Networked Energy Management

Abstract

A network-based energy management system may identify an area that exhibits a need for electrical energy. The network-based energy management system may also identify an area that exhibits an ability to provide electrical energy. The network-based energy management system may cause electrical energy to be routed from the second area to the first area. In some embodiments, the first area and the second area may include base stations that are electrically connected to one another by one or more energy conduits, which may include superconducting wires so as to minimize transmission losses between base stations and their respective areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for global energy management, the system comprising:
 a first base station located on a first continent;   a second base station located on a second continent;   an energy network comprising a plurality of energy conduits that provide electrical connectivity between the first base station and the second base station;   an energy source configured to generate electricity, wherein the energy source is located on the first continent, and wherein the energy source is electrically connected to the first base station; and   a local grid located on the second continent, wherein the local grid is electrically connected to the second base station;   wherein at least one of the first base station and the second base station are configured to direct the energy source to generate electricity;   wherein the first base station is configured to provide the electricity generated by the energy source to the second base station via one or more energy conduits of the energy network; and   wherein the second base station is configured to provide the electricity received via the energy network to the local grid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first base station and the second base station are configured to direct the energy source to generate electricity during a local time in a time zone in which the energy source is located. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the local time in the time zone in which the energy source is located falls substantially between 6 pm local time and 6 am local time, or between 10 pm local time and 4 am local time. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first base station and the second base station are configured to direct the energy source to generate electricity during a local time in a time zone in which the local grid is located. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the local time in the time zone in which the local grid is located falls substantially between 8 am local time and 4 pm local time. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of energy conduits of the energy network form a circumpolar loop. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the circumpolar loop is arranged about the geographic north pole. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an energy storage facility connected to the energy network by one or more energy conduits. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of energy conduits of the energy network comprises a wire comprising a high-temperature superconductor. 
     
     
         10 . A base station comprising:
 an energy management module configured to generate a request for electrical energy;   a communications network interface in communication with the energy management module, the communications network interface configured to provide the request for electrical energy to a first remote base station that is electrically connected to an energy network comprising a plurality of energy conduits;   an energy network interface that is electrically connected to an energy conduit of the energy network, wherein the energy network interface is configured to receive the requested electrical energy via the energy conduit; and   a local grid interface that is electrically connected to the energy network interface and to a local grid, wherein the local grid interface is configured to provide the requested electrical energy to the local grid, and wherein the local grid interface is in communication with the energy management module.   
     
     
         11 . The base station of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the local grid is electrically connected to an energy source;   the local grid interface is further configured to obtain electrical energy from the energy source via the local grid; and   the energy network interface is further configured to provide the obtained electrical energy to the energy conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The base station of  claim 10  further comprising an energy prediction module in communication with the energy management module, wherein the energy prediction module is configured to predict a time at which the local grid connected to the base station will exhibit a need for electrical energy, and wherein the request for electrical energy is generated by the energy management module and transmitted to the remote base station at the predicted time. 
     
     
         13 . The base station of  claim 13 , wherein the predicted time corresponds to at least one of:
 one or more peak hours of an area in which the local grid connected to the base station lies; and   one or more peak seasons of an area in which the local grid connected to the base station lies.   
     
     
         14 . The base station of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the local grid interface is configured to determine a level of energy consumption associated with the local grid; and   the energy management module is further configured to determine that the level of energy consumption satisfies a threshold;   wherein the request for energy is generated by the energy management module and transmitted to the first remote base station in response to determining that the level of energy consumption satisfies the threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The base station of  claim 10 , wherein the energy management module is further configured to:
 obtain information about a first price of energy associated with a first energy source that is electrically connected to the first remote base station; and   obtain information about a second price of energy associated with a second energy source that is electrically connected to a second remote base station, wherein the second remote base station is also electrically connected to the energy network;   wherein the request for energy is generated by the energy management module and transmitted to the first remote base station only if the first price of energy is lower than the second price of energy.   
     
     
         16 . An energy storage facility comprising:
 a caldera, the caldera defining a first height, a second height, and a path between the first height and the second height, wherein the second height is higher than the first height, and wherein the caldera is in fluid communication with a body of water at the first height;   a reservoir disposed at the second height of the caldera, the reservoir configured to store water and to selectively release the water down the path between the first height and the second height;   a pump in electrical communication with an energy network, the pump configured to draw electrical energy from the energy network and to use the electrical energy to pump water from the body of water at the first height to the reservoir at the second height;   a turbine disposed at least partially in the path between the first height and the second height, wherein the turbine is configured to be turned by water selectively released down the path by the reservoir; and   a generator operatively connected to the turbine, wherein the generator generates electrical energy responsive to the turbine being turned.   
     
     
         17 . The energy storage facility of  claim 16 , wherein the generator is further configured to provide the generated electrical energy to the energy network. 
     
     
         18 . The energy storage facility of  claim 16 , wherein the pump is housed within a powerhouse. 
     
     
         19 . The energy storage facility of  claim 18 , wherein the powerhouse is moored to a floor of the body of water by one or more mooring cables. 
     
     
         20 . The energy storage facility of  claim 18 , wherein the powerhouse is anchored in a floor of the body of water.