Patent Publication Number: US-2021194408-A1

Title: Method of operating a hybrid power plant to optimise pv power output

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a method of operating a hybrid power plant comprising wind turbine generators (WTGs) and PV modules that are affected by blade shadows, in which the WTGs are controlled in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wind/solar hybrid power plants include a combination of wind turbine generators (WTGs) and PV modules that are configured to supply power to an external power transmission network or grid. By including both WTGs and PV modules in a single power plant it is possible to increase the amount of renewable energy that can be generated by the power plant, and provide more reliable power generation across a range of operating conditions. However, when PV modules are located close to WTGs in a hybrid power plant the PV modules may be affected by shadows cast by the WTGs, including static shadows cast by the WTG towers and moving or flickering shadows cast by the blades of the WTG rotors. 
     WTG shadows cast on PV modules result in several disadvantages. For example, tower shadows and blade shadows may reduce the amount of light falling on the PV modules and therefore reduce total PV power output. In addition, moving blade shadows may also result in sub-optimal functioning of the PV modules&#39; Maximum Power Point Tracking systems, thereby reducing total PV power output further. In addition, uneven loading of the PV modules due to different shading conditions at different locations caused by the tower shadows and blade shadows can also lead to accelerated degradation of the PV modules. 
     One solution to these problems is to place the PV modules in locations that are not affected by WTG shadows. However, this solution generally requires a reduction in the number of PV modules in the power plant and/or an increase in the area of the power plant. 
     It is an object of the present invention to address the disadvantages of known wind/solar hybrid power plants. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a hybrid power plant comprising at least one WTG and at least one PV module, wherein at least one of the PV modules is at a location within the hybrid power plant that is affected by blade shadows, the method comprising: monitoring at least one operating parameter for one or more of the WTGs; monitoring at least one operating parameter for one or more of the PV modules; and controlling operation of the WTGs in dependence on the monitored operating parameters in order to control blade shadows cast by the WTGs on the PV modules and thereby optimise the power output of the PV modules. 
     By taking the effects of the blade shadows cast by the WTGs on the PV modules into account when controlling operation of the WTGs it is possible to increase the power output of the PV modules to an optimum extent, for example by reducing the blade shadow area on the PV modules, while also minimising WTG production loss. The present invention therefore allows the combined power output of the hybrid power plant (including WTG power output and PV power output) to be increased across a broad range of operating conditions compared to the combined power output that would be achieved if the WTGs were controlled to optimise and/or maximise WTG power output in a conventional manner without taking into account the effects of blade shadows on the power output of the PV modules. 
     It will be appreciated that all references throughout the specification to reductions in blade shadow area and increases in combined power output or PV power output are references to reductions in blade shadow area and increases in combined power output or PV power output compared to a situation in which the WTGs are controlled to optimise and/or maximise WTG power output in a conventional manner without taking into account the effects of blade shadows on the power output of the PV modules. 
     It will also be appreciated that controlling operation of the WTGs in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules does not necessarily mean that the WTGs are controlled in such a manner that the blade shadow area on the PV modules is reduced to the minimum possible level so that the power output from the PV modules can be increased to the highest possible level, which would generally require the WTGs to be stopped or operated in a highly compromised manner that would generally lead to a reduction in combined power output. Instead it means that the WTGs, where appropriate, are operated in such a manner that the negative effect of the blade shadows on the PV modules is reduced such that the power output of the PV modules can be increased to an optimum level while still maintaining an acceptable power output from the WTGs, thereby allowing the combined power output of the hybrid power plant to be optimised and/or maximised. 
     The hybrid power plant may generally include any number of WTGs in any suitable positions. The hybrid power plant may also include any number of PV modules in any suitable positions, including at locations around and/or between any one or more of the WTGs. As described above, at least one of the PV modules is at a location that is affected by blade shadows. It will be appreciated that a location that is affected by blade shadows means any location within the hybrid power plant that experiences shadow flicker caused by the blades of at least one of the WTGs during at least a portion of the day. 
