# US 2014/0150846 A1 · Photovoltaic system with managed output and method of managing variability of output from a photovoltaic system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150846 A1 - Document ID: US20140150846A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/135,287 - Filed: 2013-12-19 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-10 - Assignees: SunPower Corporation - Inventors: Greg Beardsworth; Matt Campbell; Steven M. Kraft; Jason C. Jones - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150846A1 ## CPC - H02S 40/00: Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00 - F24S 50/20: for tracking - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - H02S 50/10: Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells (testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing {H10P74/00}) - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Photovoltaic systems with managed output and methods for managing variability of output from photovoltaic systems are described. A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules configured to receive and convert solar energy. The system also includes a sensor configured to determine an orientation for each of the plurality of photovoltaic modules, the orientations based on a maximum output from the photovoltaic system. The system also includes an orientation system configured to alter the orientation of one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic modules to provide a reduced output from the photovoltaic system, the reduced output less than the maximum output. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A photovoltaic system, comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic modules configured to receive and convert solar energy; a sensor configured to determine an orientation of at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; and an orientation system configured to alter the orientation of one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules to provide an altered output from the photovoltaic system based, at least in part, on a prediction of output of the photovoltaic system and on an acceptable power plant ramp rate of a power plant associated with the photovoltaic system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system of claim 2, wherein the altered output is a reduced output, and wherein the acceptable power plant ramp rate is a ramp-up rate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system of claim 2, wherein the altered output is an increased output, and wherein the acceptable power plant ramp rate is a ramp-down rate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system of claim 2, wherein the altered output is a reduced output, and wherein the orientation system is configured to alter the orientation of the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules by tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules away from a direct solar energy pathway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The photovoltaic system of claim 5, wherein an output from the sensor is usable to determine how many modules to tilt away from a maximum collection positioning, and to what extent to the tilting should be performed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The photovoltaic system of claim 5, wherein the orientation system comprises one or more solar tracker devices supporting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules, and wherein tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules away from the direct solar energy pathway comprises changing the positioning of the one or more solar tracker devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system of claim 2, wherein the altered output is an increased output, and wherein the orientation system is configured to alter the orientation of the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules by tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules toward a direct solar energy pathway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic system of claim 8, wherein the orientation system comprises one or more solar tracker devices supporting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules, and wherein tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules toward the direct solar energy pathway comprises changing the positioning of the one or more solar tracker devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic system of claim 2, wherein a maximum output from the photovoltaic system is greater than a capacity of the power plant, wherein the altered output is a reduced output, and wherein the reduced output is less than or equal to the capacity of the power plant. ### Claim 11 A method for managing variability of output from a photovoltaic system, the method comprising: determining an orientation for each of a plurality of photovoltaic modules; and altering the orientation of one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules to provide an altered output from the photovoltaic system, the altered output based, at least in part, on a prediction of output of the photovoltaic system and on an acceptable power plant ramp rate of a power plant associated with the photovoltaic system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the altered output is a reduced output, wherein the acceptable power plant ramp rate of the power plant is a ramp-up rate, and wherein altering the orientation of the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules comprises tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules away from a direct solar energy pathway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules away from the direct solar energy pathway comprises changing the positioning of one or more solar tracker devices supporting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the altered output is an increased output, wherein the acceptable power plant ramp rate of the power plant is a ramp-down rate, and wherein altering the orientation of the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules comprises tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules toward a direct solar energy pathway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules toward the direct solar energy pathway comprises changing the positioning of one or more solar tracker devices supporting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules. ### Claim 16 A photovoltaic system, comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic modules configured to receive and convert solar energy; a sensor configured to determine an orientation of at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; an orientation system configured to alter the orientation of one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules to provide an altered output from the photovoltaic system based, at least in part, on a prediction of output of the photovoltaic system and on an acceptable power plant ramp rate of a power plant associated with the photovoltaic system; and a command center configured to send a signal to the orientation system to perform the altering of the orientation of the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The photovoltaic system of claim 16, wherein the altered output is a reduced output, and wherein the acceptable power plant ramp rate is a ramp-up rate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The photovoltaic system of claim 16, wherein the altered output is an increased output, and wherein the acceptable power plant ramp rate is a ramp-down rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The photovoltaic system of claim 16, wherein the altered output is a reduced output, and wherein the orientation system is configured to alter the orientation of the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules by tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules away from a direct solar energy pathway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The photovoltaic system of claim 19, wherein an output from the sensor is usable to determine how many modules to tilt away from a maximum collection positioning, and to what extent to the tilting should be performed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The photovoltaic system of claim 16, wherein the altered output is an increased output, and wherein the orientation system is configured to alter the orientation of the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules by tilting the one or more modules of the plurality of photovoltaic modules toward a direct solar energy pathway.