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Computer implemented electrical energy hub management system and method

  • US 9,671,843 B2
  • Filed: 03/30/2012
  • Issued: 06/06/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented energy hub management system, comprising:

  • a micro energy hub configured to communicate with two or more energy components at a premises, the energy components comprising one or more of energy consuming components, one or more of energy generating components, and one or more of energy storing components, at least some of the energy components controllable by the micro energy hub;

    wherein the micro energy hub is configured to optimize the energy utilization from the customer'"'"'s point of view;

    an energy optimization engine having an energy component model for each energy component based on each energy component'"'"'s operating characteristics, the energy optimization engine adapted to receive at least one input from the two or more energy components, user optimization criteria to minimize one or more of cost, consumption, and carbon footprint, and an input from an external data source on any external energy utilization restrictions for the micro energy hub; and

    a macro energy hub embodied in a computing device and adapted to control two or more micro energy hubs, the macro energy hub adapted to aggregate energy management information from the two or more micro energy hubs;

    wherein the macro energy hub is configured to optimize the energy utilization from a utility point of view;

    wherein, in response to load and capacity information for an energy grid obtained from a central controller, and energy management information aggregated from the two or more micro energy hubs, the macro energy hub is adapted to dynamically manage and enforce specific rules for energy utilization by energy components connected to each micro energy hub by having two or more micro energy hubs issue one or more control signals to at least one of the energy components at the premises to optimize energy consumption, generation and storage;

    wherein at least one of the specific rules determines whether customer driven or utility driven factors shall govern in particular circumstances, within a particular time period.

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