Remote access energy meter system and method

Abstract

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.