Generation of renewable energy certificates from distributed producers

• US 9,111,321 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solar Components LLC
• Original Assignee: Solar Components LLC
• Inventors: Bullen, M. James, Sattler, C. Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US14/135,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/103, 705/412
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A system and method for recorded renewable energy certificates from power produced by small power generators is provided. An appliance can include a renewable energy source and electronics to monitor and control the charging of batteries in the appliance utilizing power from the renewable energy source. Power from the batteries can be utilized to power or charge external devices. The electronics also records the total power production from the renewable energy source and uploads transaction records to either an external device for transmission to a records server or uploads it directly to the records server itself. The records server compiles the transaction records and generates renewable energy certificates by aggregating the transaction records. Renewable energy certificates can be redeemed in exchange for real or virtual goods and services.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a power source;

an electronic circuit coupled to the power source, the electronic circuit being configured to charge a battery and provide power to a connector when an external device is coupled to the connector;

a processor coupled to the electronic circuit;

a wireless interface coupled to the processor; and

a wireless antenna coupled to the wireless interface;

wherein the processor is configured to;

control the charging of the battery;

control distribution of power to the external device;

compile a transmission record of an amount of power produced by the apparatus; and

communicate with a renewal energy certificate (REC) server using the wireless interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is a solar cell.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to update and transmit the transmission record to the connector when the external device is coupled to the connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to reset the transmission record when a signal is received from the connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an interface to a network wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the transmission record to the REC server through the interface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a confirmation receipt from the REC server; and

clear the transmission record when the confirmation receipt is received.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein communication with the REC server is accomplished in a two-phase commit protocol interaction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a global satellite system coupled to the processor that provides geographical location data.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external device is a smart phone.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the transmission record to a dashboard application on the smart phone.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the transmission record to the REC server.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a REC transaction to the REC server.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is a USB connector.