Renewable energy metering system
View Patent ↗A customer's solar array is connected to a utility-owned battery and inverter system. The battery and inverter system may convert DC power from the solar array or a battery bank to provide AC power to the grid. The inverter system may also convert AC power from the grid to DC power to charge the battery bank, or the battery bank may be charged by DC power from the solar array. The utility's inverter system is connected to the customer's premise on the utility's side of the meter. A transfer switch provides either grid power to the premise or AC power from the inverter via the battery bank. A solar production meter on the utility side measures power flowing from the solar array to the grid, as well as power flowing between the battery bank and the grid.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a solar panel for generating direct current (DC) power;
a secondary battery;
an alternating current (AC) to DC inverter for supplying DC power to charge the secondary battery;
a DC-to-AC inverter for supplying AC power to either a power grid or an electrical panel, or both;
a first electrical meter for (1) metering the AC power outputted by the DC-to-AC inverter, and for (2) metering the AC power received from the power grid for charging of the secondary battery;
a second electrical meter in series with the power grid and an electrical panel, and wherein the second electrical meter does not meter power flowing in either direction between the first electrical meter and the power grid;
a transceiver for receiving a plurality of types of transmitted signals;
a switch, wherein in response to a first type of transmitted signal, the switch permits the flow of electrical power from the DC-to-AC inverter to the power grid;
an automatic transfer switch for connecting the DC-to-AC inverter to the electrical panel in response to a loss of AC power from the power grid; and
wherein the second electrical meter is on a circuit between the electrical panel and the automatic transfer switch.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the secondary battery is contained in a vehicle.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a meter socket adapter connected in series between the electrical panel and the grid.