Smart Solar Monitoring Through Inverter-Utility Data Reconciliation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar energy monitoring systems fail to accurately differentiate between energy generated and consumed by end-users, leading to inefficiencies in billing, savings calculations, and compliance with energy policies, particularly in rental or multi-tenant environments.
Innovation Solution
A system integrating inverter production data with real-time utility usage data and optional Current Transformers (CTs) to precisely monitor and calculate actual solar energy consumption, enabling dynamic billing models based on usage rather than production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional solar energy monitoring systems measure only solar energy production, then the system complexity is low, but the measurement precision of actual solar energy consumption is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines solar production data from inverters with utility consumption data from API integrations and on-premise meter readings into a unified monitoring system. This merging of multiple data sources enables precise calculation of actual solar energy consumption by cross-referencing production against utility usage patterns, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary calculation layer that processes utility consumption data and solar production data separately before combining them to determine actual solar consumption. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain separate, simpler data collection channels while achieving high measurement precision through integrated analysis.
2Loss of information
If solar billing is based on production rather than consumption, then the billing system is simple, but the loss of information regarding actual energy usage is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring utility consumption data and comparing it against solar production data. This feedback loop enables the billing system to dynamically adjust charges based on actual solar energy consumption patterns, ensuring that tenants are billed for the precise amount of solar energy they consume rather than relying on simplified production-based estimates.
Solution Approach 2:
The billing system transitions from a static production-based model to a dynamic consumption-based model. By integrating real-time utility consumption data with solar production data, the system dynamically calculates actual solar energy usage, allowing billing amounts to fluctuate based on actual consumption patterns rather than fixed production rates.
3Measurement precision
If real-time consumption data from multiple sources is integrated, then the accuracy of savings calculations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data collection into distinct modules: inverter production data collection, utility consumption data collection via API integrations, and on-premise meter readings. Each segment operates independently with its own data collection logic, reducing the complexity of integration while maintaining high measurement precision through systematic combination of segmented data streams.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with collection and monitoring of utility (e.g., electricity and solar power) consumption, generation, and usage from these various sources are described. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring a discount rate for a utility electric service, determining a market rate based on a tier of the utility electric service, calculating a net energy metering (NEM) credit, the NEM credit being determined based on the excess electricity produced, determining at least one of an electrical generation system or an electrical storage system, calculating electricity generated from the electrical generation system or the electrical storage system, determining actual solar energy consumption by comparing inverter production data with real-time usage information from a utility account or on-premise meter, and generating and displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI), the NEM credit along with the actual solar energy usage and the electricity generated for a predetermined period.