Photovoltaic system power output control with retained reserve power output

Abstract

A photovoltaic power station includes, for example, a plurality of solar panels at a first location, the plurality of solar panels operable to provide a maximum power output, a controller operable to supply, from the plurality of solar panels, a predetermined power output less than the maximum power output to an electrical grid, and wherein the photovoltaic power station is operable to maintain, from the plurality of solar panels, a reserve power output to provide the reserve power output to the electrical grid, the reserve power output being the difference between the maximum power output and the predetermined power output.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a processor at a first location, a future estimation of maximum power output from a plurality of solar panels; and   forwarding, by a processor at a first location, the future estimation of maximum power output from the plurality of solar panels to an electrical utility at a second location remote from the first location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor at the first location, a first request from the electrical utility for a predetermined future supply of power output to the electrical grid less than the future estimation of maximum power output so as to maintain a reserve power output operable to provide the reserve power output to the electrical grid. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor at the first location, a second request from the electrical utility for a supply of power output to the electrical grid comprising at least a portion of the reserve power output. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the determining comprises determining the future estimation of maximum power output based on irradiance, temperature, and a coefficient at the first location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the determining comprises determining the future estimation of maximum power output based on a sensor for use in measuring spectral radiation, an imager for use in imaging the sky, and a shadowband movably positionable over the sensor and the spaced apart imager. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor at a second location, a future estimation of maximum power output from a photovoltaic power station disposed at a first location remote from the second location; and   forwarding, by the processor from the second location, a first request to the photovoltaic power station at the first location a predetermined future supply of power output to an electrical grid less than the future estimation of maximum power output so as to maintain an estimated future reserve power output from the photovoltaic power station.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 receiving the requested supply of power output to the electrical grid; and 
 distributing the requested supply of power output to a plurality of consumers. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 forwarding, by the processor from the second location, a second request to the photovoltaic power station at the first location for at least a portion of the estimated future reserve power output. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 receiving the requested at least the portion of the estimated future reserve power output to the electrical grid; and 
 distributing the requested at least the portion of the estimated future reserve power output to the plurality of consumers. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the receiving comprises receiving, by the processor at the second location, the future estimation of maximum power output from the photovoltaic power station based on, at the first remote location, irradiance, temperature, and a coefficient. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the receiving comprises receiving, by the processor at the second location, the future estimation of maximum power output from the photovoltaic power station based on, at the remote first location, a sensor for use in measuring spectral radiation, an imager for use in imaging the sky, and a shadowband movably positionable over the sensor and the spaced apart imager. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 obtaining a spectral radiation measurement of the sky;   obtaining an image of the sky based on the obtained spectral radiation measurement; and   calibrating an imager based on the obtained spectral radiation measurement.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 blocking a portion of the sky while obtaining the spectral radiation measurement and the image of the sky. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the blocking comprises moving a shadowband.