System Incentivizing Greenhouse Gas Sequestration

Abstract

A system incentivizing greenhouse gas sequestration is provided having a greenhouse gas receiving station, a greenhouse gas storage system having a sequestration potential, a signal indicative of the sequestration potential of the greenhouse gas storage system received by said greenhouse gas receiving station, the greenhouse gas receiving station determining a storage cost based on a greenhouse gas and the signal indicative of the sequestration potential, the greenhouse gas receiving station determining a renewable energy credit based on the signal indicative of the sequestration potential of the greenhouse gas storage system.

Claims

1. A system incentivizing greenhouse gas sequestration, comprising: a greenhouse gas receiving station; a greenhouse gas storage system having a sequestration potential; a signal indicative of the sequestration potential of the greenhouse gas storage system received by said greenhouse gas receiving station; the greenhouse gas receiving station determining a storage cost based on a greenhouse gas and the signal indicative of the sequestration potential; and the greenhouse gas receiving station determining a renewable energy credit based on the signal indicative of the sequestration potential of the greenhouse gas storage system.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a renewable energy bank in data communication with said greenhouse gas storage system; a signal indicative of the credit received by the renewable energy bank; and the renewable energy bank applying the credit to a ledger of renewable energy balances.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising: a renewable purchase discount received by a customer device based on the renewable energy balance associated with said customer device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the renewable purchase discount may be used to purchase at least one of electric vehicles, charging, solar panels, electric vehicle insurance, carbon credits and offsets, or shares in carbon credit funds.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gas receiving station is accessible via the internet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a greenhouse gas is received by said greenhouse gas receiving station or said greenhouse gas storage system.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: the greenhouse gas receiving station receiving payment based on the storage cost.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the payment includes the assignment of a tax credit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gas receiving station and the greenhouse gas storage system are operated by the same entity.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gas storage station is an electric vehicle charging station.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gas is provided to the greenhouse gas storage station or the gas storage system in a portable container.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gas is provided to the greenhouse gas storage station or the gas storage system via a retrieval truck or a tank in an electric vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the greenhouse gas is stored in a container associated with a building's HVAC, heating, or cooking systems.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein a customer device provides a storage preference to said greenhouse gas receiving station which may be based in part on the signal indicative of the sequestration potential.

15. A system incentivizing greenhouse gas sequestration, comprising: a greenhouse gas receiving station; a greenhouse gas storage system having a sequestration potential; a signal indicative of the sequestration potential of the greenhouse gas storage system received by said greenhouse gas receiving station; the greenhouse gas receiving station determining a storage cost of a greenhouse gas based on the signal indicative of the sequestration potential; the greenhouse gas receiving station determining a renewable energy credit based on the signal indicative of the sequestration potential; a signal indicative of the credit received by a renewable energy bank; the renewable energy bank applying the credit to a ledger of renewable energy balances; and a renewable purchase discount received by a customer device based on the renewable energy balance associated with said customer device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the credit is applied as a debit to the storage cost.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein a tax credit is assigned to the greenhouse gas receiving station in lieu of or in addition to payment.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the customer device selects a greenhouse gas storage system based at least on the sequestration potential.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the sequestration potential indicates the efficiency by which a greenhouse gas storage system stores greenhouse gases.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the sequestration potential indicates the time period for which a greenhouse gas storage system stores greenhouse gases.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the presently disclosed system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended FIGURE.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, the present disclosure describes a system 10 for incentivizing greenhouse gas sequestration.

[0014] The system 10 may include a greenhouse gas receiving station 1, a consumer device 2, greenhouse gas storage systems 3, and a renewable energy bank 4.

[0015] The greenhouse gas receiving station 1 may be a place for consumers to provide their captured greenhouse gases 14, such as carbon dioxide for storage. The greenhouse gas receiving station 1 may be a physical location, or an internet system allowing users to identify greenhouse gas storage systems 3. The greenhouse gas receiving station 1 may include a processor, computer, remote computer, computer server, network, or any other computing resource.

[0016] A consumer device 2 may in data and/or electrical communication with the greenhouse gas receiving station 1. The consumer device 2 may be a computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, vehicle, or other electronic device capable of receiving electricity and transmitting data to the computer 1. The consumer device 2 may include a processor, computer, remote computer, computer server, network, or any other computing resource.

