System and method for associating a load demand with a variable power generation

• US 9,020,653 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Original Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Lenox, Carl J. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US14/012,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20140005850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Systems and methods for associating a load demand with a variable power generation are described. A method of providing power from a renewable resource includes receiving a signal including an output capability value for a renewable variable power generation module. An input power demand value is calculated for a load demand module based on the output capability value of the received signal. A customer load is controlled on a power transmission and distribution grid based on the calculated input power demand value.

Claims

1. A method of providing power from a renewable resource, the method comprising:

receiving a signal at a response device of a load demand module directly from a renewable variable power generation module, the signal including an output capability value for the renewable variable power generation module;

calculating an input power demand value for the load demand module based on the output capability value of the received signal; and

controlling a customer load on a power transmission and distribution grid based on the calculated input power demand value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the customer load comprises invoking a lower load demand at times of lower solar power production at the renewable variable power generation module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the customer load comprises increasing load demand at times of higher than normal solar power production at the renewable variable power generation module.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the customer load comprises storing excess power for later demand events at times of higher than normal solar power production at the renewable variable power generation module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the renewable variable power generation module is a solar variable power generation module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the load demand module is a smart appliance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the power transmission and distribution grid comprises a power delivery requirement, and wherein controlling the customer load on the power transmission and distribution grid is performed without affecting the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid.

8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

maintaining a power delivery requirement of electrical generating units coupled to the power transmission and distribution grid approximately constant during the controlling the customer load on the power transmission and distribution grid.

9. A method of providing power from a renewable variable power generation module, the method comprising:

receiving a signal at a response device of a smart appliance directly from a solar power generation module, the signal including an output capability value for the solar power generation module;

calculating an input power demand value for the smart appliance based on the output capability value of the received signal; and

controlling a customer load on a power transmission and distribution grid based on the calculated input power demand value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the customer load comprises invoking a lower load demand at times of lower solar power production at the solar power generation module.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the customer load comprises increasing load demand at times of higher than normal solar power production at the solar power generation module.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the customer load comprises storing excess power for later demand events at times of higher than normal solar power production at the solar power generation module.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the power transmission and distribution grid comprises a power delivery requirement, and wherein controlling the customer load on the power transmission and distribution grid is performed without affecting the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

maintaining a power delivery requirement of electrical generating units coupled to the power transmission and distribution grid approximately constant during the controlling the customer load on the power transmission and distribution grid.

15. A system for associating a load demand with a variable power generation, the system comprising:

a renewable variable power generation module comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to determine an output power capability value for the renewable variable power generation module; and

a load demand module comprising a response device, the response device configured to receive the output power capability value directly from the renewable variable power generation module and to determine an input power demand value based on the output power capability value, wherein the renewable variable power generation module and the load demand module are adaptable to be coupled with a power transmission and distribution grid in between the renewable variable power generation module and the load demand module.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the renewable variable power generation module is a solar variable power generation module.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the load demand module is configured to control a power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a change in the input power demand value, the change in the input power demand value based on a change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the power transmission and distribution grid comprises a power delivery requirement, and wherein the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module is transparent to the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid is approximately constant during the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the load demand module is configured to decrease the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a decrease in the input power demand value, the decrease in the input power demand value based on a decrease in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the load demand module is configured to increase the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to an increase in the input power demand value, the increase in the input power demand value based on an increase in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the renewable variable power generation module further comprises a power storage module, the power storage module configured to receive a portion of power generated by the renewable variable power generation module when the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module exceeds the input power demand value determined by the response device of the load demand module.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the load demand module further comprises a demand response provider, the demand response provider configured to control the power consumption level of the load demand module.