Abstract:
A method of controlling power to a device which consumes energy from an energy network. The network has a renewable energy generator and a mains supply connected thereto to supply energy to the network. The method includes determining energy requirements of the device, and determining a renewable energy component of the supplied energy generated by the renewable energy generator. The method compares the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy, and controls the energy to the device in accordance with the comparison between the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a 371 national stage entry of International Application No. PCT/GB2011/051451 filed Aug. 1, 2011. The present application also claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to GB patent application No. 1014770.0 filed Sep. 6, 2010. The entire content of each of the foregoing applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for controlling power. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Recently, consumers have become acutely aware of their environmental impact. Moreover, as energy prices continue to rise, consumers are looking at different ways to manage their energy consumption. In particular, consumers are interested in managing their electrical consumption. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is an aim of the present disclosure to address this issue. 
         [0005]    According to a first aspect, there is provided a method of controlling power to a device which consumes energy from an energy network, the network also having a renewable energy generator and a mains supply connected thereto supplying energy to the network, the method comprising: determining the energy requirements of the device; determining the renewable energy component of the supplied energy which is generated by the renewable energy generator; comparing the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy; and controlling the energy to the device in accordance with the comparison between the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for controlling power to a device which consumes energy from an energy network, the network also having a renewable energy generator and a mains supply connected thereto supplying energy to the network, the apparatus comprising: a determiner operable to determine the energy requirements of the device and to determine the renewable energy component of the supplied energy which is generated by the renewable energy generator; a comparator operable to compare the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy; and an energy controller operable to control the power to the device in accordance with the comparison between the energy requirements of the device with the renewable energy component of the supplied energy. 
         [0007]    According to a further aspect, there is provided a graphical user interface for controlling a system having a device which consumes energy from an energy network, the network also having a renewable energy generator and a mains supply connected, thereto supplying energy to the network, the interface having a pictorial representation of the device, the pictorial representation being selectable, wherein upon selection, the energy requirements of the device to which the representation refers being compared to the renewable energy component of the supplied energy; and in the event of the comparison determining that the energy requirements of the device exceed the renewable energy component, indicating to the user a warning. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  describes a home energy network according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  describes a home energy distribution device according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  describes a unit interface according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  describes a graphical user interface used in the home energy network according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  describes a layered software component stack implemented in the home energy network according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  describes a home energy network  200 . This network  200  is located within a user&#39;s home. However, the disclosure is not so limited. Within the network  200 , a home energy gateway (HEG)  100  is provided. The HEG  100  will be explained fully with reference to  FIG. 2 . However, the HEG  100  is a device that is connected to a main supply of electricity.  230 . This mains supply is a single phase, 220V alternating current (AC) domestic supply. However, the disclosure is not so limited. 
         [0015]    The disclosure may be applied to an industrial supply having three phases, or may be a domestic supply having a different voltage, for example 110V AC supply. It is envisaged that the home energy gateway will be installed to take power from a wall socket. A smart meter can be installed between the circuit breaker and the ring main within a domestic house. This allows the smart meter to measure the mains consumption. The HEG  100  will request these measurements from the smart meter. This allows the HEG  100  to control the power supplied to each device attached to the main supply within the domestic dwelling, whilst still being protected from surges in power that would potentially damage the HEG  100 . 
         [0016]    Additionally, the HEG  100  is connected to the Internet  210  using a broadband router  220 . The broadband router  220  may be wirelessly connected to the HEG  100 , or indeed wired to the HEG  100 . The router  220  is connected to a television, PC web browser and a Sony® Dash®, although other connectable devices are envisaged in addition to or as an alternative to these mentioned devices. These display/control devices  225  connected to the router  220  will be explained hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0017]    As the HEG  100  is connected to the Internet  210 , the user is able to view energy statistics of the network  200  whilst the user is away from the premises. In particular, the user may view the statistics using an appropriate interface such as Google PowerMeter This may be viewed on an Android enabled device such as an Xperia X10 made by Sony Ericsson. Alternatively, the user may access a WiFi network using a Sony Vaio® netbook and may use Google PowerMeter to view the energy statistics of their premises or indeed configure the HEG  100  in any suitable manner. Different scenarios will be explained later. 
         [0018]    The HEG  100  is also connected to a Home Area Network (HAN)  240 . The HAN  240  is a controller for each plug socket  250  in the home. The plug sockets  250  within the home  250  will be described later with reference to  FIG. 3 . However, each plug socket  250  has an identifier which uniquely identifies that plug socket within the home. In other words, the plug socket  250  will have an identifier attributed to it that is unique within the home, but may or may not be globally unique. However, the disclosure is not so limited. In embodiments, the plug sockets may have smart meters inserted therein. These smart meters would, in this case, have the identifiers attributed thereto. In embodiments, the HEG  100  will allocate the plug socket identifier during an initial setup operation of the system. 
