IP Library Granted Patent US 8,108,081
Granted Patent B2
US 8,108,081 · App. 12/540,290 · Granted Jan 31, 2012

System and method for associating a load demand with a variable power generation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,108,081
App. No.
12/540,290
Granted
Jan 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for associating a load demand with a variable power generation are described. A system includes a renewable variable power generation module including a sensor, the sensor configured to determine an output power capability value for the renewable variable power generation module. The system also includes a load demand module including a response device, the response device configured to receive the output power capability value directly from the renewable variable power generation module and to determine an input power demand value based on the output power capability value.

Claims (30)

1. A system for associating a load demand with a variable power generation, the system comprising:

a renewable variable power generation module comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to determine an output power capability value for the renewable variable power generation module;

a load demand module comprising a response device, the response device configured to receive the output power capability value directly from the renewable variable power generation module and to determine an input power demand value based on the output power capability value; and

a power transmission and distribution grid coupled with, and disposed in between, the renewable variable power generation module and the load demand module.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the renewable variable power generation module is a solar variable power generation module.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load demand module is configured to control a power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a change in the input power demand value, the change in the input power demand value based on a change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the power transmission and distribution grid comprises a power delivery requirement, and wherein the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module is transparent to the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid is approximately constant during the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the load demand module is configured to decrease the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a decrease in the input power demand value, the decrease in the input power demand value based on a decrease in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the load demand module is configured to increase the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to an increase in the input power demand value, the increase in the input power demand value based on an increase in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

8. The system of claim 3 , wherein the renewable variable power generation module further comprises a power storage module, the power storage module configured to receive a portion of power generated by the renewable variable power generation module when the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module exceeds the input power demand value determined by the response device of the load demand module.

9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the load demand module further comprises a demand response provider, the demand response provider configured to control the power consumption level of the load demand module.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load demand module comprises a smart appliance.

11. A method for associating a load demand with a variable power generation, the method comprising:

determining an output power capability value for a renewable variable power generation module, the renewable variable power generation module comprising a sensor configured to perform the determining; and

determining, for a load demand module, an input power demand value based on the output power capability value, the load demand module comprising a response device configured to receive the output power capability value directly from the renewable variable power generation module and to perform the determining, wherein a power transmission and distribution grid is coupled with, and disposed in between, the renewable variable power generation module and the load demand module.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the output power capability value for the renewable variable power generation module comprises determining the output power capability value for a solar variable power generation module.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

controlling, by the load demand module, a power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a change in the input power demand value, the change in the input power demand value based on a change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

decreasing, by the load demand module, the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to a decrease in the input power demand value, the decrease in the input power demand value based on a decrease in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

increasing, by the load demand module, the power consumption level of the load demand module in response to an increase in the input power demand value, the increase in the input power demand value based on an increase in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the renewable variable power generation module further comprises a power storage module, the method further comprising:

receiving, by power storage module, a portion of the power generated by the renewable variable power generation module when the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module exceeds the input power demand value determined by the response device of the load demand module.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the load demand module further comprises a demand response provider, the method further comprising:

controlling, by the demand response provider, the power consumption level of the load demand module.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining, for the load demand module, the input power demand value comprises determining the input power demand value for a smart appliance.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the power transmission and distribution grid comprises a power delivery requirement, and wherein the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module is transparent to the power delivery requirement of the power transmission and distribution grid.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the power delivery requirement of electrical generating units coupled to the power transmission and distribution grid is approximately constant during the change in the output power capability value of the renewable variable power generation module.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2025
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION; SUNPOWER CORPORATION, SYSTEMS
To: UNIRAC, INC.
Reel/Frame 071302/0904 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2025
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION,
To: UNIRAC, INC.
Reel/Frame 070704/0860 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 14, 2024
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
To: GLAS AMERICAS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066598/0964 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2022
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 061422/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2009
From: LENOX, CARL J. S.
To: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023264/0589 →