Remote access energy meter system and method
A remote energy meter system and method is provided having a meter server and a client module located remotely from the meter server. The meter server communicates with the client via a wireless communications link to recover energy production parameter values. The remote energy meter system preferably provides real-time and automated monitoring of, at least, energy production and system failure parameters.
1 . A remote energy meter system for detecting energy production parameters of an energy generation facility comprising:
a client module operably connected to the energy generation facility for collecting data representative of the energy production parameters;
a backup power management system for providing an alternative or secondary power source for the client module; and
a server located remotely from the client module, wherein the server communicates with the client module to recover the energy production parameters.
2 . The remote energy meter system of claim 1 , wherein the client module is powered by a standard AC service provided by the energy generation facility.
3 . The remote energy meter system of claim 1 , wherein the server receives real-time energy production parameters.
4 . The remote energy meter system of claim 3 , wherein the real-time energy productions parameters are selected from the group consisting of system production, status, and failures.
5 . The remote energy meter system of claim 1 , wherein the energy generation facility is a solar energy facility.
6 . The remote energy meter system of claim 5 , wherein the solar energy facility provides a plurality of photovoltaic arrays that convert solar energy into electricity.
7 . The remote energy meter system of claim 6 , wherein the photovoltaic arrays generate DC electricity.
8 . The remote energy meter system of claim 7 , wherein the DC electricity is converted to an AC output by one or more inverters.
9 . The remote energy meter system of claim 8 , wherein the AC output is comprised of a current and a voltage.
10 . The remote energy meter system of claim 8 , further comprising an AC meter that measures the AC output from the one or more inverters.
11 . The remote energy meter system of claim 10 , further comprising a DC voltmeter that measures the DC electricity generated by the photovoltaic arrays.
12 . The remote energy meter system of claim 11 , wherein the client module further comprises a data processor that processes data measured by the DC voltmeter and the AC meter.
13 . The remote energy meter system of claim 1 , wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link selected from the group consisting of a wireless link, a cellular link, a microwave link, and a satellite link.
14 . A method of remotely monitoring an energy generation installation comprising:
measuring operating parameters of a remote access energy meter system with a DC voltmeter and an AC meter;
storing the operating parameters in a non-volatile memory;
processing the operating parameters with a data processor;
generating a signal representative of the operating parameters; and
communicating the operating parameters from the remote access energy meter system to a server located remotely from the energy installation.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group consisting of AC input, DC input, AC output, output voltage and output current.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the operating parameters are communicated to the server via a communications link selected from the group consisting of a wireless link, a cellular link, a microwave link, and a satellite link.