System for tracking and allocating renewable energy contributions to a modular renewable energy system

Abstract

A modular photovoltaic (PV) array system includes a PV array installed onto a fleet vehicle such as a trailer, bus etc., a host control system into which a plurality of fleet vehicles can connect to collectively generate electricity, and a subscriber system which collectively tracks energy generation and allocates respective contributions to the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system comprising:
 a photovoltaic array mounted on a vehicle having a device control system and a respective device identification code;   a host renewable energy system having a respective host identification code;   a computer network in communication with a computer server;   a network accessible database storing database records containing data corresponding to at least one of said photovoltaic array and said host renewable energy system;   a software application adapted to run on said computer server for at least one of writing data to and reading data from said network accessible database; and   a central processing unit in communication with said computer network, wherein an owner of the vehicle is credited for solar energy generated by the photovoltaic array while the vehicle is in motion.   
     
     
         2 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 1  further comprising: a wireless communication system in connection to said computer network. 
     
     
         3 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 1  wherein said host renewable energy system further comprises: a memory device for temporarily storing one of energy data and a device identification code. 
     
     
         4 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a modular subscriber system that permits a plurality of vehicles to be plugged into a local host to create a modular array that provides power to one of a local facility and an electrical grid. 
     
     
         5 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 1  wherein said vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a trailer, a mobile container, a train, a passenger bus, a school bus, and a fleet vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 1  wherein the modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system uploads data by one of wireless, cellular or broadband WIFI. 
     
     
         7 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 1 , wherein said photovoltaic array is connected directly into an electrical system of the vehicle to deliver electrical power to the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 1  wherein the owner of the vehicle receives a status as a renewable energy generator to facilitate receiving Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). 
     
     
         9 . A modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system comprising:
 a photovoltaic array mounted on a vehicle having a device control system and a respective device identification code;   a host renewable energy system having a respective host identification code;   a computer network;   a network accessible database storing a plurality of database records containing data corresponding to said photovoltaic array and said host renewable energy system;   a computer server in communication with said computer network;   a software application running on said computer server for writing data to and reading data from said network accessible database;   said host renewable energy system including, a connection port for receiving energy generated by said photovoltaic array, a central processing unit in communication with said computer network and said device control system, and a software application operating on said central processing unit operative to measure energy received from said photovoltaic array, generate energy data corresponding to said measured energy received from said photovoltaic array, associate said energy data with a device identification code, and send said energy data to said computer server for storage on said network accessible database;   wherein the photovoltaic array is linked to a separate photovoltaic array mounted on another vehicle to form a larger array; and   wherein said vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a trailer, a mobile container, a train, a passenger bus, a school bus, and a fleet vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 9 , further comprising: a wireless communication system, said computer network being is in communication with said wireless communication system, said photovoltaic array including a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with said wireless communication system, said device control system having a software application operating to generate energy data corresponding to energy generated while said renewable energy system is not connected to a host, said device control system sending said energy data to said computer server for storage on said network accessible database. 
     
     
         11 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 9 , further comprising a modular subscriber system that permits a plurality of vehicles to be plugged into a local host to create a modular array that provides power to one of a local facility and an electrical grid. 
     
     
         12 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 9 , further comprising a network adapted to track individual contributions of the vehicle and to allocate a credit to an owner of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . A modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system comprising:
 a photovoltaic array mounted on a vehicle having a device control system and a respective device identification code;   a host renewable energy system having a respective host identification code;   a computer network in communication with a computer server;   a network accessible database storing database records containing data corresponding to at least one of said photovoltaic array and said host renewable energy system;   a software application adapted to run on said computer server for at least one of writing data to and reading data from said network accessible database;   a central processing unit in communication with said computer, wherein an owner of the vehicle is credited for solar energy generated by the photovoltaic array while the vehicle is in motion; said vehicle selected from a group consisting of a trailer, a mobile container, a train, a passenger bus, a school bus, and a fleet vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 13 , wherein said photovoltaic array is connected directly into an electrical system of the vehicle to deliver electrical power to the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 13 , further comprising: a wireless communication system in connection to said computer network. 
     
     
         16 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 13 , wherein said host renewable energy system further comprises: a memory device for temporarily storing said energy data and a device identification code in said memory device. 
     
     
         17 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 13 , further comprising a modular subscriber system that permits a plurality of said vehicles to be plugged into a local host to create a modular array that provides power to one of a local facility and an electrical grid. 
     
     
         18 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 13 , further comprising a modular subscriber system that permits a plurality of vehicles to be plugged into a local host to create a modular array that provides power to one of a local facility and an electrical grid. 
     
     
         19 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 13 , wherein the modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system periodically uploads data by one of wireless, cellular or broadband WIFI. 
     
     
         20 . The modular renewable energy tracking and allocation system of  claim 13 , further comprising a network adapted to track individual contributions of the vehicle and to allocate a credit to an owner of the vehicle.