System and methods to assess, manage and control distributed renewable energy resources on a grid or microgrid and achieve a 100% renewable energy grid or microgrid from clean, carbon free, and water conserving distributed renewable energy technologies and resources

Abstract

Systems and methods dynamically measure, ascertain, and compare a local facility load with local renewable energy generation in substantially real time and determine whether excess energy exists from the local distributed renewable energy resource. Further, systems and methods forecast the available excess energy from the local distributed renewable energy resource that can be managed and controlled in increments. The increments can be fed to the grid for purchase, stored in a regional energy store, stored in a local energy store, or shed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to manage excess energy from distributed renewable energy resources, the method comprising:
 automatically receiving in a substantially continuous way a measurement of energy generated by a distributed renewable energy resource;   automatically receiving in a substantially continuous way a measurement of energy consumed from the energy generated by the distributed renewable energy resource;   based at least in part on the received measurement of energy generated and the received measurement of energy consumed, automatically determining excess energy generated by the distributed renewable resource; and   controlling the excess energy with a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein controlling the excess energy comprises controlling an amount of the excess energy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the amount of the excess energy comprises a range between approximately 0% and approximately 100%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising receiving a request over a network to acquire the amount of the excess energy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein controlling the excess energy further comprises inputting the amount of the excess energy to an electrical grid in response to the request. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein controlling the excess energy comprises storing an amount of the excess energy in an energy store that is local to the distributed renewable energy resource. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein controlling the excess energy comprises shedding an amount of the excess energy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving in a substantially continuous way the measurement of energy consumed comprises receiving the measurement of energy consumed at least once every 15 minutes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving in a substantially continuous way the measurement of energy generated comprises receiving the measurement of energy generated at a rate sufficient to synchronize the energy generated by the distributed renewable resource with energy on an electrical grid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising aggregating the excess energy from a plurality of distributed renewable resources. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising forecasting a quantity of excess energy for a preselected period of time based at least in part on the received measurement of energy generated and the received measurement of energy consumed. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus to manage excess energy from distributed renewable energy resources, the apparatus comprising:
 a first analog to digital converter configured to automatically provide in a substantially continuous way a measurement related to energy generated by a distributed renewable energy resource;   a first data sampling device configured to receive the measurement related to energy generated and to provide energy generated data;   a second analog to digital converter configured to automatically provide in a substantially continuous way a measurement related to energy consumed from the energy generated by the distributed renewable energy resource;   a second data sampling device configured to receive the measurement related to energy consumed and to provide energy consumed data;   a data analyzer comprising computer hardware configured to automatically determine excess energy generated by the distributed renewable resource based at least in part on the energy generated data and the energy consumed data; and   a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller configured to control the excess energy.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein controlling the excess energy comprises controlling an amount of the excess energy. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the amount of the excess energy comprises a range between approximately 0% and approximately 100%. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a communication port configured to receive a request over a network to acquire the amount of the excess energy. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  16  wherein controlling the excess energy further comprises inputting the amount of the excess energy to an electrical grid in response to the request. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein controlling the excess energy comprises storing an amount of the excess energy in an energy store that is local to the distributed renewable energy resource. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein controlling the excess energy comprises shedding an amount of the excess energy. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein to provide in a substantially continuous way the measurement related to energy consumed comprises to provide the measurement related to energy consumed at least once every 15 minutes. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein to provide in a substantially continuous way the measurement related to energy generated comprises to provide the measurement related to energy generated at a rate sufficient to synchronize the energy generated by the distributed renewable resource with energy on an electrical grid. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the data analyzer is further configured to aggregate the excess energy from a plurality of distributed renewable resources. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further wherein the data analyzer is further configured to forecast a quantity of excess energy for a preselected period of time based at least in part on the energy generated data and the energy consumed data.