GB2499448A

GB2499448A - Vehicle photovoltaic system and connection point

Info

Publication number: GB2499448A
Application number: GB1202816.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Hodgson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-17
Filing date: 2012-02-17
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Also published as: GB201202816D0

Abstract

A solar photovoltaic system having a photovoltaic power generating array 1; a solar charge controller 2; a power storage facility 3 and a power outlet 4 which can be contained wholly onboard a vehicle or moveable object and an associated external power grid having a power inlet 9; control and power processing equipment 15; and grid cabling 14b, to which the solar photovoltaic system can be connected so that any photovoltaic power generated or stored onboard the vehicle can be transferred to the power grid for processing and making available to a customer or market 13.

Description

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Solar PV system and Power Grid.

This invention relates to a solar photovoltaic system which can be mounted onboard a vehicle or other moveable object and an associated power grid to which it can be connected.

Photovoltaic power from the sun is a source of clean energy which can help reduce our dependence on power from fossil fuels and so reduce carbon emissions.

However solar photovoltaic systems have disadvantages:

The sun is not a continuous power source. Power is produced during daylight hours only, and, unless it can be stored, is not available to meet demand for power during the hours of darkness.

The amount of area required to produce power is large in comparison to other sources of power.

Traditionally solar panels are placed on the roofs of buildings, but installation costs are high and the number of suitable roofs is limited.

Photovoltaic panels could be sited on vehicles and moveable objects such as freight containers and power could be stored onboard in power storage facilities such as batteries. This would make many more sites available for the production and storage of solar PV power.

This would be of little practical use unless there was a means by which the PV power produced and stored on so many individual vehicles and moveable objects could be harnessed and made available for use in commercial quantities.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a solar PV system which can be mounted onboard vehicles or moveable objects and an associated power grid to which the power, generated or stored by them can be readily transferred and processed so that a significant source of photovoltaic energy will be available in commercial quantities, some of which, by virtue of the power stored by onboard storage facilities such as batteries and by power storage facilities built into the power grid, could be available to meet power needs during the hours of darkness and periods of peak demand.

The invention comprises:

Onboard Solar system

1. A solar photovoltaic system to be contained wholly onboard a vehicle or other moving object or on a combination of both, (the onboard PV system)

2. Preferably the onboard PV system has at least one solar photovoltaic panel or solar PV power generating device of any kind whatsoever (the solar array)

3. Preferably the onboard PV system has at least one power storage battery or other power storage facility of any kind whatsoever, to enable onboard storage of power generated by the system.

4. Preferably the onboard PV system has at least one power outlet socket or power outlet of any kind whatsoever for the purpose of transferring power from the

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system when connected to any external power grid or external power destination of any kind.

5. Preferably the onboard PV system has at least one power outlet socket or power outlet of any kind whatsoever which can be used to power any equipment onboard the vehicle or moveable object.

6. Preferably the onboard PV system has all necessary cabling to connect components of the system together.

7. Preferably the system will have a system controller which will carry out all the control functions required in each embodiment of the system. These could include, but not exclusively: controlled charging and discharging of the power storage facility; controlled transfer of power from the solar photovoltaic array and/or the power storage facility to an external power grid or other destination; controlled transfer of power from the solar photovoltaic array and/or the power storage facility to an onboard power destination such as the vehicle's normal engine battery or air conditioning; permitting interaction between the onboard system and an external power grid or other power destination to which the inventive system is connected; measuring, monitoring and display of the system performance; permitting the system to be monitored and controlled from a remote location such as a smart phone or internet;

8. Preferably the system controller will include a timer or timing device, to enable power to be kept stored in the onboard facility and discharged to an external destination to which it is connected only during preset hours.

9. Preferably the onboard PV system will have equipment [for example, a dc/dc transformer or a dc/ac inverter] to enable the voltage or current or other characteristics of the power produced or stored to be processed or altered in any way to suit its export to an associated power grid or other external destination.

10. Preferably in some embodiments of the inventive system there is a means of rapidly and easily removing and replacing the onboard storage battery or other power storage facility or device so that a full battery or storage device can be quickly removed and replaced with a discharged one with the advantages that the vehicle can continue on the move storing its power in the replacement battery;

that the charged removed battery can be discharged at leisure externally or added to an external battery bank; that a vehicle fitted with a large solar array need only carry one storage battery rather than numerous heavy storage batteries to store the power produced during the day; that a vehicle need not sit for long periods connected to an external power grid while power from a full onboard storage battery or device is transferred to the external grid or other destination.