     Each PV module may comprise one or more PV cells, which may be connected to each other in series or in parallel. In some cases each PV module may comprise a single, self-contained unit of PV cells. In other cases each PV module may be formed by a plurality of separate units, which may be connected to each other in series or in parallel. Accordingly the term “PV module” should not be construed as being limiting on the number of PV cells or the manner in which the PV cells are connected. 
     The monitored operating parameters for the WTGs used in controlling operation of the WTGs may include any one or more of: wind speed, direction and/or turbulence at one or more locations; the power output of one or more of the WTGs; blade load at one or more of the WTGs; cable losses for one or more of the WTGs; and the operational status of one or more of the WTGs (for example whether a WTG is currently functional or off-line). In some embodiments noise constraints on WTG operation may also be taken into account when controlling operation of the WTGs in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules. 
     The monitored operating parameters for the PV modules used in controlling operation of the WTGs may include any one or more of light conditions (for example solar irradiance) at one or more locations inside the hybrid power plant; light conditions (for example solar irradiance) at one or more reference locations outside the influence of WTG shadows; sun position; time; date; the power output of one or more of the PV modules; current or voltage of one or more of the PV modules; cable losses for one or more of the PV modules; and the operational status of one or more of the PV modules (for example whether a PV string is currently functional or off-line). It will be appreciated that operating parameters for the PV modules may be monitored at a string, table or segment level instead of being monitored for each PV module individually. 
     The WTGs may be controlled in dependence on the output of a shadow tracking system that is configured to determine the blade shadow cast by the rotor of one or more of the WTGs. The shadow tracking system may be configured to measure, calculate and/or predict the blade shadow cast by the rotor of one or more of the WTGs using an algorithm or look up table, for example in dependence on any one or more of the layout of the hybrid power plant, operational data for one or more of the WTGs (including yaw angle and/or pitch angle), measured light conditions, sun position, time and date. The shadow tracking system may be an on-line system that is configured to determine blade shadows in dependence on measured light conditions in combination with operational data related to the WTGs. However, the shadow tracking system may alternatively or in addition be capable of determining blade shadows without access to measured light conditions in dependence on the time and date or sun position in combination with operational data related to the WTGs. 
     The WTGs may be controlled in dependence on a hybrid power plant level shadow evaluation. It will be appreciated that a hybrid power plant level shadow evaluation means an evaluation of the distribution of shadows cast by the WTGs on the PV modules across the hybrid power plant as a whole. 
     The WTGs may be controlled in dependence on the layout of the hybrid power plant. For example, the WTGs may be controlled in dependence on the positions of the PV modules relative to the WTGs in order to take account of different PV module arrangements around different WTGs. Information related to the layout of the hybrid power plant, for example a model of the hybrid power plant, may be stored in a database, for example a database of a power plant controller. The information related to the layout of the hybrid power plant may include the locations and dimensions of the WTGs and the PV modules. The locations of the PV modules may be defined with respect to the hybrid power plant, or alternatively with respect to one or more of the WTGs. 
     The WTGs may be controlled individually and/or in groups in order to take account of different operating conditions at different WTGs and/or the positions of nearby PV modules relative to each WTG. However, in some cases the same control strategy may be applied to each WTG in the hybrid power plant in order to simplify control of the hybrid power plant. 
     The step of controlling operation of the WTGs may comprise determining whether or not performing a particular WTG control operation would increase or decrease the combined WTG and PV power output of the hybrid power plant, and performing the WTG control operation if it is determined that doing so would increase the combined WTG and PV power output of the hybrid power plant. The WTG control operation may, for example, comprise changing the nacelle yaw angle and/or the blade pitch angle for one or more of the WTGs and/or stopping one or more of the WTGs in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules by reducing the shadow area cast on the PV modules by the rotors of the one or more WTGs. 
     The step of controlling operation of the WTGs may comprise determining a predicted increase in PV power output and a predicted decrease in WTG power output associated with performing a particular WTG control operation, comparing the predicted increase in PV power output to the predicted decrease in WTG power output, and performing the WTG control operation if the predicted increase in PV power output is greater than the predicted decrease in WTG power output. 
