Patent ID: 8452461

Claim:
A control system for a photovoltaic (“PV”) power plant, said PV power plant including a plurality of power generation sites containing plant devices used to provide electrical power to an electrical grid, said control system comprising: a plant-level control system for controlling plant control functions of said PV power plant by providing instructions to said plurality of power generation sites; a supervisory system configured to perform monitoring and data acquisition functions related to said plant devices and to provide commands for plant control functions to said plant-level control system; a communications network providing communications among said plant devices, said plant-level control system, and said supervisory system; and a monitoring and communication device at a respective one of said power generation sites and interfaced with said plant devices at said power generation site, wherein said monitoring and communication device is configured to: collect measured direct-current (“DC”) power characteristics of plant devices and interconnections in a DC region of said respective power generation site, the DC region being between and including the plant devices and an input to a DC to AC inverter; and collect measured alternating-current (“AC”) power characteristics of plant devices and interconnections in an AC region of said respective power generation site, the AC region being between and including an output of a DC to AC inverter and an input to the electrical grid.