Establishing communication and power sharing links between components of a distributed energy system

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and system for sharing power or energy across various power supply and control modules. More specifically, disclosed herein are systems and methods for distributing energy. As explained herein, the method discloses receiving, at a microgrid, data from a plurality of data sources. The data is then analyzed to forecast power needs associated with the microgrid. Using the data, the microgrid may determine whether and when to share power with the requesting module.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for distributing energy, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a microgrid, data from a plurality of data sources;   analyzing the data to forecast power needs associated with the microgrid; and   providing power from the microgrid to one or more requesting modules based, at least in part, on the forecast.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing energy from the microgrid to one or more requesting modules comprises establishing a priority of the requesting modules. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the priority of the requesting modules comprise a critical requesting module and a non-critical requesting module. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the non-critical requesting module comprises an energy storage module. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more requesting modules is a parent microgrid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more requesting modules is a child microgrid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data sources comprise one or more components that receive power from the microgrid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data sources comprise the one or more requesting modules. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable storage medium encoding computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs a method for distributing energy, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a microgrid, data from a plurality of data sources;   analyzing the data to forecast power needs associated with the microgrid; and   providing power from the microgrid to one or more requesting modules based, at least in part, on the forecast.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein providing energy from the microgrid to one or more requesting modules comprises establishing a priority of the requesting modules. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the priority of the requesting modules comprise a critical requesting module and a non-critical requesting module. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the non-critical requesting module comprises an energy storage module. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more requesting modules is a parent microgrid. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more requesting modules is a child microgrid. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the data sources comprise one or more components that receive power from the microgrid. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the data sources comprise the one or more requesting modules. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the process to perform a method for distributing energy, the method comprising:   receiving, at a microgrid, data from a plurality of data sources;   analyzing the data to forecast power needs associated with the microgrid; and   providing power from the microgrid to one or more requesting modules based, at least in part, on the forecast.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein providing energy from the microgrid to one or more requesting modules comprises establishing a priority of the requesting modules. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the priority of the requesting modules comprises a critical requesting module and a non-critical requesting module. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the non-critical requesting module comprises an energy storage module.