Photovoltaic system with managed output
AssigneeSunPower Corporation
InventorsRobert Johnson, Adrianne Kimber, Carl J. S. Lenox, Matt Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Photovoltaic systems with managed output and methods for managing variability of output from photovoltaic systems are described. A system includes a photovoltaic module configured to receive and convert solar energy to DC power. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect a future change in solar energy to be received by the photovoltaic module. The system further includes a power conditioning unit coupled with the photovoltaic module and the sensor.
Claims25
A photovoltaic system with managed output, the system comprising:
- a photovoltaic module configured to receive and convert solar energy to DC power;
- a sensor configured to detect a future change in solar energy to be received by the photovoltaic module, the sensor comprising a portfolio of distributed photovoltaic systems or a pair of modules, each module positioned at a unique distance from the photovoltaic module;
- and
- a power conditioning unit coupled with the photovoltaic module and the sensor, the power conditioning unit configured to condition DC power from the photovoltaic module and to modify power output from the power conditioning unit based on the future change in solar energy.
A method for managing variability of output from a photovoltaic system, the method comprising:
- detecting a future change in solar energy to be received by a photovoltaic module, the detecting performed by a sensor comprising a portfolio of distributed photovoltaic systems or a pair of modules, each module positioned at a unique distance from the photovoltaic module;
- and
- outputting power, from the photovoltaic system, based on the future change in solar energy.
A machine-accessible storage medium having instructions stored thereon which cause a data processing system to perform a method for managing variability of output from a photovoltaic system, the method comprising:
- detecting a future change in solar energy to be received by a photovoltaic module, the detecting performed by a sensor comprising a portfolio of distributed photovoltaic systems or a pair of modules, each module positioned at a unique distance from the photovoltaic module;
- and
- outputting power, from the photovoltaic system, based on the future change in solar energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.