     The step of controlling operation of the WTGs may comprise controlling the nacelle yaw angle of one or more of the WTGs in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules. 
     The step of controlling operation of the WTGs may comprise controlling the blade pitch angle of one or more of the WTGs in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules. 
     The nacelle yaw angle set point(s) and/or the blade pitch angle set point(s) may be calculated by a power plant controller. In this case the calculated set point(s) may be communicated from the power plant controller to controllers of the WTGs, which may then control operation of the WTGs in dependence on the set point(s) received from the power plant controller. It will be appreciated that the power plant controller is a control system that is provided in addition to the individual WTG controllers that is configured to govern the operation of the WTGs (and optionally also the PV modules); and that the power plant controller may be provided at any suitable location or locations within and/or outside the hybrid power plant. 
     Alternatively, or in addition, the nacelle yaw angle set point(s) and/or the blade pitch angle set point(s) may be calculated by WTG controllers of the respective WTGs. In some cases each WTG may be provided with its own dedicated controller, which may be configured to calculate a nacelle yaw angle set point and a blade pitch angle set point for that WTG, although in some cases two or more WTGs may share a common WTG controller, which may be configured to calculate nacelle yaw angle set point(s) and/or the blade pitch angle set point(s) for each of the WTGs associated with that WTG controller. 
     The step of controlling operation of the WTGs may comprise stopping one or more of the WTGs in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules. 
     The step of controlling operation of the WTGs may comprise moving one or more WTGs that have been stopped (for example because the wind speed is below the cut-in speed or because it has been determined that the combined power output of the hybrid power plant would be increased by stopping one or more of the WTGs) into a configuration in which the blade shadow cast by that WTG on nearby PV modules is reduced and/or minimised. The minimum shadow configuration may be calculated in dependence on any one or more of WTG location, WTG dimensions, sun position, time, date, and may be set individually for each WTG taking into account the relative positions of nearby PV modules. 
     The method may further comprise detecting incoming wind and setting one or more WTGs that have been stopped for cut in in dependence on the detection of incoming wind. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a controller configured to control operation of a hybrid power plant in accordance with the method of the first aspect of the present invention. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program downloadable from a communications network and/or stored on a machine readable storage medium comprising program code instructions for implementing a method in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention. 
     Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a simplified view of a portion of a hybrid power plant in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a wind turbine generator of the hybrid power plant illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  schematically illustrates the control system and the power generation/converter system of the wind turbine generator illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a simplified view of a portion of a hybrid power plant (HPP)  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The HPP  1  is connected to an external power transmission network or main grid  100 . The main grid  100  may be a regional, national or international power transmission network, for example the National Grid of Great Britain. 
     The HPP  1  comprises a plurality of wind turbine generators (WTGs)  10  and a plurality of segment  51  of PV modules  50 . Each of the WTGs  10  and PV modules  50  is connected to a local grid  2  of the HPP  1  and configured to generate active power to be supplied via the local grid  2  to the main grid  100  for distribution. The local grid  2  is connected to the main grid  100  at a point of interconnection (Pol)  4  via a main step-up transformer  5  and a Pol bus  6 . 
     For simplicity,  FIG. 1  only illustrates a single WTG  10  and a single PV segment  51 , both of which are connected to a single collector bus  3  of the local grid  2 . However, it will be appreciated that the HPP  1  may include any desired number of WTGs  10  and any desired number of PV segments  51 , and that the local grid  2  may include any suitable number of collector buses in any suitable arrangement. For example, the HPP  1  may include a plurality of collector buses connected to one or more intermediate voltage buses. 
       FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a typical one of the WTGs  10  of the HPP  1 . The WTG illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a horizontal axis WTG comprising a tower  11 , a nacelle  12 , and a rotor  13  including a hub  14  and three blades  15 . The following description relates to the WTG  10  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , but it will be appreciated that the other WTGs  10  of the HPP  1  may have the same or similar features and be connected to the local grid  2  of the HPP  1  in a similar manner. 
