Hierarchical control of utility-scale, inverter-based generation of electric power

A method for power plant management, comprising:

• determining, at a first control layer, an inverter maximum power potential for each inverter of a first set of inverters, the first control layer integrated into each inverter of the first set of inverters, the first set of inverters associated with a first controller of a second control layer;
• determining, at the first controller of the second control layer, an initial combined power output associated with the first set of inverters, the initial combined power output based at least in part on the inverter maximum power potential for each inverter of the first set of inverters;
• determining, at the first controller of the second control layer, a power support level, the power support level based at least in part on comparing the initial combined power output and a requested power generation level;
• transmitting, from the first controller of the second control layer to a third control layer, an indication of the power support level;
• determining, at the third control layer, a first net power request for the first controller of the second control layer based at least in part on the indicated power support level;
• and
• transmitting, from the third control layer to the first controller of the second control layer, an indication of the first net power request.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, if executed at a processor, cause a computer system to perform a method for power plant management, the method comprising:

• determining, at a first control layer, an inverter maximum power potential for each inverter of a first set of inverters, the first control layer integrated into each inverter of the first set of inverters, the first set of inverters associated with a first controller of a second control layer;
• determining, at the first controller of the second control layer, an initial combined power output associated with the first set of inverters, the initial combined power output based at least in part on the inverter maximum power potential for each inverter of the first set of inverters;
• determining, at the first controller of the second control layer, a power support level, the power support level based at least in part on comparing the initial combined power output and a requested power generation level;
• transmitting, from the first controller of the second control layer to a third control layer, an indication of the power support level;
• determining, at the third control layer, a first net power request for the first controller of the second control layer based at least in part on the indicated power support level;
• and
• transmitting, from the third control layer to the first controller of the second control layer, an indication of the first net power request.