Method and device for controlling an energy-generating system which can be operated with a renewable energy source

A device for controlling an energy-generating system which can be operated with a renewable energy source, comprising:

• a prediction generator adapted to generate a prediction relating to an energy yield of the energy-generating system for a predefined prediction period and a predefined area using a learning system formed by a number n of neural networks each with an input vector and an output vector,
• wherein the output vector comprises one or more operating variables of the energy-generating system for a plurality of consecutive future times of the predefined prediction period, and
• wherein the input vector comprises one or more input variables influencing the operating variable or operating variables for one time from a plurality of times of a predefinable observation period,
• wherein each of the n neural networks comprises an artificial neural feed-forward network with a plurality of interconnected layers which comprise an input layer, a plurality of hidden layers and an output layer,
• wherein the input layer contains a number of input neurons to describe the input vectors,
• wherein a respective hidden layer contains a number of hidden neurons and wherein the output layer contains a number of output neurons to describe the output vectors,
• wherein the output layer comprises a plurality of output clusters corresponding to the plurality of hidden layers and in each case comprising one or more output neurons,
• wherein each output cluster describes the same output vector and is connected to a different hidden layer,
• wherein the input variables comprise at least three of the following data for the predefined observation time period and the predefined area:
• weather data,
• first image data of a cloud drift provided by a satellite,
• second image data of the cloud drift provided by a ground camera, and
• simulation data generated by a physical model for simulating the energy yield of the energy-generating system using the weather data, and
• a controller adapted to control the energy-generating system on the basis of the generated prediction in such a way that weather-related fluctuations in the energy yield of the energy-generating system are reduced.