Abstract: A system and method for controlling a behavior of at least one member of a local power grid. In one embodiment, the system comprises a monitoring system, comprising at least one processor, for obtaining a measure of grid stress and deriving at least one of financial incentives and financial disincentives, based on the measure of grid stress, to cause at least one member of the local grid to change behavior.

Abstract: A storage system configured for use with an energy management system is provided and includes a single-phase AC coupled battery or a three-phase AC coupled battery, a plurality of microinverters that are configured to connect to one or more battery cells that form a local grid, a controller configured to detect when to charge or discharge the single-phase AC coupled battery or the three-phase AC coupled battery so that energy can be stored therein when energy is abundant and used when energy is scarce, an estimator tool for storage system sizing and photovoltaic sizing, and at least one of a configurable single-phase AC coupled battery and three-phase AC coupled battery profiles to optimize at least one of self-consumption or time-of-use or troubleshooting capabilities to identify and fix issues with the energy management system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting power comprising an input bridge having an input adapted for coupling to a DC source, a piezoelectric transformer having an input coupled to an output of the input bridge, and an output bridge having an input coupled to an output of the piezoelectric transformer and an output adapted to couple to a load. A trajectory controller, coupled to the input bridge and output bridge, (1) measures current and voltage in the input bridge, the output bridge or both, (2) measures a current into or out of the piezoelectric transformer, (3) determines switch timing for control signals for the input bridge and output bridge based upon the measured current and/or voltage, and (4) applies the control signals to the input bridge and output bridge.

Abstract: Methods and systems for discharge protection in a storage system are provided herein.

Abstract: A system for driving four-quadrant (4Q) switches of a power converter is provided herein and comprises a transformer driver module, a first gate driver module and a second gate driver module coupled to the transformer driver module via a first isolation transformer and a second isolation transformer, respectively, for receiving both switch signal information and power, and a first bidirectional switch and a second bidirectional switch coupled to the first gate driver module and the second gate driver module and to one another for driving the first bidirectional switch and the second bidirectional switch based on the switch signal information.

Abstract: A microinverter is provided herein and comprises DC side MOSFETs connected to an input side of the microinverter, AC side MOSFETs connected to an output of the microinverter, and a plurality of gate drivers connected to the AC side MOSFETs and configured to automatically drive the microinverter without a DC voltage being applied to the input side of the microinverter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus which use a microinverter comprising integrated neutral forming function for off-grid facilities are provided herein. For example, a microinverter configured for use with an AC storage system comprises switching circuitry connected at an AC output of the microinverter, a three-line connector connected at the AC output and comprising a neutral line connected between two lines configured to connect to at least one of a single phase grid system or a split phase grid system, wherein the neutral line is connected to the microinverter at a point that maintains a mid-way voltage between the two lines voltage.

Abstract: A portable energy system is provided herein and comprises a plurality of microinverters and an AC input and an AC output configured to connect to at least one of an AC input of another portable energy system or to a component of an energy management system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided herein. For example, a method for maintaining a power conversion system can include transmitting, to a computing apparatus in operable communication with the power conversion system, an alert message indicating non-working microinverters and which of the non-working microinverters are under warranty and eligible for replacement; receiving, from the computing apparatus, a request for replacement for the non-working microinverters; and transmitting, to the computing apparatus, an acknowledgment message indicating that the request has been successfully received and replacements for the non-working microinverters are being shipped.

Abstract: A partial-resonant converter is provided herein and comprises a partial resonant link formed by a magnetizing link inductor connected in parallel with a first capacitor on a primary winding side of a transformer and a second capacitor on a secondary winding side of the transformer, a pair of series connected switches coupled across the magnetizing link inductor and the first capacitor, and a plurality of forward conducting bidirectional blocking switches that connect an input source and an output load to the magnetizing link inductor during operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning an alternative energy source generator operable with a gateway in communication with a web portal are provided herein. In one embodiment, the method includes entering system information into the gateway, and transmitting the system information to the web portal. The method also includes validating the system information, determining configuration information for the alternative energy source generator in response to validation of the system information, and transmitting the configuration information to the gateway. The method also includes initiating a discovery process to ascertain discovery information for the alternative energy source generator in response to the configuration information, and transmitting the discovery information to the web portal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for active EMI cancellation in a switch mode power supply are provided herein. For example, an apparatus comprises an active EMI cancellation circuit coupled to a switch mode power supply circuit comprising an isolation transformer, wherein the active EMI cancellation circuit is positioned such that current flow through an EMI coupling capacitor substantially matches displacement current flow through a primary-to-secondary interwinding capacitance of the isolation transformer.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter is provided herein and comprises a cycloconverter comprising a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is a native four quadrant bi-directional switch with a common drift region configured to allow current flow in a first direction from a first source terminal to second source terminal and in a second direction from the second source terminal to the first direction.

Abstract: A resonant parallel triple active bridge converter comprising a DC port configured to receive DC energy, an AC port configured to produce AC energy, and an AC line cycle energy storage port, coupled to both the DC port and the AC port, where the AC line cycle energy storage port comprises an energy storage device for storing energy during an energy conversion process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining relative value of loads. In one embodiment the method comprises determining, for a load in a plurality of loads where (i) each load in the plurality has a weight and a value associated with it and (ii) the plurality is operating according to a primary solution where a net weight of all loads with an activated state satisfies a primary threshold, a change in operating state; determining a secondary solution for a subset of loads not including the load having the change, such that a net weight of all loads in the subset with an activated state satisfies a secondary threshold based on the primary threshold; and determining, based on the values of loads in the subset that have operating states in the secondary solution different from their operating states in the primary solution, an updated value for the load having the change.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for load-based primary regulation in a power system. In one embodiment the method comprises receiving information pertaining to each load of a plurality of loads in a power distribution system; generating, using the information, a plurality of combinations of operating states for the plurality of loads that provides a pseudo-linear response for all the plurality of loads; generating a look up table (LUT) that comprises the plurality of combinations of operating states; and transmitting the LUT to each load of the plurality of loads for use by the plurality of loads in primary regulation.

Abstract: A microinverter inverter is provided and comprises an output comprising a four-way connector comprising three power input/output connecters and a voltage monitoring and power line communications connector. The output is configured to connect to an AC cable comprising a rotatable four-way connector comprising three phase wires and a neutral wire which allows the microinverter to operate in at least one of a three-phase grid-tied mode of operation, a three-phase off-grid neutral-forming mode of operation, a two-phase grid-tied mode of operation, a two-phase off-grid neutral-forming mode of operation, or a split-phase and single-phase grid tied and off-grid neutral-forming mode of operation when the microinverter is connected to the AC cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for geotagging components of an energy production and consumption system. A user device captures an identifier of at least one component of an energy production and consumption system, determines location data related to the identifier, where the identifier and location data form geotagging data, and transmits the geotagging data to a network. Upon receiving the geotagging data from the network, a server processes the identifier to determine component information and generates a map comprising an icon for each component positioned within the map at a location derived from the geotagging data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing helix windings used for a transformer are provided. For example, apparatus comprise an electrically conductive mandrel comprising an elongated body, a head comprising an eyelet detail, and a winding structure disposed along the elongated body.

Abstract: A method and system for AC battery operation. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining, at a battery management unit (BMU) coupled to an AC battery comprising a power converter and a battery that is rechargeable, a bias control voltage that indicates a state of a charge process of the AC battery; and coupling, by a bias control module of the BMU, the bias control voltage to the power converting for communicating the state of the charge process to and from the BMU and the power converter.