Energy storage canopy
An energy storage canopy associated with a local building is provided. The energy storage canopy includes support members that can support compartments, which may be integral with or removable from the energy storage canopy. Each compartment includes a plurality of high capacity batteries to store electrical energy, at least one power conditioner to allow coupling high capacity batteries to an external unit. The external unit may be a power grid, a building, other loads, or the like.
1 . An energy storage canopy comprising:
at least one vertical support and at least one horizontal support coupled together;
a solar array comprising a plurality of photovoltaic panels coupled to the roof of the energy storage canopy;
at least one compartment coupled to at least one of the at least one vertical support and the at least one horizontal support of the energy storage canopy, the compartment comprising:
at least one high capacity battery that can store at least 10 kilo-watt hours of electrical energy; and
at least one opening between the solar array and the least one compartment configured to dissipate heat; and
a junction box on the energy storage canopy operationally coupled to the at least one high capacity battery, wherein the junction box is configured to couple to local loads.
2 . The energy storage canopy of claim 1 , wherein the at least one compartment is operable to allow replacement of the at least one high capacity battery.
3 . The energy storage canopy of claim 1 , wherein the local loads include a power grid.
4 . The energy storage canopy of claim 1 , wherein the local loads comprise an electric vehicle charger configured to allow an electric vehicle to plug into the electric vehicle charger for charging.
5 . The energy storage canopy of claim 4 , wherein the electric vehicle charger is configured for high capacity charging.
6 . The energy storage canopy of claim 1 , wherein the local loads comprise an electrical generator.
7 . The energy storage canopy of claim 1 , wherein the local loads comprise a plurality of emergency equipment.
8 . The energy storage canopy of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of emergency equipment comprises at least one light.
9 . The energy storage canopy of claim 7 , wherein the emergency equipment includes communication equipment.
10 . The energy storage canopy of claim 9 , wherein the communication equipment includes an antenna.
11 . The energy storage canopy of claim 10 , wherein the antenna comprises an extendible antenna coupled to the energy storage canopy.
12 . The energy storage canopy of claim 1 , wherein the local loads comprise communications equipment.