         [0019]    The plug sockets  250  are allocated into three different groups,  235 A,  235 B and  235 C. 
         [0020]    These groups may be allocated in terms of location of the plug sockets  250 . For example, in the specific embodiment, the plug sockets in the living room are allocated as together as group  235 A, the plug sockets in the bathroom are allocated as together as group  235 B, and the plug sockets in the kitchen are allocated as together as group  235 C. However the disclosure is not so limited. Indeed, any kind of grouping of plug sockets is envisaged. Moreover, one plug socket may be allocated to one or more groups. 
         [0021]    So far, only consumers of electrical power have been described. However, in embodiments, electrical generators may be connected to the network  200  instead of, or in addition to the consumer devices. In embodiments, a solar panel  255  may be connected. Additionally, connected to the network are other devices that can act as electrical consumers or electrical generators. For example, a fixed battery  260  and an electric vehicle  265  are connected to the network  200  using a plug socket. The fixed battery  260  is an array of battery cells which may be charged when electricity is plentiful, such as when few other electrical consumer devices are operating and the solar panels  255  are generating electricity or when electricity is at a cheaper rate, for example overnight. The electricity held by the fixed battery  260  is used by the home network when electrical demand is high, or the cost of externally generated electricity is high. Similarly, the batteries for the electric vehicle  265  will act in a similar manner to the fixed battery  260  by storing energy when it is cheaper or plentiful and using the energy when it is more expensive. 
         [0022]    Additionally, a so-called “green plug”  257  is shown as connecting the electric vehicle  265  to the network  200 . The “green plug”  257  may be a physical device as shown in general in  FIG. 1 , but may also be a grouping of plug sockets  250  as will be explained later. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the HEG  100 . The HEG  100  includes a controller  130  which has the HAN connected thereto. The controller  130  controls the HAN which in turn controls the other plug sockets  250 . In particular, the controller  130  sends control signals to the plug sockets  250 , via the HAN, to control the operation of the plug socket. Additionally, the controller  130  receives data back from the plug sockets, via the HAN  240 , which determines the power consumption of a device connected to the plug socket  250 . 
         [0024]    The controller  130  is, in embodiments, a microprocessor which is configured to be controlled by software code. The software code may be stored on the HEG  100  in memory (not shown), or may be controlled by software which is located remotely, for example over the Internet, or a home computer network. The software may be stored on any computer readable medium such as solid state memory, or a magnetic or optically readable medium. Indeed, the software may be stored in the controller itself allowing the software to be updated from other locations. 
         [0025]    The controller  130  is connected to a communication device  120  which enables the HEG  100  to be connected to the Internet. The communication device  120  is configured to allow the remote devices  205  to have information displayed thereon, but also allows the users of the remote devices to interface with the HEG  100 . 
         [0026]    Also connected to the controller  130  is a display interface  140 . The display interface  140  connects to the display devices  225  of  FIG. 1 . The display interface  140  is a bidirectional interface that allows display data to be provided to the display devices  225  showing the energy consumption of the network  200 , but also allows the user to interact with the display devices  225  to control the network  200  in any suitable manner. Different scenarios will be discussed later. It should be noted here that any display device can connect over the network and information from the HEG  100  may be obtained using a service interface. The display device may then decide how to display the information, for example, using an application specific to the display device. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  describes a plug socket  250  shown in  FIG. 2  according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The plug socket is typically mounted on a wall in the home and is capable of receiving a plug from electrical devices. However, although the following plug socket  250  is mounted on a wall and can receive a plug from an electrical device, the disclosure is not so limited. Another example of a plug socket  250  may be a ceiling light fitting into which a light bulb is placed. The plug socket  250  should therefore be interpreted as a mounting into which an electrical device (either consuming unit or generating unit) may be removably connected. 
         [0028]    The HEG  100  is connected to the plug socket  250  through mains interface  315 . The mains interface  315  is designed to extract data packets sent over the mains system from the HEG  100 . Additionally, the mains interface  315  is .operable to send data packets over the mains system to the HEG  315 . Such techniques for sending data over the power lines exist and are defined in systems such as the HomePlug Alliance as the skilled person would appreciate. Additionally, or alternatively, other techniques can be used for transmitting the appropriate data packets between the HEG  100  and the plug socket  250 . One option would be to have wireless communication, or have a separate wired network installed. For example techniques defined in Plugwise, PloggZgb (using the Zigbee standard), PloggBt (using the Bluetooth standard), DIN meters (using Serial GPIO standard) or Flukso (using WiFi) may be used. 
