REAL-TIME PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT CONTROL SYSTEM

A real-time photovoltaic power plant control system and method of control for plant output, voltage regulation and/or power factor regulation. The system comprises a grid interface controller configured to receive power information from a power grid and provide commands for controlling at least one active or reactive power supplied to the power grid, a power plant controller configured to receive commands from the grid interface controller for and direct real-time output of the power plant, a plurality of local controllers connected to and controlled by the power plant controller, and a plurality of inverters each connected to supply power from at least one photovoltaic device to the power grid and arranged such that each local controller is connected to and controls at least one inverter, the inverters reporting status information in real-time back to the local controllers, and the local controller reporting status information in real-time back to the power plant controller.