Methods, systems and agreements for increasing the likelihood of repayments under a financing agreement for renewable energy equipment

• US 9,031,874 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spruce IP Properties LLC (Spruce Power Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Clean Power Finance, Inc. (Spruce Power Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Kremen, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisberger, Richard C
• Application Number:
  US12/730,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20100223180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45, 705/412, 700/286, 700/745
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

A system is provided for increasing the probability of timely receiving payment under an agreement between a consumer and a non-utility entity for providing financing for renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) by the consumer for power generation at a consumer premises, the renewable energy CPE adapted to deliver power onto a power grid or to the consumer'"'"'s premises, the system comprising: a computer for monitoring consumer financial information for by the non-utility entity to detect the consumer'"'"'s financing default in accordance with the agreement, wherein the renewable energy CPE including a PV array and a control device coupled to the PV array for controlling the operation of the PV array and any power generated by the CPE upon a default detected by the computer.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the delivery of power generated by renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) at a consumer premises, the renewable energy CPE adapted to deliver power onto the consumer premises and a power grid, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a computer, payments required to be made by a consumer under a financing agreement between a non-utility entity and the consumer for the renewable energy CPE located at the consumer premises; and

upon detecting the default of the agreement, communicating, by a computer, a control signal to a shut off control device coupled with the renewable energy CPE that controls power delivery from the renewable energy CPE to prevent power from flowing from the renewable energy CPE to the consumer premises; and

in response to receiving the control signal, controlling, via the shut off control device, the operation of the renewable energy CPE by preventing power being generated by the renewable energy CPE from being used by the consumer premises.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a financial instrument as the financing agreement.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein creating the financial instrument includes creating a power purchase agreement in which the consumer makes payments to the non-utility entity for power generated by the renewable energy CPE.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein creating the financial instrument includes creating the agreement in which the non-utility entity provides a loan to the consumer for the consumer'"'"'s purchase of the renewable energy CPE and the consumer makes payments to the non-utility entity for repayment of the loan for the renewable energy CPE.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising securing by the non-utility entity the financing based on the monetary value of the power generated by the renewable energy CPE under the agreement.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling includes shutting off a first portion of the consumer'"'"'s power that is generated by the renewable energy CPE.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling includes shutting off a second portion of the consumer'"'"'s power that is received from a power grid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling includes using an inverter within the renewable energy CPE for controlling the operation thereof.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein using the inverter includes shutting off power generated by the renewable energy CPE.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the controlling includes communicating wirelessly with the inverter to control the operation of the renewable energy CPE.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the controlling includes communicating with the inverter by a wired connection to control the operation of the renewable energy CPE.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the controlling includes using a microinverter or power optimizer within the renewable energy CPE for controlling the operation thereof.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a default by the consumer under the agreement by failing to make a payment by a due date.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a default by the consumer under the agreement by failing to pay real property taxes for the consumer'"'"'s premises upon which the renewable energy CPE is disposed.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a default by the consumer under the agreement by failing to maintain a right of way to access the renewable energy CPE.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a default by the consumer under the agreement by failing to maintain insurance for the renewable energy CPE.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving the control signal, controlling, via the shut off control device, the operation of the renewable energy CPE by diverting the power being generated by the renewable energy CPE from the consumer premises to the power grid.