A predictive power control system includes a battery configured to store and discharge electric power, a battery power inverter configured to control an amount of the electric power stored or discharged from the battery, and a controller. The controller is configured to predict a power output of a photovoltaic field and use the predicted power output of the photovoltaic field to determine a setpoint for the battery power inverter.

A control system for a solar power plant includes: plural power conditioning systems performing grid connection control of transmission of electrical power generated by a solar power generator to a power grid; and a supervisory controller which issues a target output command to each power conditioning system so that interconnection point electrical power, electrical power fed to the power grid, becomes equal to or smaller than an upper limit output value. The supervisory controller: receives an urgent request including information related to a time of day at which the upper limit output value is scheduled to be changed and the scheduled upper limit output value; and calculates a target value of the interconnection point electrical power for each time of day so that the interconnection point electrical power conforms to the scheduled upper limit output value by the scheduled time of day.

A control system for a solar power plant includes: plural power conditioning systems performing grid connection control of transmission of electrical power generated by a solar power generator to a power grid; and a supervisory controller which issues a target output command to each power conditioning system so that interconnection point electrical power, electrical power fed to the power grid, becomes equal to or smaller than an upper limit output value. The supervisory controller: receives an urgent request including information related to a time of day at which the upper limit output value is scheduled to be changed and the scheduled upper limit output value; and calculates a target value of the interconnection point electrical power for each time of day so that the interconnection point electrical power conforms to the scheduled upper limit output value by the scheduled time of day.

A method and apparatus for start-up of a voltage source converter (VSC) which is connected to an energized DC link (DC+, DC−). The VSC is connected to a first AC network via a first transformer and an AC isolation switch, the AC isolation switch being coupled between the first transformer and the AC network. The method involves using an auxiliary AC power supply to generate an AC supply to energize the first transformer with the AC isolation switch open. The VSC is then started, with a VSC controller using the AC supply generated by the auxiliary AC power supply as a reference for controlling the VSC. The auxiliary AC power supply may also be used to supply power to at least one VSC load, such as the controller and/or an auxiliary load such as a cooling system. Once the VSC is started the isolation switch 204 can be closed.

We describe a power conditioning unit with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for a dc power source, in particular a photovoltaic panel. A power injection control block has a sense input coupled to an energy storage capacitor on a dc link and controls a dc-to-ac converter to control the injected mains power. The power injection control block tracks the maximum power point by measuring a signal on the dc link which depends on the power drawn from the dc power source, and thus there is no need to measure the dc voltage and current from the dc source. In embodiments the signal is a ripple voltage level and the power injection control block controls an amplitude of an ac current output such that an amount of power transferred to the grid mains is dependent on an amplitude of a sinusoidal voltage component on the energy storage capacitor.

A control system includes memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions. The processor is configured to receive a first indication of a power grid voltage, receive a second indication of a power grid phase angle, receive a third indication of a generator voltage of power provided by a generator, and receive a fourth indication of a generator phase angle of power provided by the generator. The processor is configured to determine a voltage gap between the generator voltage and the power grid voltage and a time difference between the generator phase angle and the power grid phase angle. The processor is configured to generate a signal to cause the generator voltage and the generator phase angle to synchronize with the power grid voltage and the power grid phase angle, respectively.

A control system includes memory storing instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions. The processor is configured to receive a first indication of a power grid voltage, receive a second indication of a power grid phase angle, receive a third indication of a generator voltage of power provided by a generator, and receive a fourth indication of a generator phase angle of power provided by the generator. The processor is configured to determine a voltage gap between the generator voltage and the power grid voltage and a time difference between the generator phase angle and the power grid phase angle. The processor is configured to generate a signal to cause the generator voltage and the generator phase angle to synchronize with the power grid voltage and the power grid phase angle, respectively.

A method performed in an electrical microgrid for facilitating connection of a first and second AC power networks. The method includes, when the power networks are disconnected, from the second power network, controlling the AC frequency of the first power network based on the AC frequency of the second power network for ensuring that when the first and second networks are connected power will flow from the power network of the first and second power networks having a higher frequency to the power network of the first and second power networks having a lower frequency. The method also includes, after the controlling, connecting the first power network to the second power network, whereby power, at the instant of connecting, flows from the power network of the first and second power networks having a higher frequency to the power network of the first and second power networks having a lower frequency.

A method performed in an electrical microgrid for facilitating connection of a first and second AC power networks. The method includes, when the power networks are disconnected, from the second power network, controlling the AC frequency of the first power network based on the AC frequency of the second power network for ensuring that when the first and second networks are connected power will flow from the power network of the first and second power networks having a higher frequency to the power network of the first and second power networks having a lower frequency. The method also includes, after the controlling, connecting the first power network to the second power network, whereby power, at the instant of connecting, flows from the power network of the first and second power networks having a higher frequency to the power network of the first and second power networks having a lower frequency.

A method and associated control device for synchronizing a turbine with an alternating current network having a network frequency, having the following steps: A) accelerating the turbine up to a frequency in the range of the network frequency; B) sensing an angle difference between the turbine and the alternating current network; C) sensing a speed difference between the turbine and the alternating current network; D) accelerating or decelerating the turbine such that the turbine follows a desired trajectory, wherein the desired trajectory is a trajectory calculated in advance that indicates, in dependence on the angle difference, a desired speed difference that should be present such that a target angular position between the turbine and the alternating current network suitable for synchronous feed-in is achieved when the speed of the turbine and the speed of the alternating current network correspond.