11. Preferably in some embodiments of the inventive system, the different components comprising the system can be split or shared between parts of a vehicle or moveable object by reason that some of the components are housed aboard one part and other components are housed aboard the other part or parts. For example, in a flat bed or articulated lorry, or railway locomotive, the control systems, power storage batteries or facility and one or more power outlets could

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be housed onboard the lorry or locomotive, but the solar panel arrays together with one or more power outlets can be housed on trailer or a freight container or containers carried occasionally as freight, each part having sockets or plugs to connect the diverse parts together as necessary so that when a trailer or freight container or containers are being transported, the two are connected and a complete system is comprised. The parts, when separated, may or may not be able to operate as a complete inventive system independently of each other.

12. Preferably the system will contain all necessary safety features commonly known in the art.

13. Preferably the system will have means of measuring and displaying the amount of power stored by the onboard power storage battery or facility and being discharged from it.

14. Preferably the system will have means of measuring and displaying the amount of power being generated by the solar panel array at any time and of monitoring its performance.

15. Preferably the system controller will have control equipment to enable the voltage or current or other characteristics of the power produced or stored to be altered in any way to suit its export to an external destination, for example, a dc/dc transformer or a dc/ac inverter.

16. Preferably the system, when it has both a solar array and a power storage facility has smart control gear and a suitable arrangement of power outlets to enable export of power from the solar array only, or from the onboard power storage facility only, or from both simultaneously.

17. Preferably the system will contain equipment to ensure power can be discharged from the storage facility at different rates and in a controlled manner and to prevent over-discharge of power from the storage facility.

18. Preferably in some embodiments the system controls can enable the inventive system to recognise an external power grid to which it is connected, to ascertain if the system is compatible with the external grid, and if so, to permit the system to respond to instructions or information relayed to it by the external power grid or to permit it to be controlled by the external power grid. The mode of interaction can be by a wireless means of communication or by means of any other kind.

19. Preferably some embodiments of the system will have a smartcard or other means to enable the PV system to be logged on and connected to an external power grid and logged off and disconnected and to which the value of any power transferred to the grid during the period of connection, can be placed to the credit of the smart card for the benefit of its owner or user.

20. Preferably in some embodiments of the inventive system there will be more than one power outlet, one or more being for the export of power exclusively from the solar array, one or more exclusively for the export of power from the power storage facility , and one or more for the export of power from both the solar array

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and power storage together.

21. Preferably in some embodiments, vehicles fitted with the inventive system will have an power outlet fitted underneath the vehicle which is capable of being manoeuvred to make contact with the power terminal of an external power destination fitted in the road or ground below the vehicle, so that when parked over the ground terminal, the vehicle system can make connection enabling power to be transferred from the onboard system to the ground terminal and thus to the external destination. Preferably the connection can be made automatically using a guidance system so eliminating the need for the vehicle driver to leave his cab and eliminating the need for a connecting cable to be manually connected. This could be applicable to vehicles such as, for example, buses or trains.

22. Preferably, in some embodiments, vehicles fitted with the inventive system will have a power outlet on their roof or elsewhere designed to engage to an overhead gantry or other connection to enable power to be transferred automatically.

23. Preferably in systems containing both a solar array and power storage, the power storage facility can be disabled, isolated or removed, so that the system can run independently of the power storage facility using the solar array and an output socket only.

24. Preferably onboard solar panels or arrays will contain unique communication devices such as smart chips to enable their identification and monitoring of their performance etc.

25. Preferably in some embodiments the onboard power outlet can be connected to an external destination for the export of power by means of a flexible cable fitted with a suitable connector on at least one end.

26. Preferably in some embodiments of the system the connection of the system to an external destination can be made by means of an power output socket fitted to an extendable and retractable cable wound on a cable reel housed in a suitable onboard housing.

27. Preferably some embodiments of the system can be retrospectively fitted to existing vehicles or moveable objects or be available in a kit form for this purpose.

28. Preferably some embodiments of the inventive system can be incorporated in a vehicle or moveable object as part of, or during, their manufacturing process.

Power Grid

1. A power grid to which solar photovoltaic systems wholly contained onboard a vehicle or other moveable object can be connected for the purpose of transferring photovoltaic power generated or stored by them to the grid, (the power grid )

2. Preferably the inventive power grid has at least one power inlet socket or power inlet of any kind whatsoever to enable power to be transferred to it from any solar photovoltaic system, wholly mounted onboard a vehicle or other moving object,

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connected to it.

