An energy transportation and grid support system utilizes at least one transportable containment module capable of storing thermal or chemical energy typically produced from renewable or geothermal sources and providing connectivity with energy conversion equipment typically located in a land or sea-based operating facility. The system includes circuitry to hookup to an adjacent electricity grid for the provision of grid support and/or piping to move thermal energy typically used to drive steam turbines generating electricity. The operating facility also includes a communication arrangement to link with and exchange operations control data with a grid or heating operator and the energy transportation operator. The invention is directed to both apparatus and method for the energy transportation and grid support system.

A heat generating device includes: a sealed container; a tubular body provided in a hollow portion of the sealed container; a heat generating element provided on an outer surface of the tubular body and configured to generate heat by occluding and discharging hydrogen supplied to the hollow portion; and a flow path formed by an inner surface of the tubular body and through which configured to allow a fluid that exchanges heat with the heat generating element to flow. The heat generating element includes a base made of a hydrogen storage metal, and a multilayer film provided on the base. The multilayer film has a first layer made of a hydrogen storage metal and having a thickness of less than 1000 nm, and a second layer made of a hydrogen storage metal, which is different from that of the first layer, and having a thickness of less than 1000 nm.

The disclosed technology includes methods of extracting geothermal energy, generally comprising the steps of: insertion of a thermal mass into a Heat Absorption Zone, absorbing heat in thermal mass, raising the thermal mass to a Heat Transfer Zone, and transferring the heat from the thermal mass. The acquired heat can be used to generate electricity or to drive an industrial process. The thermal mass can have internal chambers containing a liquid such as molten salt, and can also have structures facilitating heat exchange using a thermal exchange fluid, such as a gas or a glycol-based fluid. In some embodiments, two thermal masses are used as counterweights, reducing the energy consumed in bringing the heat in the thermal masses to the surface. In other embodiments, solid or molten salt can be directly supplied to a well shaft to acquire geothermal heat and returned to the surface in a closed loop system.

The present disclosure relates generally to electromagnetic coupling modules employed along the outer periphery of floating solar collector pods that can be introduced onto the surface of a body of water that operate to automatically connect to one another so that proximate pods form a reversible self-assembled physically and electrically coupled array that operate to harvest incident solar radiation and also operate to reduce the degree of evaporative water loss from that body of water. Electromagnetic coupling modules are disclosed featuring normally open electrical connection elements that permit electronic coupling under magnetic attraction for improved electrical safety. Electromagnetic coupling modules are disclosed that are gimbaled to provide for increase flexibility and interconnectivity under angular displacement, such as when a floating solar pod array is subject to strong current, wind and wave forces.

According to an embodiment, an compressed air-based autonomous power generation system for a standalone industrial robot jig comprises an air compressor configured to supply compressed air, a compressed air-based power generator detachably connected with the air compressor to produce power and deliver the compressed air, an industrial robot jig connected with the compressed air-based power generator to receive the compressed air and clamp a product, a battery connected with the compressed air-based power generator to receive, and be charged with, the power, and to supply the power to the industrial robot jig, and an auxiliary air tank connected with the compressed air-based power generator to store the compressed air.

A portable solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generator module comprises a plurality of smart power slat (SPS) units, each SPS unit comprising a plurality of solar cells electrically connected together based on a specified cell interconnection design, and, N at least one power maximizing integrated circuit collecting electricity generated by the plurality of solar cells. The plurality of SPS units are mechanically connected such that the SPS units can be retracted for volume compaction of the module, and can be expanded for increasing PV electricity generation by the module. The module can be used as part of an electric power supply with a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) power optimizer, storage battery and leads to connect to a load. The load can be AC or DC.

Provided are a substation system including an energy storage device, a method of calculating capacity of the energy storage device, and a control apparatus for the same. The control apparatus may include a charge and discharge determination unit configured to determine a charge or discharge operation of an energy storage device based on whether a measured output value is within an output operation range; a forecast error determination unit configured to determine a ratio of a period in which the measured output value is out of the output operation range with respect to a total period; and a capacity determination unit configured to determine capacity of the energy storage device based on the ratio.

An integrated load management controller for directing electrical current generated by a plurality of solar photovoltaic modules exposed to ambient light selectively through a diverter to a battery bank for storage and to a current conditioner for supply of electrical current into an electrical grid, based on a supply demand communicated by an electrical grid demand controller, for managing the generation, storage, and supply of electrical current from the solar photovoltaic modules. A method of supplying supplemental electrical current to an electrical grid servicing load center using a solar-energy electricity generation system is disclosed.

Disclosed is a power storage unit which can safely operate over a wide temperature range. The power storage unit includes: a power storage device; a heater for heating the power storage device; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the power storage device; and a control circuit configured to inhibit charge of the power storage device when its temperature is lower than a first temperature or higher than a second temperature. The first temperature is exemplified by a temperature which allows the formation of a dendrite over a negative electrode of the power storage device, whereas the second temperature is exemplified by a temperature which causes decomposition of a passivating film formed over a surface of a negative electrode active material.

A heat storage device including a metal layer containing a protrusion-and-recess-shaped object, in which the protrusion-and-recess-shaped object has an average height of 100 nm or more and 1,000 nm or less.