Real time sequential rule-based dispatch of multi-commodity hybrid power plants

The growing popularity of co-locating different renewable energy sources (RES), known as a hybrid power plant (HPP), enables further decarbonization of the electrical system. Provided that dispatch schedules are imprecise and based on forecasts, real-time re-dispatch is required when the schedule does not align with the actual conditions to fully benefit from HPP flexibility. This article investigates the control of a multi-commodity HPP comprising an offshore wind power plant (WPP) hybridized onshore with a solar power plant (SPP), a battery energy storage system (BESS), and a Power-to-X (P2X) electrolyzer. A novel, sequential, real-time, rule-based dispatch algorithm is proposed for the hybrid power plant controller to align forecasted market schedules with the actual production of individual assets. The proposed methodology continuously adjusts and redistributes the assets’ set-points, enabling the integration of P2X technologies, bi-directional power flows at the point of connection (POC), and frequency service commitments. The dispatch algorithm considers real operating conditions and limitations. Simulation-based validation demonstrates the algorithms’ ability to operate HPP in various scenarios, including changing priorities, variable generation, and edge cases (e.g., unmet demand or necessary power curtailment), while maintaining flexibility in individual assets like BESS.