3. Preferably the grid will have one or more housings (grid housing) which can be weatherised and can be in a variety of suitable forms, such as, for example, a kerb-side post or pillar, a wall mounted container or any other form of housing for the purpose of housing one or more or a variety of grid components of any kind such as grid power inlets, system controls, power processing devices and equipment, smart recognition touch pads, display panels, cabling etc.

4. Preferably the grid power inlets are sited at places where the power outlets of solar PV systems mounted onboard vehicles or other moveable objects can readily be connected to them.

5. Preferably the grid contains whatever system controls, devices or equipment as are necessary or desired to process, transform, or convert the electric power supplied to it in whichever way desired by the operator of the grid, and further, that the grid comprises a network of electric cables to transfer or convey the electric power from the grid power inlets to the system controls and power processing devices and equipment forming part of the power grid and from there to any place where there is an end user or market for the electric power as processed by the grid system.

6. Preferably the inventive power grid system will have at least one power inlet which is capable of being connected to the power outlet of an onboard PV system by means of a suitable connection cable or by any other means.

7. Preferably the grid power inlets can take different forms in different embodiments of the inventive system. For example, but not exclusively, they can take the form of a power inlet connector placed in a road surface and designed so that a corresponding power outlet connector mounted on the underside of a vehicle parked over it can make connection and so enable power to be transferred from the onboard PV system to the inventive power grid, or it can take the form of a power inlet connector placed on an overhead gantry so that a corresponding power outlet connector mounted on the roof of on a vehicle can make connection and so enable power to be transferred from the onboard PV system to the inventive power grid. Both examples meaning that power can be transferred to the grid from a vehicle automatically and without the need for a manually fitted connection cable.

8. Preferably, in some embodiments of the system, the system controller and system devices and power processing equipment will be housed in one location and be connected by cabling to grid power inlets located at other locations. For example, in an urban street, there could be a number of weatherised grid posts each housing one or more grid power inlets, situated beside designated street parking bays, with each grid power inlet connected by cabling to a large centralised control unit housing the system controller, user recognition equipment and display, power processing equipment and other grid devices.

P. Preferably in some embodiments of the inventive system, the housings for the grid power inlets will contain, in addition to the grid power inlets, some or all elements of the system controls, power processing equipment and other system

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devices. For example they may contain a smartcard reader and interaction equipment, performance and information display panels, dc to dc transformers and dc to ac inverters etc.

10. preferably the inventive power grid will have a system controller and an arrangement of one or more power inlet sockets to enable the transfer of power from an onboard solar PV array only, a transfer of power from an onboard power storage facility only or a transfer of power from both an onboard solar PV array and power storage facility.

11. Preferably the inventive power grid system will have controls enabling it to set the times when at least some grid power inlets are connected to or disconnected from the rest of the power grid. This will enable the grid system to control, for example, the times when power can be transferred from the power storage facilities of any onboard PV systems connected to the grid power inlets and to call for power to be transferred at times of peak demand or during the hours of darkness.

12. Preferably in some embodiments of the inventive grid system the housings for the grid power inlets may contain a grid power inlet connector on an extendable and retractable flexible cable for connection to an onboard PV system.

13. Preferably some embodiments of the inventive grid system will have smart recognition or identification equipment and facilities such as a smartcard reader fitted in grid housings, and associated smartcards, or other means, which can be issued to potential users of the grid, such as owners of vehicles fitted with an onboard PV system, to enable them to connect to and use the grid ; to check the electrical characteristics of the connected onboard PV system in order to ensure it is compatible with the power grid, and if so, to enable connection and transfer of power from it to the grid; to enable the measurement, and any other details desired, of the amount of power transferred from an onboard PV system during the time connected and to credit, to the associated smartcard or by whatever other means desirable, the value of that power to the user, the vehicle owner or person entitled to payment.

14. Preferably, in some embodiments of the inventive system, the system will have controls and power processing equipment to automatically recognise and enable a range of onboard PV systems with different current and voltage outputs to be connected and transfer power to it.

15. Preferably in some embodiments the grid will contain controls and equipment to modify or transform or convert the electric power supplied to it into whatever form is required and to transfer that electric power to an end user, or market or electric storage facility or to existing or other electric power distribution networks.

16. Preferably in one embodiment, the grid system can serve, though not an exclusive list of potential uses; vehicles or moveable objects parked in urban streets or roads, bus parking yards, airport or other long stay vehicle parks, railway yards or sidings, vehicle manufacturer's stock yards, shipping or freight container storage yards, boat, barge or yacht moorings or marinas, goods storage yards etc.

