Control system for a power plant

A method of controlling a power plant, the power plant comprising a wind turbine and at least one solar power generator, the method comprising:

• receiving an input signal indicative of an operating parameter of the at least one solar power generator;
• monitoring the operating parameter to detect a shadow at least partially shading the solar power generator, the detected shadow being caused by a blade of the wind turbine;
• predicting at least one subsequent blade shadow in dependence on the detected blade shadow, determining a command signal for controlling the at least one solar power generator in dependence on the blade shadow prediction;
• and
• outputting the command signal to the solar power generator, and
• wherein the command signal comprises a power point tracking value that is determined based on the blade shadow prediction and is output to a power point tracking algorithm that uses the power point tracking value to proactively control the solar power generator.

A power plant comprising a wind turbine, at least one solar power generator and a controller for controlling the operation of the power plant;

• the controller, comprising:
• an input arranged to receive an input signal indicative of an operating parameter of the solar power generator;
• a shadow detection module arranged to monitor the operating parameter and to detect a shadow at least partially shading the solar power generator, the detected shadow being caused by a blade of the wind turbine;
• a shadow prediction module arranged to predict at least one subsequent blade shadow in dependence on the detected blade shadow;
• a command module arranged to determine a command signal for controlling the solar power generator based on the blade shadow prediction;
• and
• an output arranged to output the command signal to the solar power generator, and
• wherein the command signal comprises a power point tracking value that is determined based on the blade shadow prediction and is output to a power point tracking algorithm that uses the power point tracking value to proactively control the solar power generator.