U.S. Patent Issued for Management Technology

Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has been issued a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering the company’s innovative approach to the integration of batteries with distributed generation technologies as part of grid-connected backup and emergency power systems.

Sustainable Energy’s patented technology enables the battery to be controlled independently of, and in parallel with, the primary power source. This results in reduced cycling of the batteries and higher overall efficiencies. Excessive cycling — charging and discharging — shortens battery life and compromises the integrity of the backup power system.

Brent Harris, director of technology development, said, “What this means is that the same inverter platform that is used for a range of grid-interactive applications — solar and small wind power fuel cells, etc. — can be easily and inexpensively upgraded to provide the battery management capability for backup power.”

“For example,” he added, “the first markets for fuel cells in Japan and Europe will be as part of combined heat and power systems, where there is no need for backup power and batteries are not desired. On the other hand, the first North American markets for fuel cells will likely be in stand-alone premium power systems, where load following is critical. With our approach to battery management, the same inverter platform can be used by the fuel cell developer for all markets, with battery management being added for North American markets.”