An exemplary control unit may respond to electrical grid needs within a controlled environment agricultural system, which may include one or more power consuming and environment controlling systems. The control unit may identify criticality of and power consumption by the systems and may compare those with the current cost of power (capacity and energy). The control unit may analyze the cost of adjusting power to systems and the cost of powering those systems during a specified period of time. The analysis may account for the value of adjusting the electricity as well as tariffs and market mechanisms specific to the electricity market in a responsive manner. The cost of powering off or reducing power to those systems may be identified by considering the value of the associated crops, and the impact that the system has on the crops.

An exemplary control unit may respond to electrical grid needs within a controlled environment agricultural system, which may include one or more power consuming and environment controlling systems. The control unit may identify criticality of and power consumption by the systems and may compare those with the current cost of power (capacity and energy). The control unit may analyze the cost of adjusting power to systems and the cost of powering those systems during a specified period of time. The analysis may account for the value of adjusting the electricity as well as tariffs and market mechanisms specific to the electricity market in a responsive manner. The cost of powering off or reducing power to those systems may be identified by considering the value of the associated crops, and the impact that the system has on the crops.

An underwater data center system includes a data center positioned in a water environment, powered by one or more sustainable energy sources. One or more data center nodes are coupled to the data center or included in the data center. A controller is coupled to the one or more data center nodes. A housing member houses the data center node under water. The underwater data center is coupled to a sustainable energy source that provides energy to the underwater data center. One or more cables are coupled to the one or more data center nodes or the sustainable energy source. One or more cable monitoring devices detect a state of the one or more cables.

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.

An electrical power distribution network includes: a plurality of electrical power control apparatuses, each of which include one or more signal conversion components receiving electrical power in the form of a first signal and generating a corresponding second signal, a controller that controls operation of the signal conversion components, electrical power generation components acting as sources of electrical power to at least some of the electrical power control apparatuses, and electrical power consumption components acting as sinks of electrical power from at least some of the electrical power control apparatuses. The electrical power control apparatuses operate autonomously but are interconnected so that the electrical power control apparatuses collectively maintain the voltages and frequencies of electrical power signals flowing through the electrical power distribution network at target values to compensate for variations in the sinks and/or sources of electrical power.

An electrical power distribution network includes: a plurality of electrical power control apparatuses, each of which include one or more signal conversion components receiving electrical power in the form of a first signal and generating a corresponding second signal, a controller that controls operation of the signal conversion components, electrical power generation components acting as sources of electrical power to at least some of the electrical power control apparatuses, and electrical power consumption components acting as sinks of electrical power from at least some of the electrical power control apparatuses. The electrical power control apparatuses operate autonomously but are interconnected so that the electrical power control apparatuses collectively maintain the voltages and frequencies of electrical power signals flowing through the electrical power distribution network at target values to compensate for variations in the sinks and/or sources of electrical power.

A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a split-core transformer to harvest energy from the conductors. The monitoring devices can be configured to harvest energy from the AC power grid. In some embodiments, the monitoring devices are configured to draw a ratiometric current to maintain an output resistance that equals an input resistance. Methods of installing and using the monitoring devices are also provided.

A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a split-core transformer to harvest energy from the conductors. The monitoring devices can be configured to harvest energy from the AC power grid. In some embodiments, the monitoring devices are configured to draw a ratiometric current to maintain an output resistance that equals an input resistance. Methods of installing and using the monitoring devices are also provided.

A method for operating an electric island power network having a renewable energy generation plant, a conventional energy generation plant, an energy store, and an energy consumer, includes: defining first operating parameters for the network for when a frequency and/or voltage of the network is outside defined limits; operating the network using the first operating parameters causing the frequency and voltage of the network to both be within the defined limits; defining second operating parameters for the network after the expiration of a defined time span over which the frequency and voltage have remained within the defined limits, the second operating parameters being defined such that operating the network using the second operating parameters causes the network to operate cost-optimally. If verified that the second operating parameters ensure that the frequency and voltage remain within the defined limits, operation using the second operating parameters is maintained. Otherwise, it is discontinued.

A microgrid system includes first and second DC power sources electrically connected to respective first and second DC electrical power busses, a first uninterruptable power module electrically connected to the first DC electrical power bus and configured to be connected to an alternating current (AC) load, a second uninterruptable power module electrically connected to the second DC electrical power bus and configured to be connected to the AC load, a first bi-directional AC/DC inverter having a DC end and an AC end, where the first DC electrical power bus is connected to the DC end of the first bi-directional AC/DC inverter, a second bi-directional AC/DC inverter having DC and AC ends, where the second DC electrical power bus is connected to the DC end of the second bi-directional AC/DC inverter, and an AC electrical power bus electrically connected to the first and second bi-directional AC/DC inverters at their AC ends.