Electricite de France has filed a patent for a method to control a virtual power plant connected to the power grid. The method involves a centralized controller supplying power adjustment setpoints to a battery and hydroelectric power plants, based on measurements of total power and frequency. The setpoints are intended to compensate for variations in power and align with a management strategy for the battery. GlobalData’s report on Electricite de France gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Electricite de France, Battery management systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. Electricite de France's grant share as of September 2023 was 64%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method for controlling a virtual power plant with battery and hydroelectric power plants
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230299589A1) describes a method for controlling a virtual electric power plant connected to the power grid. The virtual power plant consists of at least one battery and a set of hydroelectric power plants, each controlled by a local controller. The method involves obtaining measurements of the total power produced by the hydroelectric power plants and the frequency of the power grid at a given time. Based on these measurements, a battery power adjustment setpoint is calculated to modify the control of the battery and compensate for variations in the total power. Additionally, power adjustment setpoints are supplied to the local controllers of the hydroelectric power plants to cause variations in their power production according to a management strategy for the battery.
The patent also includes additional features such as obtaining the power-frequency characteristic of the virtual power plant based on an estimate of the available primary frequency reserve. The power adjustment setpoints for the hydroelectric power plants can be calculated using predefined criteria related to the frequency measurement. These criteria may involve comparing the frequency measurement to a nominal frequency value and a predefined threshold. Furthermore, individualized measurements of power produced by each hydroelectric power plant can be obtained and used to calculate the total power produced by the set of hydroelectric power plants. The power adjustment setpoints for the hydroelectric power plants can be calculated relative to a base power, which is determined based on the history of time-stamped individualized power measurements and previously supplied power adjustment setpoints.
The patent also mentions that each hydroelectric power plant in the virtual power plant has its own primary frequency reserve. The power adjustment setpoints for the hydroelectric power plants are calculated according to a predefined order of priority for utilizing these primary frequency reserves. Additionally, the method involves obtaining a measurement of the battery's state of charge, and the battery power setpoint is calculated based on this measurement to maintain or return the state of charge within a predefined range.
The patent further includes a centralized controller configured to control the virtual power plant and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for executing the control. These embodiments of the invention involve the same steps as described above, including obtaining measurements of the total power produced by the hydroelectric power plants and the frequency of the power grid, calculating the battery power setpoint, and supplying power adjustment setpoints to the hydroelectric power plant controllers.
Overall, this patent presents a method and system for effectively controlling a virtual power plant consisting of batteries and hydroelectric power plants, ensuring optimal power production and grid stability.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
