based on a reduction in cost for the journey, a location arbitrator that receives location information from the traveler as the travelers performs the journey in the journey contract, and a verification engine that verifies, whether the traveler's journey complied the terms of the journey contract, and determines the traveler's reward as calculated by the rewards engine based on a degree of compliance with the contract.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: determining a light profile of light falling onto a solar module, wherein the light profile identifies (i) a position of the light with respect to the solar module and (ii) the intensity of the light with respect to solar panels within the solar module; identifying at least one solar panel within the solar module having partial light coverage; and changing the light profile by shaping the reflection of the light onto the solar module created by a flexible curved reflector in proximity to the solar module, thereby increasing the amount of light falling onto said at least one solar panel within the solar module; the changing the light profile comprising modifying the geometry of the flexible curved reflector by activating at least one actuator to move at least a portion of the flexible curved reflector.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving photovoltaic output from a solar module, the solar module comprising a plurality of solar panels electronically connected together by a plurality of strings, wherein the photovoltaic output corresponding to any given one of the strings is limited by the lowest performing solar panel in said given one of the strings; determining a reflection profile for the solar module, wherein the reflection profile describes an illumination pattern of light incident onto the solar module; and increasing, based upon the determined reflection profile, the photovoltaic output of the solar module to match a requested photovoltaic output, wherein the increasing comprises electrically reassigning one or more solar panels within the solar module from one string to a different string, such that each string electrically ties together solar panels that produce a photovoltaic output within a predetermined range of each other.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: capturing at least one image of an object that is of interest to a user; identifying and capturing an environmental context of the object, wherein the environmental context (i) identifies a plurality of features of the environment surrounding the object, and (ii) comprises context captured from different modalities; storing the at least one image and the environmental context of the object, wherein the storing comprises indexing the object within the remote storage location using the identified features of the environment; receiving a request for the at least one image of the object; accessing the remote storage location and retrieving the at least one image of the object, wherein the retrieving comprises (i) searching for the at least one of the plurality of features and (ii) retrieving the at least one image of an object; and displaying the at least one image.

Abstract: A power adjusting circuit includes a sensor configured to measure a voltage and a current of the first AC output by an inverter, an AC/DC/AC converter configured to receive the first AC output from the inverter, and a controller configured to convert the first AC output to a second AC output having a desired power factor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for cloud coverage estimation by dynamic scheduling of a distributed set of cameras are provided herein.