       FIG. 3  schematically illustrates the control system and the power generation/converter system of the WTG  10  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , which may be located partially or entirely within the nacelle  12  of the WTG  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the WTG  10  comprises an electrical generator  20  that is driven by the rotor  13  via a transmission  21 , which may optionally include a gearbox. The electrical generator  20  is connected to a WTG converter  22  that is configured to convert the output frequency of the electrical generator to a frequency that is suitable for supplying to the main grid  100 . The WTG converter  22  comprises a generator-side AC-DC converter  22   a , a DC link  22   b  including a smoothing capacitor and a chopper system for dissipating excess power, and a grid-side DC-AC converter  22   c . The WTG converter  22  is connected to the collector bus  3  by a WTG feeder line  25  via which active power is fed into the local grid  2 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 3 , the WTG  10  further comprises a nacelle yaw angle control system  35  and a blade pitch angle control system  36 . The yaw angle control system  35  includes at least one actuator that is configured to control the yaw angle of the nacelle  12  of the WTG  10  by rotating the nacelle  12  with respect to the tower  11 . The pitch angle control system  36  comprises at least one actuator that is configured to control the pitch angles of the blades  15  of the WTG  10 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 3 , the WTG  10  comprises a WTG controller  30  that is in communication with a power plant controller (PPC)  7  of the HPP  1 . The WTG controller is configured to monitor and control operation of the WTG  10  in accordance with instructions received from the PPC  7 . In the present embodiment each WTG  10  is provided with its own dedicated WTG controller  30 , although it will be appreciated that in other embodiments two or more WTGs  10  may share a common, semi-centralised WTG controller, in which case there may be fewer WTG controllers  30  than WTGs  10 . 
     The WTG controller  30  is in communication with the WTG converter  22  and configured to control operation of the AC-DC converter  22   a , the smoothing capacitor and chopper system  22   b , and the grid-side DC-AC converter  22   c . The WTG controller  30  is also in communication with the yaw angle control system  35  and the pitch angle control system  36 , and is configured to operate the yaw angle control system  35  and the pitch angle control system  36  in order to control the nacelle yaw angle and the blade pitch angle of the WTG  10  in accordance with yaw angle and pitch angle set points, which may be calculated by the WTG controller  30  or alternatively received from the PPC  7  (as described in more detail below). 
     As mentioned above,  FIG. 1  only illustrates a single PV segment  51 , although the HPP  1  may include any desired number of PV segments  51 . The following description relates to the PV segment  51  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , but it will be appreciated that the other PV segments  51  of the HPP  1  may have the same or similar features and be connected to the local grid  2  of the HPP  1  in a similar manner. 
     The PV segment  51  comprises a plurality of PV tables. Each PV table comprises a support structure to which a plurality of PV units or modules  50  are mounted. Each PV module  50  in turn comprises a plurality of PV cells. The PV modules  50  are arranged in strings, each of which is connected to a PV converter  52   a ,  52   b  that is configured to convert the DC output of its respective string(s) to AC with a frequency that is suitable for supplying to the main grid  100 . The PV converters  52   a ,  52   b  are connected to the collector bus  3  by PV feeder lines  55   a ,  55   b  via which active power is fed into the local grid  2 . 
     The PV converters  52   a ,  52   b  are in communication with the PPC  7  and configured to monitor and control operation of the PV modules  50  in accordance with instructions received from the PPC  7 . The PV converters  52   a ,  52   b  may be configured to control operation of the PV modules  50  using a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. The PV converters  52   a ,  52   b  are provided separately to the WTG converters  22  and operated independently of the WTG converters, although in some cases some power conversion and transmission hardware may be shared between the PV modules  50  and the WTGs  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the PV segment  51  is located close to the WTG  10  in a position that is affected by shadows cast by the WTG  10 , including blade shadows. The PV modules  50  of the PV segment  51  are therefore affected by shadow flicker during at least a portion of the day, which may generally result in reduced PV power output and accelerated degradation compared to PV modules that are not affected by shadow flicker. 