[0017] A greenhouse gas storage system 3 may be in data and/or electrical communication with the greenhouse gas receiving station 1. The greenhouse gas storage system 3 may be any system that provides sequestration or use of captured greenhouse gasses. The greenhouse gas storage system 3 may include a processor, computer, remote computer, computer server, network, or any other computing resource.

[0018] A renewable energy bank 4 may be in communication with the greenhouse gas receiving station 1, consumer device 2, and/or greenhouse gas storage system 3. The renewable energy bank 4 may include a processor, computer, remote computer, computer server, network, or any other computing resource.

[0019] The consumer device 2 may submit a greenhouse gas 21 to the greenhouse gas receiving station 1. The greenhouse gas 21 may either be submitted physically, or a description of the greenhouse gas 21 (e.g., type and quantity) may be provided to the greenhouse gas receiving station 1.

[0020] The greenhouse gas 21 may be captured as part of a portable or home capture system. For example, such a system may provide for direct air capture, or be connected to a home's HVAC, heating, or cooking system. Greenhouse gas 21 may be stored in a portable container or a dedicated container in a home or building. If stored in a portable container, it is simple to transport the greenhouse gas 21 to a greenhouse gas receiving station 1. If stored in a dedicated container, transport can occur in several ways. The greenhouse gas could be transferred to a portable container, or the dedicated container may be emptied into a truck or other vehicle. For example, an electric or other green vehicle may include a receptacle for storing greenhouse gas. In some embodiments where the vehicle includes a receptable, electric charging stations or the like may include a way to obtain the greenhouse gas from the receptacle. For instance, an electric vehicle may automatically empty its greenhouse gas tank into an electric charging station when it receives a charge, for example through a hose or tube connected to the vehicle and the charging station.

[0021] The greenhouse gas receiving station 1 may allow a user to select from various greenhouse gas storage system 3 that may be used to store or use the greenhouse gas 21. Each greenhouse gas storage system 3 may provide a sequestration index 31 to the greenhouse gas receiving station 1 and/or the customer device 2. Higher sequestration indices 31 may indicate that the greenhouse gas storage system 3 is more efficiently or effectively stores greenhouse gases (e.g., with a higher rate of retention or for longer periods of time, etc.).

[0022] The consumer device 2 may select 22 a greenhouse gas storage system 3 after being presented with the sequestration indices 31. Alternatively, the consumer device 2 may be preset to always select the greenest option.

[0023] The greenhouse gas receiving station 1 may determine the storage cost 11 and charge a fee 13 therefore. Payment 23 may be collected via a stored or tendered payment method associated with the consumer device 2. Tax credits 24 associated with the sequestration of the greenhouse gas may also be assigned to the greenhouse gas receiving station or their assignee in lieu of or in addition to payment 23.

[0024] The greenhouse gas 21/25 may then be submitted to the greenhouse gas storage system 3, either directly by the customer, or through the greenhouse gas receiving station 1.

[0025] Based on the greenhouse gas 21 and the sequestration index 31 associated with the chosen greenhouse gas storage system 3, the greenhouse gas receiving station 1 may determine a credit 12. The credit 12 may be transmitted to the renewable energy bank 4.

[0026] The renewable energy bank 4 may associate the credit 12 with a renewable energy balance 42 associated with the consumer device 2. The renewable energy bank 4 may apply the credit 12 to the renewable energy balance 42.

[0027] Based on the renewable energy balance 42, the renewable energy bank may provide a renewable purchase discount 41 to the consumer device 2. The consumer device 2 may use the renewable goods/services discount 41 to buy or discount purchases. For example, the consumer device 2 may use the discounts 41 as a debit 43 for the fee 13. Alternatively, the renewable purchase discount 41 may be used to buy insurance, solar panels, carbon credits/offsets, or other environmentally friendly products/services.

[0028] In some embodiments, the greenhouse gas receiving station 1 and the renewable energy bank 4 may be provided by a single source, either as a single computer or network of computers.

[0029] In compliance with the statute, the present teachings have been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the present teachings are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the systems and methods herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the present teachings into effect. The present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to a specific embodiment illustrated by the figures above or description below.

[0030] For purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description with unnecessary detail.

[0031] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. The use of “first”, “second,” etc. for different features/components of the present disclosure are only intended to distinguish the features/components from other similar features/components and not to impart any order or hierarchy to the features/components. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the term “application” is intended to be interchangeable with the term “invention”, unless context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, Applicant that it does not intend any of the claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

[0033] While the present teachings have been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that they are not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to those skilled in the art to which this pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is intended that the scope of the present teachings should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings. In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefits and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.