A system includes an electrical apparatus configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of an electrical power distribution network; and a control system including more than one electronic processor, where the electronic processors are configured to cause the control system to interact with the electrical apparatus, an interaction between the control system and the electrical apparatus including one or more of the control system providing information to the electrical apparatus and the control system receiving information from the electrical apparatus, and if some of the electronic processors are unable to cause the control system to interact with the electrical apparatus, at least one of the other electronic processors is able to cause the control system to interact with the apparatus.

Systems and methods for efficient power conversion in a power supply in a power distribution system are disclosed. In particular, a low frequency transformer having high conversion efficiency is coupled to an input from a power grid. An output from the transformer is rectified and then converted by a power factor correction (PFC) converter before passing the power to the distributed elements of the power distribution system. By placing the transformer in front of the PFC converter, overall efficiency may be improved by operating at lower frequencies while preserving a desired power factor and providing a desired voltage level. The size and cost of the cabinet containing the power conversion circuitry is minimized, and operating expenses are also reduced as less waste energy is generated.

A power management server includes a receiver configured to receive an adjustment message for adjusting a supply-demand balance of a power system; a management unit configured to manage two or more apparatuses; a controller configured to determine individual adjusted power amounts each adjusted by a respective one of the two or more apparatuses and start timings at each of which a respective one of the two or more apparatuses starts power adjustment so that a total adjusted power amount requested via the adjustment message is adjusted; and a transmitter configured to transmit a control message including an information element specifying the individual adjusted power amounts and the start timings. The controller determines the start timings that are different from each other and each of which is for a respective one of the two or more apparatuses.

A system is provided having one or more charging stations that are electrically coupled with a power distribution grid and that may selectively couple with one or more energy storage devices; and a controller that may control transfer of electric power between the one or more charging stations, the one or more energy storage devices, and the power distribution grid. The controller may determine the amount of electric power transferred based at least in part on one or both of an assessment value.

A controller circuit for a PV module includes a receiver circuit and a mode control and power conversion circuit. The receiver circuit receives a first signal from a transmitter circuit associated with the PV module. The receiver circuit changes a second signal from a first state to a second state based the first signal. The mode control and power conversion circuit receives a DC string voltage from a string of PV cells associated with the PV module, receives the second signal from the receiver circuit, switches from a first mode to a second mode in response to the second signal being changed to the second state, converts the DC string voltage to a standby voltage in the second mode, and provides the standby voltage to DC power lines between the PV module and a DC-to-AC inverter in the second mode.

Systems for providing operating reserves to an electric power grid are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises at least one power consuming device, at least one controllable device, and a client device constructed and configured in network communication. The at least one controllable device is operably coupled to the at least one power consuming device. The at least one controllable device is operable to control a power flow from the electric power grid to the at least one power consuming device responsive to power control instructions from the client device. Each of the at least one power consuming device has an actual value of power reduced and/or to be reduced based on revenue grade metrology, and confirmed by measurement and verification. The actual value of power reduced and/or to be reduced is a curtailment value as supply equivalence and provides operating reserve for the electric power grid.

A system to manage power consumption from a grid includes a building switchgear; an independent system organization (ISO) meter coupled to the building switchgear, the ISO meter including a telemetry unit to communicate with an ISO; and an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to the building switchgear, wherein the ESS selectively provides power in response to a customer power demand to prevent a customer grid power consumption from spiking and peaking at grid imbalance highest cost on peak times.

A power generation system includes a power source that is configured to communicate with at least one of a downstream load or a downstream device by changing a voltage on a power bus between the power source and the at least one of the downstream load or the downstream device, while power source provides power on the power bus to the at least one of the downstream load or the downstream device.

A method and system are provided for controlling transfer switch operations in a power distribution system. The method and system involve monitoring an electrical parameter of an electrical signal from a first power source associated with supplying power to a load; determining whether the electrical parameter satisfies a parameter threshold; selecting to increment or decrement a count value in accordance with the determination; and responsive to determining that the count value satisfies a first count threshold, initiating a start signal to start operation of a second power source to supply power to the load. The electrical parameter can be voltage or frequency, or other parameter(s) from which a power quality of the electrical signal may be evaluated. The electrical signal can be a single or polyphase electrical signal.

An electrical power generating system for providing auxiliary or backup power to a load bus. The system may be used indoors, and generally includes a fuel cell unit comprising a first DC output, an electrical storage unit comprising a DC input coupled to the first DC output of the fuel cell, the electrical storage unit further comprising a second DC output. An inverter coupled to the second DC output receives power, the inverter comprising a first AC output. The system includes a contactor connected between the first AC output and an AC load bus. The AC load bus comprises an AC voltage, and a controller comprising inputs is adapted to sense a phase, a frequency, and a magnitude of the first AC output and the AC voltage and close the contactor when they substantially match.