Method of efficiently managing energy

Abstract

A method is provided for managing energy. The method comprises collecting information relating to amounts of energy stored by a plurality of members of a group, and relating to energy requirements of the members. The method further comprises determining a price for distributing energy to a non-member of the group, determining whether to supply energy stored by the members to the non-member at the determined price, and issuing instructions to distribute energy upon determining that energy stored by the plurality of members should be supplied to the non-member.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for managing energy, comprising:
 collecting information relating to amounts of energy stored by a plurality of members of a group, and relating to energy requirements of the members; determining a price for distributing energy to a non-member of the group;   determining whether to supply energy stored by the members to the non-member at the determined price; and   issuing instructions to distribute energy upon determining that energy stored by the plurality of members should be supplied to the non-member.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein determining a price comprises utilizing a prediction function to predict the price based on market data of a power transaction market. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein collecting information comprises collecting information from at least one of an individual operator, a household, or a mobile machine. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein issuing instructions to distribute energy further comprises issuing instructions, relating to a transmission destination, to a controller associated with at least one of the members for instructing the one of the members to provide energy to the non-member at the transmission destination. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein issuing instructions to distribute energy further comprises issuing instructions to a controller associated with at least one of the members for instructing the one of the members to provide energy to another one of the members of the group for storing. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for managing energy, comprising:
 a collecting unit for collecting information relating to amounts of energy stored by a plurality of members of a group, and relating to energy requirements of the members;   a prediction unit for determining a price for distributing energy to a non-member of the group; and a managing unit for:   determining whether to supply energy stored by the members to the non-member at the determined price; and   issuing instructions to distribute energy upon determining that energy stored by the plurality of members should be supplied to the non-member.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the prediction unit utilizes a prediction function to predict the price based on market data of a power transaction market. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the collection unit collects information from at least one of an individual operator, a household, or a mobile machine. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the management unit issues instructions to distribute energy further comprises issuing instructions, relating to a transmission destination, to a controller associated with at least one of the members for instructing the one of the members to provide energy to the non-member at the transmission destination. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein issuing instructions to distribute energy further comprises issuing instructions to a controller associated with at least one of the members for instructing the one of the members to provide energy to another one of the members of the group for storing. 
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform a method comprising:
 collecting information relating to amounts of energy stored by a plurality of members of a group, and relating to energy requirements of the members;   determining a price for distributing energy to a non-member of the group;   determining whether to supply energy stored by the members to the non-member at the determined price; and   issuing instructions to distribute energy upon determining that energy stored by the plurality of members should be supplied to the non-member.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein determining a price comprises utilizing a prediction function to predict the price based on market data of a power transaction market. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein collecting information comprises collecting information from at least one of an individual operator, a household, or a mobile machine. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein issuing instructions to distribute energy further comprises issuing instructions, relating to a transmission destination, to a controller associated with at least one of the members for instructing the one of the members to provide energy to the non-member at the transmission destination. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein issuing instructions to distribute energy further comprises issuing instructions to a controller associated with at least one of the members for instructing the one of the members to provide energy to another one of the members of the group for storing. 
     
     
         36 . A method for transmitting energy by a member of an group of energy consumers, comprising:
 determining an amount of energy generated by a generating unit associated with the member;   issuing instructions to store unused generated energy in an energy storage unit associated with the member;   transmitting, in response to a request, information regarding:   the amount of stored energy in the energy storage device, and the energy requirements of the member;   receiving transmission instructions from a transmission controller; and   distributing energy in accordance with the transmission instructions to a non-member of the group.