     As mentioned above, the HPP  1  comprises a power plant controller (PPC)  7  that is in communication with the controllers of the WTGs  10  and the PV modules  50 . The PPC  7  is configured to act as a command and control interface between the HPP  1  and the main grid  100 , and more particularly between the HPP  1  and a grid operator or transmission system operator (TSO)  101 . The PPC  7  comprises a memory module  7   a  and a processing module  7   b . The memory module  7   a  is configured to store information related to the HPP  1 , including a model of the layout of the HPP  1  that includes the locations and dimensions of the WTGs  10  and the locations of the PV modules  50  relative to the WTGs  10 . The memory module  7   a  is also configured to store instructions for governing operation of the HPP  1 . The processing module  7   b  is configured to control operation of the WTGs  10  and the PV segments  51  in accordance with instructions stored by the memory module  7   b  and instructions received from the TSO  101  either directly or via SCADA in order to ensure that the HPP  1  operates correctly and in compliance with operating requirements of the main grid  100 . 
     The PPC  7  is connected to the HPP  1  at various points of measurement, at which various operating parameters such as power output, current and voltage may be measured for different portions of the HPP  1 . For example, the PPC  7  is connected to WTG points of measurement  26  in the feeder lines  25  of each WTG  10 , at which the PPC  7  is able to monitor the power output of each of the WTGs  10 . The PPC  7  is also connected to PV points of measurement  56   a ,  56   b  in the feeder lines  55   a ,  55   b  of the PV modules, at which the PPC  7  is able to monitor the output of the PV modules (for example at the string level). The PPC  7  is also connected to a HPP point of measurement  8  at or close to the Pol bus  6 , at which the PPC is able to monitor the power output of the HPP  1  as a whole. It will be appreciated that the above-mentioned connections may be physical wired connections or alternatively wireless connections between the PPC  7  and appropriately positioned sensors. 
     The PPC  7  is also connected to various light sensors  9   a .  9   b  for sensing light conditions at various different locations around the HPP  1 . For example, the PPC  7  is connected to at least one reference light sensor  9   a  for sensing light conditions at one or more reference locations outside the influence of WTG shadows, and a plurality of HPP light sensors  9   b  at various locations among the PV modules that are affected by WTG shadows. 
     The PPC  7  is also configured to measure, calculate, estimate or receive information related to other operating parameters for the WTGs  10  and the PV modules  50 , including, for example: wind speed, direction and turbulence at one or more locations around the HPP  1 ; blade load at each of the WTGs; cable losses for each of the WTGs; operational status for each of the WTGs; noise constraints on WTG operation; sun position; time; date; current and voltage of the PV modules; cable losses for the PV modules; and the operational status of the PV modules. Cable losses may be measured directly, or alternatively calculated or estimated. The above-described operating parameters may be measured, calculated, estimated or received in any suitable manner, examples of which will be well known to the skilled person. The above-described operating parameters are all used in controlling operation of the HPP  1 , as described in more detail below. 
     In accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, the PPC  7  is configured to operate a shadow tracking system  7   c  that is able to determine the blade shadows cast by the rotors  13  of the WTGs  10  on the PV modules  50  across the HPP  1  as a whole. The shadow tracking system  7   c  is configured to calculate the current positions of the blade shadows cast by the rotors  13  of the WTGs  10  using the power plant model (including the locations and dimensions of the WTGs  10  and the locations of the PV modules  50  relative to the WTGs  10 ) and in dependence on various operating parameters for the WTGs  10  and the PV modules  50  including: operational data for the WTGs (including the current nacelle yaw angle and blade pitch angle for each WTG); measured light conditions (as determined by the light sensors  9   a ,  9   b ); sun position; time; and date. The shadow tracking system  7   c  is an on-line system that is configured to determine blade shadows in dependence in real-time measurements of the light conditions within the HPP  1 , although the shadow tracking system  7   c  may additionally be capable of determining blade shadows without access to light condition measurements based on the time, date and sun position data. 