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17. Preferably in some embodiments of the inventive power grid, there will be a facility with appropriate system controls whereby one or more power storage batteries or other power storage facilities which have been removed from an onboard PV system can be connected to the grid, and any power stored by them can be transferred to the grid when the grid system controls make a call for the transfer of such stored power. An example of such a facility would be a "battery bank" to which a freight company, operating a fleet of lorries fitted with rapid battery removal and replacement facilities, could connect fully charged batteries removed from lorries coming into after their various journeys, and from which they could take discharged batteries to replace in the lorries, so enabling the lorries to continue on another journey with an empty storage battery.. The battery bank facility would be an integral part of the power grid. The grid would be able to draw off the stored power when required, for example at times of peak demand, or during the hours of darkness.

18. Preferably in some embodiments. The grid will have a power storage facility, such as a battery bank, which can store power transferred to the grid from any solar PV systems connected to it, including power from solar arrays and power storage batteries, and can draw on any power stored in the power storage facility for processing and delivery to a market or customer for power from the grid.

19. Preferably in one embodiment, the inventive grid system can simply be added on as an extension to an existing photovoltaic installation, to connect it to areas nearby where vehicles or moveable objects can be parked.

20. Preferably the inventive power grid system will contain all safety features necessary and which are known in the art.

Drawings

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures la and lb show one embodiment of a solar PV system contained wholly onboard a car.

Figure 2 shows one embodiment of a power grid to which a solar PV system as depicted in figure la and lb can be connected.

Figure 3 shows the solar PV system onboard a car as in figures la and lb connected to the power grid as in figure 2.

Figures 4a and 4b show another embodiment of the system in an urban street setting.

Figures 5a and 5b show an embodiment of the onboard PV system applied to a bus.

Figure 6 shows buses with an onboard PV system connected to another embodiment of the power grid.

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Figures la and lb show a solar PV system which can be mounted wholly onboard a car and consisting of a solar photovoltaic array 1; a system and solar charge controller 2; a power storage battery 3; a power outlet 4 for connecting the system to an external grid; a power outlet 4a for connecting the system to internal vehicle equipment; a display panel 7; a remote control 10; system cabling 5 and an associated smartcard 27.

Figure 2 shows a power grid to which a solar PV system mounted wholly onboard a car [as depicted in figures la and lb] can be connected. It consists of a weatherised kerbside power grid post 11 which houses a smartcard reader 15d; two indicator lights 28; a grid power inlet 9; low voltage dc cabling 14a; a central unit 15 containing a grid controller and dc/ac inverter; and high voltage ac cabling 14b which connects the power grid to the local power utility 13. The power grid has an associated smartcard 27.

Figure 3 shows a street in which there are two power grids as described in figure 2, and a car having an onboard PV system as described in figures la and lb which is connected to one of the power grids.

In operation, the grid user connects the power outlet 4 of his car PV system to the power inlet 9 of the inventive power grid by means of a connection cable 8.

He places his grid smartcard 27 on the smartcard reader 15d and if recognition is satisfactory, the power grid controller 15 activates the connection and low voltage dc power can flow from the vehicle's solar array 1 and power storage battery 3 via the connecting cable 8 to the grid. The grid inverter in the grid central unit 15 converts the low voltage dc power into the appropriate high voltage ac current and this is transferred by grid cabling 14b to the local urban utility power grid 13. One of the indicator lights 28 glows green when a connection is satisfactory and activated. The second indicator light glows green when power is being transferred to the power grid. When the user wishes to disconnect from the power grid, he again presents his smartcard 27 to the smartcard reader 15d. The power grid controller 15 measures the amount of power transferred to the power grid during the period of connection and credits its value to the smartcard.

The connection is then deactivated and the user can disconnect the connection cable 8.

Figures 4a and 4b show another embodiment of the grid which can be used, for example, in an urban street situation or a car park.

Three kerbside grid posts 11 each house two indicator lights 28; a grid power inlet 9 and low voltage Dc grid cabling 14a which connects to a central unit 12. The central unit 12 is a weatherised unit which houses a smartcard reader 15d; an interactive display panel 15c; a grid controller 15b and a dc/ac inverter which converts direct current coming into the grid from any vehicle mounted PV systems connected to it into high voltage AC power and this is conveyed to an end user or market 13 by means of high voltage cabling 14b.

