A power provider circuit includes a plurality of power delivery controllers, a single stage power supply, and control circuitry. Each of the plurality of power delivery controllers is configured to provide power to a detachable device. The single stage power supply is configured to generate the power for provision to the detachable devices, and to provide the power at a plurality of selectable voltages. The control circuitry configured to select a given voltage of the plurality of selectable voltages to be made available via all of the power delivery controllers based on power utilization capabilities and other optional status indications reported by the detachable devices.

An on-board control apparatus includes: a controller connected to a controlled device mounted in a vehicle via a signal line and configured to control the operation of the corresponding controlled device; and a power source box connected to a power source mounted in the vehicle via a power line, that is connected to the controlled device mounted in the vehicle via a power line, and configured to switch between supply and non-supply of power from the power source to the controlled device, wherein the power source box includes; a switch disposed in a power supply path from the power source to the controlled device; a reception unit configured to receive an input of the switching command; and a switching control unit configured to switch between conduction and interruption of the switch in response to the switching command received by the reception unit.

A computer program product for recharging a number of battery electric vehicles includes computer usable program code. The computer usable program code is configured to receive, from the number of battery electric vehicles that are to recharge at a number of recharging stations, usage data. The usage data includes a current charge level, a current location, and a planned itinerary that includes a destination. The computer usable program code is configured to determine anticipated electrical loads in the number of sectors of the electrical grid system based on the usage data of the number of battery electric vehicles. The computer usable program code is configured to redistribute the electrical supply on the electrical grid system to at least one recharging station of the number of recharging stations based on the anticipated electrical loads, prior to actual usage defined by the usage data by the number of battery electrical vehicles.

The apparatuses and methods herein facilitate generation of energy-related revenue for an energy customer of an electricity supplier, for a system that includes an energy storage asset. The apparatuses and methods herein can be used to generate operating schedules for a controller of the energy storage asset. When implemented, the generated operating schedules facilitates derivation of the energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy storage asset according to the generated operating schedule. The energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market.

An apparatus, including a plurality of devices, a network operations center (NOC), and a plurality of control nodes. Each device consumes a portion of the resource when turned on, and performs a corresponding function within an acceptable operational margin by cycling on and off. The NOC generates a plurality of run time schedules that coordinates run times for the each of the plurality of devices to control the peak demand of the resource. Each of the control nodes is coupled to a corresponding one of the devices. The plurality of control nodes transmits sensor data and device status to the NOC for generation of the plurality of run time schedules, and executes selected ones of the run time schedules to cycle the plurality of devices, and employs the sensor data and device status in a model to detect exceptions to normal operation of a facility.

A system of monitoring and/or maintaining remotely located autonomously powered lights, security systems, parking meters, and the like is operable to receive data signals from a number of the devices, and provide a comparison with other similar devices in the same geographic region to detect a default condition of a particular device, and/or assess whether the defect is environmental or particular to the specific device itself. The system includes memory for storing operating parameters and data, and outputs modified control commands to the devices in response to sensed performance, past performance and/or self-learning algorithms. The system operates to provide for the monitoring and/or control of individual device operating parameters on an individual or regional basis, over preset periods.

A method and apparatus for optimally allocating resources of a provider according to a contribution margin ratio of a resource consumer in a distributed energy resource environment are described. An embodiment is a method for distributing energy resources in a distributed energy resource system. The method may include receiving information about the amount of available energy resources from each of one or more providers, receiving information about the amount of required energy resources from each of one or more consumers, assessing a contribution margin ratio for each of the one or more consumers, calculating an energy resource allocation amount for each of the one or more consumers based on the assessed contribution margin ratio, and distributing energy resources to each of the one or more consumers based on the calculated energy resource allocation amount.

Systems and methods for distributing power in a power-to-the-edge system architecture are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises an intelligent power switch configured to couple to a power supply, wherein the intelligent power switch outputs a first differential voltage output; and a plurality of intelligent remote nodes each comprising a management microcontroller (MCU) and a DC-to-DC converter. The intelligent remote nodes each receive the differential voltage output, and are communicatively coupled to a data network. The intelligent power switch comprises a processor executing an intelligent start-up control and switching function and an electrical fault detection function. The intelligent power switch outputs the differential voltage at a first voltage level while the electrical fault detection function monitors the differential voltage output. Based on results of monitoring at the first voltage level, the intelligent power switch switches the output to a second voltage level higher than the first voltage level.

In one embodiment, a layered/distributed grid-specific network services system comprises grid sensors in the utility grid configured to generate grid data values such as raw grid data values, processed grid data values, and/or any combination thereof, and to communicate the grid data values using a communication network. Distributed grid devices in the utility grid may be configured to receive the grid data values, and one or more of the grid devices may be configured to convert raw grid data values into processed grid data values. Application devices in the utility grid may be configured to access the grid data values from the distributed grid devices, and to further process the grid data values according to a particular grid application operating at the corresponding application device into application data values.

Some embodiments include electric power demand stabilization methods and systems that may include receiving an indication that a specific controllable device will have a high power draw event; retrieving a power draw profile for the specific controllable device that includes at least a maximum power draw and an event duration; identifying a plurality of low priority controllable devices with a combined power draw that is substantially equal to the maximum power draw of the specific controllable device; and turning off the plurality of low priority controllable devices for a time period substantially equal to the event duration.