US 12,191,669 B2
Distributed energy resources communications network and control system
Nachum Sadan, Carlisle, MA (US); and Bruce Renz, Columbus, OH (US)
Assigned to GRIDEDGE NETWORKS, INC., Acton, MA (US)
Filed by GridEdge Networks, Inc., Acton, MA (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/488,550.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/084,784, filed on Sep. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0102982 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02J 3/46 (2006.01); H04B 3/20 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 3/381 (2013.01) [H02J 3/466 (2020.01); H04B 3/20 (2013.01); H02J 2203/10 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated network and system for distributed communications and control of Distributed Energy Resources (“DER”) on a power utility grid, using a hub and spoke, substation-centric network architecture, and comprising:
a plurality of edge DER (“E-DERM”) devices, each E-DERM device located at a DER point of interconnection;
a single substation DER controller (“D-DERM”) located at a utility substation and configured to manage the plurality of E-DERM devices;
integrated point-to-point secured communications between the D-DERM and each of the plurality of E-DERM devices using dual-channel, redundant paths; and
closed-loop control software algorithms running autonomously on the D-DERM at the utility substation to monitor and control DER connected to power lines emanating from the utility substation.