The operation of the grid and connected onboard PV systems is as described for figure 3 above.

Figures 5a and 5b show an embodiment of the onboard PV system which can be mounted wholly onboard a bus and consisting of a solar photovoltaic array 1; a system and solar charge controller 2; a power storage battery 3a with quick removal and

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replacement facilities; a power outlet 4 for connecting the system to an external grid; a power outlet 4a for connecting the system to internal vehicle equipment; a power outlet 4b fitted to the underside of the bus; a display panel 7 and system cabling 5. The power outlet 4 is designed for connection to a power grid inlet 9 fitted in a kerbside post or container and power outlet 4b is designed for connection to a grid power inlet 9b fitted in the road surface. Power grid cabling 14 connects the power grid inlets to the rest of the power grid [not shown]

Figure 6 shows eight buses 16 each fitted with the onboard PV system described in figures 5a and 5b connected to an embodiment of the inventive power grid which is suitable for a bus park or bus garage.

The solar PV systems onboard the parked buses 16 are connected to grid power inlets 9 by means of removable connection leads 8. Any power produced from the onboard solar systems can be transferred by means of grid cabling 14a to the grid central control unit 15 which converts the incoming dc power to high voltage ac power and exports this via cabling 14b to an end user which in this embodiment is the local utility power grid 13.

This embodiment of the power grid includes a battery bank 17 connected to the central processing unit 15 by means of grid cabling 14a. The battery bank 17 enables batteries which are removed from buses to be connected to the grid.

One bus 16b, is shown having a fully charged battery 3 a being removed and placed in the battery bank 17. A discharged battery 3b is shown being removed from the battery bank 17 and being placed in bus 16b in place of the fully charged battery. The bus can thus proceed on its next route and its solar array can charge the replacement discharged battery 3b en route. This quick battery exchange facility reduces the need for vehicles to carry an excessive number and weight of batteries, and can mean that large fleets of lorries or transport vehicles can have a large bank of batteries, where power can be stored, as part of the inventive grid system.

Power stored by the batteries in the battery bank 17 is transferred to the grid central processing unit 15 where it is processed and exported to the utility grid 13 as high voltage ac electric.

The grid control unit 15 can set the times at which power stored in the battery bank 17, or in the power storage batteries onboard the buses 16, can be drawn off, processed by the grid central unit 15 and exported to the local utility 13. This means that stored power can be available to the utility grid when required, including during the hours of darkness.

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Claims

Claims Onboard PV system.

1. A system, wholly contained onboard a vehicle or moveable object, comprising at least one solar panel joined with cabling to at least one power outlet suitable for connection to external power destinations, such as an external power grid, by means of a removable connection cable or lead or by any other means.

2. A system according to claim 1 having at least one power outlet for connection to onboard power uses.

3. A system according to claims 1 and 2 having a solar charge controller and at least one onboard power storage battery or other form of power storage facility for the purpose of storing power generated by the onboard system.

4. A system according to claims 1,2 and 3 having a system controller which will carry out a plurality of functions including, but not exclusively: controlled charging and discharging of the power storage facility; controlled transfer of power from the solar photovoltaic array and/or the power storage facility to an external power grid or other destination; controlled transfer of power from the solar photovoltaic array and/or the power storage facility to an onboard power destination such as the vehicle's normal engine battery or air conditioning; permitting interaction between the onboard system and an external power grid or other power destination to which the inventive system is connected; measuring, monitoring and display of the system performance; permitting the system to be monitored and controlled from a remote location such as a smart phone or internet;

5. A system according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 which has a timer or timing controller, to enable power to be kept stored in the onboard facility and discharged to an external destination to which it is connected only during preset hours

6. A system according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 which has controls and equipment to enable the voltage or current or other characteristics of the power produced or stored to be processed or altered in any way to suit its export to an external destination, for example, but not exclusively, a dc/dc transformer or a dc/ac inverter.

7. A system according to any of the preceding claims which has a system controller to enable export of power from the solar array only, or from the onboard power storage facility only, or from both simultaneously.

8. A system according to any of the preceding claims having controls enabling the recognition and identification of an external power grid to which it is connected, and to ascertain if the system is compatible with the external grid, and if so, to permit the system to respond to instructions or information relayed to it by the external power grid or to permit it to be controlled by the external power grid. The mode of interaction being by a wireless means of communication or by means of any other kind.