     The PPC  7  is further configured to operate an optimisation program  7   d  that is able to calculate or predict WTG and PV power output for various different operating states of the HPP  1 . The optimisation program  7   d  is configured to calculate or predict the WTG and PV power output in dependence on the output of the shadow tracking mechanism and further in dependence on various operating parameters for the WTGs  10  and the PV modules  50  including: wind speed, direction and turbulence within the HPP  1 ; power output for each of the WTGs; blade load at each of the WTGs; cable losses for each of the WTGs; operational status for each of the WTGs; noise constraints on WTG operation; sun position; time; date; power output of the PV modules; current and voltage of the PV modules; cable losses for the PV modules; and the operational status of the PV modules. The optimisation program is able to determine the expected WTG production loss and the expected PV production gain associated with a particular WTG control operation, and to determine an acceptable WTG production loss, for example based on the expected PV production gain. 
     During operation of the WGs  10 , the WTG controllers  30  calculate nacelle yaw angle set points and blade pitch angle set points for their respective WTGs  10  in dependence on the measured wind conditions, measured blade loads and demand signals received from the PPC  7 . In this way the WTG controllers  30  ensure that the WTGs  10  generate enough active and reactive power, and are not subjected to excessive loads. However, in accordance with the present invention, the HPP  1  is also configured to take account of the effect of blade shadows cast by the WTGs  10  on the PV modules  50  when controlling operation of the WGs  10 , and to control operation of the WTGs  10  in order to control blade shadows cast by the WTGs  10  on the PV modules  50  and thereby optimise the power output of the PV modules  50 . 
     In particular, the PPC  7  is able to determine whether or not performing a particular control operation, for example changing the nacelle yaw angle and/or the blade pitch angle for one or more of the WTGs  10  or stopping one or more of the WTGs  10 , would result in an increase in the combined WTG and PV power output of the HPP  1  based on the outputs of the shadow tracking system  7   c  and the optimisation program  7   d . The PPC  7  can then send instructions to one or more of the WTGs  10  to perform a specified control operation if it is determined that it is appropriate to do so and that doing so would increase the combined WTG and PV power output of the HPP  1 . The WTG controllers of the respective WTGs  10  then control operation of the WTGs  10  in real time dependence on the instructions received from the PPC  7 . In this way the WTGs  10  may be operated in such a way that the blade shadow area cast on the PV modules and the negative effects of shadow flicker are reduced, for example in cases where the loss in WTG power output associated with operating one or more WTGs  10  in a compromised mode of operation can be outweighed be an associated increase in PV power output. 
     The WTGs  10  may be controlled individually or in groups in order to take account of the different operating conditions such as wind strength and direction at different locations within the HPP  1 , and the positions of nearby PV modules  50  relative to each WTG  10 . 
     Where one or more of the WTGs  10  has been stopped, for example because the wind speed is below the cut-in speed or because it has been determined that the combined power output of the HPP  1  would be increased by stopping one or more of the WTGs  10 , the inactive WTGs  10  may be moved into a minimum shadow configuration in which the nacelle is yawed and the blades are pitched into a configuration that results in the minimum possible blade shadow area being cast on nearby PV modules  50 . However, inactive WTGs  10  may be set for cut-in if incoming wind is detected, for example by a LIDAR scanning system  9   c.    
     The free converter capacity of idling or de-rated WTGs  10  can be used for providing reactive power. Meanwhile the reactive power contribution of the PV converters  52   a ,  52   b  or other WTG converters  22  can be reduced to optimise hardware utilisation and distribution losses within the HPP  1 . 
     The above description relates to one possible embodiment of the present invention. However, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations to the above-described example are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in other embodiments different combinations of known, measured or calculated operating parameters for the WTGs and the PV modules may be used in determining the positions of the blade shadows cast by the rotors of the WTGs and/or in controlling operation of the WTGs in order to optimise the power output of the PV modules. In addition, in other embodiments the nacelle yaw angle set points and the blade pitch angle set points for the WTGs may be calculated by the PPC instead of the WTG controllers. In addition, in other embodiments it may be the WTG controllers instead of the PPC that are configured to determine when WTG control operations should be performed for optimising the power output of the PV modules. In this case the WTG controllers may each be configured to determine the position of the blade shadow cast by the rotor of its respective WTG, and to determine whether or not performing a particular control operation for that WTG would result in an increase in the combined WTG and PV power output of the HPP. Other variations and modifications will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.