Method and system for improving the efficiency and reliability of a power grid
First Claim
1. A method for increasing efficiency and conserving energy in a power grid comprising steps of:
- selecting an electrical energy provider offering electrical energy for sale through the power grid at a plurality of rates including at least a first rate and a generally lower second rate;
selecting a residential facility being provided with electrical energy by the electrical energy provider, the residential facility including a plurality of separate dwelling units and having an electrical service wherein each dwelling unit has a separate electric meter for metering the electrical energy delivered to the unit, the metered electrical energy being charged by the electrical energy provider to a plurality of separate ratepayers at the first rate;
collecting electrical energy usage and demand data by monitoring electrical energy usage and demand for each separate dwelling unit;
determining a peak demand for the residential facility using the collected electrical energy usage and demand data;
altering the electrical service of the residential facility by installing a master electric meter for the residential facility, the master electric meter being operably connected so as to meter all electrical energy metered by the separate electric meters of the dwelling units, the electrical energy metered by the master electric meter being charged by the electrical energy provider to a third party at the second rate, generating a first stream of arbitrage revenue to the third party by charging the electrical energy metered by the separate electrical meters of the units to the plurality of separate ratepayers at a third rate higher than the second rate; and
using at least a portion of the first stream of arbitrage revenue to provide a generator system including a generator and a transfer switch, the generator having a peak capacity larger than the peak demand for the residential facility and being operably connected to the residential facility and the power grid through the transfer switch so that the generator is selectively switchable among a first mode wherein the generator is uncoupled from the residential facility and the power grid, a second mode wherein the generator is coupled to the residential facility and is not coupled to the power grid, and a third mode wherein the generator is coupled to the power grid and the residential facility.
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Abstract
A method for enabling more widespread use of distributed generation, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the power grid and infusing energy conservation opportunities into the rental residential sector. The method may include steps of purchasing energy from an electrical energy provider at a first rate, delivering the purchased energy to separate dwelling units in a residential facility, and generating a first stream of arbitrage revenue by charging the responsible ratepayers for the delivered energy at a second rate generally higher than the first rate. A least a portion of the first stream of arbitrage revenue is used to provide a generator system including a generator and a transfer switch. The generator is operably connected to the residential facility and the power grid through the transfer switch so that the generator is selectively switchable among a first mode wherein the generator is uncoupled from the residential facility and the power grid, a second mode wherein the generator is coupled to the residential facility and is not coupled to the power grid, and a third mode wherein the generator is coupled to the power grid and the residential facility.
124 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for increasing efficiency and conserving energy in a power grid comprising steps of:
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selecting an electrical energy provider offering electrical energy for sale through the power grid at a plurality of rates including at least a first rate and a generally lower second rate;
selecting a residential facility being provided with electrical energy by the electrical energy provider, the residential facility including a plurality of separate dwelling units and having an electrical service wherein each dwelling unit has a separate electric meter for metering the electrical energy delivered to the unit, the metered electrical energy being charged by the electrical energy provider to a plurality of separate ratepayers at the first rate;
collecting electrical energy usage and demand data by monitoring electrical energy usage and demand for each separate dwelling unit;
determining a peak demand for the residential facility using the collected electrical energy usage and demand data;
altering the electrical service of the residential facility by installing a master electric meter for the residential facility, the master electric meter being operably connected so as to meter all electrical energy metered by the separate electric meters of the dwelling units, the electrical energy metered by the master electric meter being charged by the electrical energy provider to a third party at the second rate, generating a first stream of arbitrage revenue to the third party by charging the electrical energy metered by the separate electrical meters of the units to the plurality of separate ratepayers at a third rate higher than the second rate; and
using at least a portion of the first stream of arbitrage revenue to provide a generator system including a generator and a transfer switch, the generator having a peak capacity larger than the peak demand for the residential facility and being operably connected to the residential facility and the power grid through the transfer switch so that the generator is selectively switchable among a first mode wherein the generator is uncoupled from the residential facility and the power grid, a second mode wherein the generator is coupled to the residential facility and is not coupled to the power grid, and a third mode wherein the generator is coupled to the power grid and the residential facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for increasing efficiency and conserving energy in a power grid using distributed generation in a residential facility including a plurality of separate dwelling units, each unit having a ratepayer associated therewith, the method comprising steps of:
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purchasing energy from an electrical energy provider at a first rate;
delivering the purchased energy to the separate dwelling units;
generating a first stream of arbitrage revenue by charging the ratepayers for the delivered energy at a second rate generally higher than the first rate;
using at least a portion of the first stream of arbitrage revenue to provide a generator system including a generator and a transfer switch, the generator being operably connected to the residential facility and the power grid through the transfer switch so that the generator is selectively switchable among a first mode wherein the generator is uncoupled from the residential facility and the power grid, a second mode wherein the generator is coupled to the residential facility and is not coupled to the power grid, and a third mode wherein the generator is coupled to the power grid and the residential facility. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of concurrently improving the efficiency and reliability of a power grid comprising steps of:
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purchasing energy from an electrical energy provider at a first rate;
delivering the purchased energy to the separate dwelling units;
generating a stream of arbitrage revenue by charging the ratepayers for the delivered energy at a second rate generally higher than the first rate;
using at least a portion of the stream of arbitrage revenue to provide means for generating and delivering electrical energy, the means for generating electrical energy selectively switchable between at least a first mode wherein electrical energy is delivered from the means for generating and delivering electrical energy to the residential facility and not the power grid, and a second mode wherein electrical energy is delivered from the means for generating and delivering electrical energy to both the residential facility and the power grid.
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Specification