An offshore oil and gas platform has a power supply system with a cascaded arrangement for a black start. The power supply system includes a first power supply apparatus for providing power at a first energy level, an uninterruptible power supply arrangement configured to receive power from the first power supply apparatus, wherein the uninterruptible power supply is for powering at least one essential and/or safety critical component, and a second power supply apparatus for providing power at a second energy level to a main power distribution system, wherein the second energy level is higher than the first energy level, wherein the second power supply apparatus includes a power source and a high-power energy storage system capable of supplying power at the second energy level, and wherein the second power supply apparatus can receive and store energy from the first power supply apparatus.

A microgrid controller includes a database in communication with a processor. The processor is operable to receive at least one microgrid input, to determine a first plurality of optimal power characteristic levels at a corresponding one of a plurality of first time intervals for a first time period, and to determine a second plurality of optimal power characteristic levels of a device determined at a corresponding one of a plurality of second time intervals for a second time period. The first time intervals are found at a first frequency different than a second frequency of the second time intervals. One of the second plurality of optimal power characteristic level corresponds to one of the first plurality of optimal power characteristic levels at each first time interval. The processor is configured to control a device optimal power characteristic level in response to the second plurality of optimal power characteristic levels.

A method of power transfer control among a plurality of power sources coupled through a distribution system. The method comprises determining, at each power source of the plurality of power sources, an assignment of priorities for each of the plurality of power sources. The method also comprises obtaining, at each power source, information indicating an availability of each of the plurality of power sources and determining a set of available power sources, and identifying, at each power source, a preferred power source and a standby power source from the plurality of power sources. The method further comprises determining to change the preferred power source from a first power source to a second power source in response to detecting a condition, and conducting the power transfer.

A method and apparatus is described for providing energy system status information. A status indication device may be mounted near an entry door for determining when an individual is about to leave an area. When the status indication device determines that an individual is about to leave an area, it displays an energy status to the individual, so that the individual can decide whether to place energy-consuming devices in a conservation mode of operation.

Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a method includes charging an electric resource over a power connection to an electric network, obtaining a unique identifier of a device over the power connection, and determining an electric network location of the electric resource from the unique identifier.

A method and apparatus is described for providing energy system status information. A status indication device may be mounted near an entry door for determining when an individual is about to leave an area. When the status indication device determines that an individual is about to leave an area, it displays an energy status to the individual, so that the individual can decide whether to place energy-consuming devices in a conservation mode of operation.

A method of power transfer control among a plurality of power sources coupled through a distribution system. The method comprises determining, at each power source of the plurality of power sources, an assignment of priorities for each of the plurality of power sources. The method also comprises obtaining, at each power source, information indicating an availability of each of the plurality of power sources and determining a set of available power sources, and identifying, at each power source, a preferred power source and a standby power source from the plurality of power sources. The method further comprises determining to change the preferred power source from a first power source to a second power source in response to detecting a condition, and conducting the power transfer.

A method and apparatus is described for providing energy system status information. A status indication device may be mounted near an entry door for determining when an individual is about to leave an area. When the status indication device determines that an individual is about to leave an area, it displays an energy status to the individual, so that the individual can decide whether to place energy-consuming devices in a conservation mode of operation.

A modular power distribution system and method therefor. The system includes a core module in addition to first and second modules. The modules each have a wired communication interface coupled to a communication network. The first module sends a first signal to the second module via network and in turn the second module alters an electrical output thereof to control an electrical device based on the first signal. The core module monitors the network for the first signal and determines a state of the electrical output of the second module by comparing the first signal to a ruleset. Based on the first signal and the ruleset, the core module communicates a second signal representative of the determined state to the computing device via a wireless communication interface.

A method and apparatus is described for providing energy system status information. A status indication device may be mounted near an entry door for determining when an individual is about to leave an area. When the status indication device determines that an individual is about to leave an area, it displays an energy status to the individual, so that the individual can decide whether to place energy-consuming devices in a conservation mode of operation.