Hourly base operation schedule for Hourly Control of PV and Battery Operation in ElectricLoadCenter Objects::PVWatts, distribution, and NCM LiIon batteries

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Hello EnergyPlus users and developers,

I hope this message finds you well.

I am currently working on configuring the ElectricLoadCenter:Distribution, ElectricLoadCenter:Storage:LiIonNMCBattery, and ElectricLoadCenter:Generators:PVWatts objects, and I have a specific question regarding control based strictly on the hour of the day.

As per the Input Output Reference, the available Generator Operation Scheme Types under ElectricLoadCenter:Distribution include: Baseload, DemandLimit, TrackElectrical, TrackSchedule, TrackMeter, FollowThermal, and FollowThermalLimitElectrical. However, these modes appear to be fundamentally based on load demand—either electrical or thermal—and not time-based scheduling.

My objective is to exert time-dependent control over the electricity generated by PVs such that:

• During certain hours, PV-generated electricity charges the battery only,
• During other hours, PV generation is directed exclusively to meet the building’s demand,
• During certain hours, batteries discharges
• And at specific times, PV generation should not contribute to the building's electrical load at all.

Is there a mechanism in EnergyPlus that allows such fine-grained, hourly control over on-site PV generation and its distribution between battery storage and building load?

Despite consulting the Input Output Reference, I have not found an explicit method to implement a time-based schedule for PV operation within the current object definitions.

I would sincerely appreciate any guidance or suggestions you may have to address this challenge.

Sincerely, Behnam Mohseni Gharyehsafa Maynooth, Ireland