Distributed Renewable Energy Metering with Revenue Grade Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional renewable energy systems face challenges in accurately measuring and reporting distributed renewable energy generation, especially in commercial settings where multiple REC meters are required, making it inconvenient and inefficient to read and calculate revenue-grade energy production.
Innovation Solution
A distributed energy metering module that includes a data aggregating unit and a data processing unit to calculate revenue-grade output energy based on a tolerance probability characteristic of output energy data from a population of distributed power inverters, eliminating the need for separate high-accuracy REC kilowatt-hour meters and enabling reporting across various formats and locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate REC meters are installed for each distributed power inverter, then measurement precision of renewable energy generation is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to multiple meters being difficult to read and manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate REC meters into a single centralized metering device that aggregates energy data from multiple distributed power inverters. The data aggregating unit collects output energy data from all inverters and the data processing unit calculates total revenue grade output energy, eliminating the need to physically access and read multiple separate meters while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication network as an intermediary between distributed power inverters and the centralized metering device. This intermediary enables remote data transmission from inverters to the metering system, allowing accurate measurement of energy generation without requiring physical access to each individual inverter or meter location.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate REC meters are installed for distributed inverters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple meters requiring installation and management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple separate metering functions into a single centralized metering device. Instead of installing individual REC meters at each inverter location, one metering system with data aggregating and processing capabilities serves all distributed inverters, significantly reducing the number of physical meters required while maintaining revenue grade measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized metering device performs multiple functions: it aggregates data from multiple different inverters, calculates total output energy, and provides revenue grade measurement capabilities. This universal device replaces the need for specialized individual meters at each location, reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional metering systems are used with distant meters from the service entrance, then adaptability to distributed configurations is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inconvenient meter reading locations
Solution Approach 1:
The communication network acts as an intermediary that enables remote data collection from distributed inverters located at various buildings or rooftops. The centralized metering device receives data transmissions through this network, allowing operators to access and read energy generation data from a convenient central location rather than traveling to distant inverter sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the energy generation data from physical inverters through digital communication. Instead of requiring physical access to read meters at distant locations, the system transmits digital representations of energy data through the communication network to a centralized location, making reading and management convenient.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed renewable energy system includes a renewable energy generating module having an array of renewable energy generators connected to a population of distributed power inverters. The distributed renewable energy system also includes a distributed energy metering module having a data aggregating unit that receives output energy data from the population of distributed power inverters and a data processing unit that calculates a revenue grade output energy from the output energy data based on a tolerance probability characteristic of the output energy data. The distributed renewable energy system additionally includes a distributed energy reporting module that reports the revenue grade output energy. A method of measuring distributed renewable energy is also provided.