System and method for controlling a hybrid energy facility having multiple power sources
A method for automatically controlling a renewable energy facility having a plurality of power sources includes operating, via a farm-level controller, the hybrid renewable energy facility at a first farm-level power set point. The method also includes modifying, via the farm-level controller, the first power set point to a second farm-level power set point. In response to modifying the first power set point to the second farm-level power set point, the method includes generating one or more power change requests for individual controllers of the plurality of power sources. Further, the method includes generating a power output via the plurality of power sources so as to transfer power generation from one of the plurality of power sources to another while minimizing the impact on farm-level production.
1. A method for automatically controlling a renewable energy facility having a plurality of power sources, the method comprising:
operating, via a farm-level controller, the hybrid renewable energy facility at a first farm-level power set point;
modifying, via the farm-level controller, the first power set point to a second farm-level power set point;
in response to modifying the first power set point to the second farm-level power set point, generating one or more power change requests for individual controllers of the plurality of power sources;
generating a power output via the plurality of power sources so as to transfer power generation from one of the plurality of power sources to another to reach and maintain the second farm-level power set point, wherein generating a power output via the plurality of power sources further comprises:
generating a power output via a first power source of the plurality of power sources, the first power source having a first response rate; and,
after the power output reaches the second farm-level power set point, generating at least a portion of the power output via a second power source of the plurality of power sources, the second power source having a second response rate that is less than the first response rate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, as the second power source begins to generate at least the portion of the power output, the first power source reduces an equivalent amount of power generated thereby.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising reducing the amount of power generated by the first power source to zero during a transition period after the power output reaches the second farm-level power set point.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the hybrid renewable energy facility via a closed loop architecture.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the power output via the first power source and then generating at least portion of the power output via the second power source after the power output reaches the second power set point further comprises:
determining, via the farm-level controller, first and second power set points for the first and second power sources of the plurality of power sources based on the second farm-level power set point and a power feedback signal from the plurality of power sources; and,
operating the first and second power sources based on the first and second power set points.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining the first and second power set points for the first and second power sources based on the second farm-level power set point, the power feedback signal from the plurality of power sources, and a plurality of additional inputs relating to each of the plurality of power sources.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of additional inputs relating to each of the plurality of power sources comprise at least one of a desired power, an actual power, a maximum available power, a minimum available power, a priority of each of the plurality of power sources, and/or whether farm control is enabled or disabled.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising prioritizing the power change requests to accommodate potential conflicts by determining which power source will operate when there are conflicting power set points.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, via the farm-level controller, the power change requests for the plurality of power sources by:
receiving, from the individual controllers, individual power set points for the plurality of power sources;
determining a delta between each the individual power set points and an actual power of each the plurality power sources, respectively; and,
determining the power change requests for the plurality of power sources as a function of the delta.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the power change requests for the plurality power sources as a function of the delta further comprises determining whether the delta is positive or negative by applying a gain and/or a limiter to the delta.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein prioritizing the power change requests to accommodate potential conflicts further comprises:
identifying, via the farm-level controller, a capacity of one or more of the plurality of power sources to accept the power change requests; and,
assigning each of the power change requests to an power source from the plurality of power sources in priority order.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second power sources comprise at least two of the following: a solar panel, an energy storage device, or a wind turbine, the renewable energy facility comprising at least one of a wind farm, a solar farm, or an energy storage system.