A fuel dispenser includes a power distribution system having an alternating current (AC) power supply and an AC to direct current (DC) power converter configured to convert a portion of the AC power to DC power for one or more DC peripheral components associated with the fuel dispenser. The power distribution system also includes processing circuitry configured to power down at least one of the DC peripheral components in response to an actuator, cause an indicator to be activated indicating that the DC peripheral components are de-energized and the AC power supply is active, power up the at least one direct current peripheral component in response to the actuator when the direct current peripherals are de-energized, and cause the indicator to be activated to indicate that both the DC peripheral components and the AC power supply are active.

A smart power system is described. In one or more implementations, the smart power system comprises a microcontroller and a power converter electrically connected to the microcontroller and is configured to convert electrical energy from one form to another. The system also includes a switch element electrically connected to the microcontroller and configured to control distribution of the converted electrical energy to an electrical load. A sense element is electrically connected to the electrical load and to the microcontroller and is configured to monitor the converted electrical energy distributed to the electrical load and to furnish a feedback signal based upon the converted electrical energy. The microcontroller is configured to verify and to monitor the power converter, as well as to control and to monitor distribution of the converted electrical energy to the electrical load based upon the feedback signal.

Various embodiments include a method for controlling an energy exchange among a plurality of energy systems using a control center, wherein a component of one of the plurality of energy systems is coupled to the control center via an interface module for data exchange. The method includes: transmitting a first data set to the interface module with a prediction profile regarding an energy exchange of the component; transmitting a second data set to the control center using the interface module including the first data set and component-specific data of the component; determining control data using the control center using the prediction profile and the component-specific data and data communicated to the control center by further energy systems to determine the control data; transmitting the determined control data to the interface module; and operating the component based on the control data.

A wireless power supply system may comprise a wireless power transmitting circuit configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals, and a wireless power receiving circuit configured to convert power from the RF signals into a direct-current (DC) output voltage stored in an energy storage element. The wireless power transmitting circuit may be electrically or magnetically coupled to an antenna and/or electrical wiring of a building for transmitting the RF signals. The wireless power transmitting circuit may be housed in an enclosure that is affixed in a relative location with respect to the wireless power receiving circuit. The antenna may comprise two antenna wires that extend from the enclosure. The wireless power receiving circuit may be electrically or magnetically coupled to an antenna for receiving the RF signals. The wireless power receiving circuit may comprise an RF-to-DC converter circuit for converting the power from the RF signals into a DC output voltage.

A method for managing energy for a building includes connecting a power line of the building to a battery of a vehicle via a charger; responsive to occurrence of a power outage, supplying electric energy to the building from the battery and from an energy storage separate from the vehicle; and instructing the vehicle to recharge the battery and return to the building at a predefined time before stored energy of the energy storage falls below a predefined value.

Methods and systems for identifying and correcting abnormal electrical activity about a structure are provided. An electricity monitoring device may monitor electrical activity including transmission of electricity via an electrical distribution board to devices about the structure. Electrical activity may be correlated with respective electrical devices to build an electrical profile indicative of the structure's electricity usage. Based on the electrical profile, abnormal electrical activity may be identified and corrective actions may be taken to mitigate or prevent structural damage.

A system and method for determining seasonal energy consumption with the aid of a digital computer is provided. Through a power metering energy loads for a building situated in a known location are assessed as measured over a seasonal time period. Outdoor temperatures for the building are assessed as measured over the seasonal time period through a temperature monitoring infrastructure. A digital computer comprising a processor and a memory that is adapted to store program instructions for execution by the processor is operated, the program instructions capable of: expressing each energy load as a function of the outdoor temperature measured at the same time of the seasonal time period in point-intercept form; and taking a slope of the point-intercept form as the fuel rate of energy consumption during the seasonal time period.

Cooperation in supply and demand balance of renewable energy in a region is implemented by operation of infrastructures of an infrastructure service such as water supply. In an energy management system including: a processor; and a storage device, the processor predicts an electric power supply amount utilizing renewable energy in a predetermined region, predicts an electric power demand amount in the region, predicts a demand amount of an infrastructure service different from an electric power service in the region, predicts an electric power demand amount corresponding to the infrastructure service on the basis of the predicted demand amount of the infrastructure service in the region, and determines use time of electric power corresponding to the infrastructure service such that the electric power demand amount in the region approaches the electric power supply amount.

Provided is non-contact power transmission/reception technique which is easy to be used while ensuring consideration for safety. A non-contact power transmission device 100 that wirelessly transfers generated transmission power to a non-contact power reception device 200 comprises a transmission power generation unit 120 configured to perform generation of the transmission power and a control unit 117 configured to control the generation of the transmission power. The control unit 117 is further configured to control the generation of the transmission power which is performed by the transmission power generation unit 120 in accordance with a surrounding environment in which at least one of the non-contact power transmission device 100 and the non-contact power reception device 200, or at least one of states of these devices.

A method of estimating power usage in an electricity distribution apparatus for a plurality of electrical loads, the electricity distribution apparatus comprising an electrical circuit including a plurality of branch circuits arranged in parallel, each branch circuit being coupled to one or more of the plurality of electrical loads, the electrical distribution apparatus being configured to distribute electrical power, received via a supply line from a supply of electrical power, across the electrical circuit, the method comprising: measuring voltage across at least one of the plurality of branch circuits; measuring current in a monitored branch circuit of the plurality of branch circuits; and detecting a first type of load change event if there is a change in the measured current and a corresponding change in the measured voltage, wherein the change in the measured current and the corresponding change in the measured voltage correspond to a change of load.