SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO MANAGE AND CONTROL RENEWABLE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
First Claim
1. A method to manage and control solar power generation systems, the method comprising:
- receiving first digital data associated with electrical energy generated by a solar power generator associated with a facility, wherein the first digital data is received in accordance with a first protocol, and further wherein the first digital data is received at a first rate of at least once per minute;
receiving second digital data from a smart meter or one or more submeters associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data provides an indication of electrical energy associated with at least a portion of the facility, wherein the second digital data is received in accordance with a second protocol, and further wherein the second digital data is received at a second rate of at least once per minute;
receiving weather-related data and grid-related data over a wide area network, wherein the weather-related data and the grid-related data are received in accordance with a third protocol; and
providing, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, the weather-related data, and the grid-related data, a control signal to control an inverter that is operationally coupled to the solar power generator, wherein the control signal is provided at a third rate of at least once per minute.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for analyzing energy usage measures one or more parameters indicative of energy usage for a plurality of sub-circuits, where the sampling rate for the measuring is substantially continuous, and automatically transmits information related to at least one of the measured parameters at a rate that enables monitoring of current energy usage. The system further detects a significant change in a measured parameter, determines whether the significant change in the measured parameter is caused by a change in energy usage, and automatically transmits information related to the significant change in the measured parameter caused by the change in energy usage after detecting the significant change.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method to manage and control solar power generation systems, the method comprising:
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receiving first digital data associated with electrical energy generated by a solar power generator associated with a facility, wherein the first digital data is received in accordance with a first protocol, and further wherein the first digital data is received at a first rate of at least once per minute; receiving second digital data from a smart meter or one or more submeters associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data provides an indication of electrical energy associated with at least a portion of the facility, wherein the second digital data is received in accordance with a second protocol, and further wherein the second digital data is received at a second rate of at least once per minute; receiving weather-related data and grid-related data over a wide area network, wherein the weather-related data and the grid-related data are received in accordance with a third protocol; and providing, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, the weather-related data, and the grid-related data, a control signal to control an inverter that is operationally coupled to the solar power generator, wherein the control signal is provided at a third rate of at least once per minute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus to manage and control solar power generation systems, the apparatus comprising:
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a first input/output (I/O) module configured to receive first digital data associated with electrical energy generated by a solar power generator associated with a facility, wherein the first digital data is received in accordance with a first protocol, and further wherein the first digital data is received at a first rate of at least once per minute; a second I/O module configured to receive second digital data from a smart meter or one or more submeters associated with the facility, wherein the second digital data provides an indication of electrical energy associated with at least a portion of the facility, wherein the second digital data is received in accordance with a second protocol, and further wherein the second digital data is received at a second rate of at least once per minute; a communication port configured to receive weather-related data and grid-related data over a wide area network, wherein the weather-related data and the grid-related data are received in accordance with a third protocol; and a third I/O module configured to provide, based at least in part on the first digital data, the second digital data, the weather-related data, and the grid-related data, a control signal to control an inverter that is operationally coupled to the solar power generator, wherein the control signal is provided at a third rate of at least once per minute. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification