System and method for controlling charge of an energy storage device from a renewable energy source

A system comprising:

• an energy storage device configured to store power from a renewable energy source;
• and
• a charge controller in communication with the energy storage device and configured to:
• determine an estimated energy production prediction for the renewable energy source from a present time to a target time, wherein the target time is a time by which the energy storage device is desired to reach a top of charge (TOC) energy level when being charged by the energy source;
• determine an available amount of energy for storage at the energy storage device if the energy storage device is charged from estimated energy production of the energy source at a first charge rate from the present time until the target time;
• compare the available amount of energy to an energy storage capacity of the energy storage device;
• control a present charge rate for the energy storage device to be the first charge rate when the available amount of energy is less than the energy storage capacity of the energy storage device;
• and
• control a present charge rate for the energy storage device to be a second charge rate when the available amount of energy is greater than the energy storage capacity of the energy storage device, wherein the second charge rate is less than the first charge rate.

A method for generating power, comprising:

• charging an energy storage device from an energy source;
• determining an estimated energy production prediction for the energy source from a present time to a target time, wherein the target time is a time by which the energy storage device is desired to reach a top of charge (TOC) energy level when being charged by the energy source;
• determining an available amount of energy for storage at the energy storage device if the energy storage device is charged from the estimated energy production of the energy source at a first charge rate from the present time until the target time;
• comparing the available amount of energy to an energy storage capacity of the energy storage device;
• controlling a present charge rate for the energy storage device to be the first charge rate when the available amount of energy is less than the energy storage capacity of the energy storage device;
• and
• controlling a present charge rate for the energy storage device to be a second charge rate when the available amount of energy is greater than the energy storage capacity of the energy storage device, wherein the second charge rate is less than the first charge rate.