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9. A system according to any of the preceding claims having a plurality of power outlets, one or more being for the export of power exclusively from the solar array, one or more exclusively for the export of power from the power storage facility, and one or more for the export of power from both the solar array and power storage together, with some of the power outlets being capable of being connected to an external power destination manually by means of a connection cable and some bring capable of being connected by automatic means.

10. A system according to any of the preceding claims in which the power storage facility can be disabled, isolated or removed, so that the system can run independently of the power storage facility using the solar array and an export socket only.

11. A system according to any of the preceding claims in which there is a means of rapidly and easily removing and replacing the onboard storage battery or other power storage facility device so that a full battery or storage device can be quickly replaced with a discharged one

12. A system according to any of the preceding claims in which the power outlet socket can be connected to an external destination by means of a flexible cable fitted with a suitable push connector on at least one end.

13. A system according to any of the preceding claims in which the connection of the system to an external destination can be made by means of a coiled extendable and retractable connection cable wound on a suitably housed onboard cable reel.

14. A system according to any of the preceding claims part of which is housed on a vehicle and part of which is housed, for example, on a container carried by that vehicle or towed by that vehicle so that, when connected together, they operate as a complete system, but may in some embodiments, be able to operate as a complete inventive system independently of each other and in others, may not.

15. A system, according to any of the preceding claims, which has smartcard facilities or other means of any kind, to enable the system to be logged on and connected to, and subsequently logged off and disconnected from, an external power destination for the purpose of transfer of power to that destination, and to enable the value of any power transferred during the period of connection to be credited to the smartcard as payment thereof.

16. A system according to any of the preceding claims which can be retrospectively fitting to existing vehicles or moveable objects or supplied as a kit for that purpose

17. A system according to any of the preceding claims which can be incorporated as part of the manufacturing process of a vehicle or moveable object.

Associated Power Grid

1. A Power Grid to which solar PV systems mounted wholly on a vehicle or other

12. A power grid according to any of the preceding claims having at least one power inlet to which the solar array of an onboard PV system can be connected, and at least one power inlet to which the power storage facility of an onboard PV array can be connected and at least one power inlet to which both the solar array and the power storage facility of an onboard PV array can be connected.

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moveable object can be connected, so that any power generated by or stored by the connected solar PV systems can be transferred to the grid; be processed by it; and be transferred to an end user or market for such power.

2. A power grid according to claim 1 comprising of at least one grid power inlet or connection of any kind or form to which a solar PV system mounted onboard a vehicle or moveable object can be connected, and grid cabling to connect the power inlet to any other components of the grid and to connect the grid to any end user or market for power from the grid.

3. A power grid according to claim 1 and 2 in which one or more grid power inlets are sited in a weatherised housing of any kind or form.

4. A power grid according to claim 1, 2 and 3 which has at least one housing of any shape or form, which may be weatherised, and which may contain one or more or a plurality of components of the grid.

5. A power grid, according to claim 1,2, 3 and 4 having grid housings which contain one or more grid power inlets and which are sited at any place where any solar PV system onboard a parked vehicle or other moveable object may conveniently be connected to them.

6. A power grid, according to claims 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 which has a plurality of satellite housings convenient to vehicle parking spaces and which contain grid power inlets and other grid equipment such as smartcard recognition facilities, connected by cabling to a central container which may be weatherised and which houses centralised grid controls and power processing and other necessary grid equipment.

7. A power grid system according to any of the preceding claims having a means to control or process or transform the electric power from the form in which it is in when it enters the grid at the grid power inlets to the form required by any end user or market for power from the grid.

8. A power grid system according to any of the preceding claims having an intelligent means to identify and communicate in any way with any photovoltaic system or power storage facility connected or attempting to connect to the grid; to identify and communicate by the use of grid smartcards, or in any other way, with their owners or operators; to have the means to enable or reject the connection; to measure and value the amount of electric power transferred to the grid from connected PV systems or power storage facilities during the period of connection and to credit the value of the power transferred to those entitled.

9. A power grid having the means to measure the quantity of power supplied to it, and to measure the amount of power transferred from it to a customer or other market.

10. A power grid according to any of the preceding claims which has a power storage facility to enable it to store power transferred to it from the solar PV arrays or power storage facilities of solar PV systems, sited on vehicles or other moveable

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objects connected to it.

11. A power grid according to any of the preceding claims in which there is a facility for the connection to it of power storage batteries or other power storage facilities or devices being part of PV systems mounted on vehicles or moveable objects and which have been removed from said PV systems for the purpose of connection to the power grid and the discharge of any stored power to the grid.