         [0029]    A memory  320  is connected to the mains interface  315 . The memory  320  is, in embodiments, non-volatile and is configured to store the unique identification data which uniquely identifies the plug socket therein. 
         [0030]    A device adaptor  305  is also connected to the mains adapter  315 . The device adaptor  305  is controlled by the mains adaptor  315  and controls the mains power to and from the device. Additionally, the device adaptor  305  is configured to read the amount of power consumed or generated, by the device and to pass this data to the mains adaptor  315 . The mains adaptor  315  passes this data back to the HEG  100  over the home area network. Moreover, the status of the device is monitored by the device adaptor  305 . In other words, when the device is switched off by the user, the device adaptor  305  sends a flag to the mains adaptor  305  which generates data identifying the device and the current state of the device. It should be noted here that although the device adaptor  305  is described as being separate to the device, the disclosure is not so limited. For example, the device adaptor  305  may be integrated into the device. This data is passed to the HEG  100  over the home area network. Moreover, if the device is capable of being placed in a standby mode (such as a television), then the power consumed by the device will drop to a level such as 30% of full power. The device adaptor  305  identifies that the power consumed by the device has dropped below a certain level and that the device must be therefore in a standby mode. A flag identifying this is passed to the mains adaptor  315 . The mains adaptor  315  then generates data identifying the device and the current state of the device and passes this over the network to the HEG  100 . 
         [0031]    Moreover, the device adaptor  305  is configured to send control signals to the device. In particular, the device adaptor  305  is configured, to send a power down control signal to the device. This power down control signal instructs the device to enter a standby state, or to fully shut down in a period of time. In order to do this the device needs to be able to be controlled in such a manner. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a layered software stack  500  detailing a protocol by which the HEG  100  controls the different plug sockets  250 . On the application layer  510 , the graphical user interface (GUI) allows user interaction with the system when the system is run. Examples of the GUI are shown in  FIG. 4 . The GUI allows the user to see the operational status of the system as a whole by means of graphs and bar charts. Additionally, given a particular billing tariff, as the HEG  100  receives data from each of the plug sockets  250  relating to the energy consumption of each device, the GUI can display the overall cost of a device over a given period of time, such as a day, month or even year. Of course, it is possible to determine the overall cost of electricity consumption of the whole system over a period of time. 
         [0033]    Although the GUI has been explained with reference to the display of data, the GUI is also used to control the HEG  100 . More specifically, the user can interact with the GUI to determine the setup of the HEG  100 . For example, as noted before, certain plug sockets  250  can be grouped together. This allows a group of devices to be formed. These groups may be numerous. For example, all plug sockets  250  in the living room can form one group. However, other groups may be formed such as a high priority group which must never be switched off. Plug sockets in this group are connected to devices which may include a fridge or freezer, power to certain security lights, to heating systems or cooking appliances. Also, plug sockets  250  may move from one group to another group at a certain time. For example, during the summer, the heating system may be a medium priority plug socket because the weather is typically warm outside. However, during winter, when the weather is cold, the plug socket connected to the heating system will become a high priority plug socket. Similarly, during daylight hours, the plug socket connected to the security light may be a low priority plug socket. However, during the evening, the plug socket connected to the security lights will become a high priority plug socket. 
         [0034]    The user defined setup is stored, in memory accessible by the HEG  100 . For example, the memory may be located within the HEG  100  or may be located remotely from the HEG  100  but is accessible by the HEG  100 . For example, the memory may be located over a network. Also stored within the memory is the data collected by the HEG  100  from each of the plug sockets  250 . Specifically, the HEG  100  stores data identifying the plug socket  250  and stores data identifying the amount of electricity consumed or generated by the plug socket  250  at any one time. The time at which a device connected to a certain plug socket  250  consumes or generates the electricity is also stored. This is part of an upper tier of the Home Energy Gateway application layer  520 . This data is fed down to the lower tier of the Home Energy Gateway application layer  530  which provides control instructions to be fed to the different plug sockets  250 . 
         [0035]    The data fed from the lower tier of the Home Energy Gateway application layer  530  is fed down to the drivers for the hardware layer  540  which sends instructions to each plug socket  250 . 
         [0036]    A number of different, non-limiting scenarios using the above system will now be described. 
         [0037]    Scenario 1 
         [0038]    The above system enables the intelligent control of power to different devices around, the home. For example, if one of the groups of the devices consists of a personal computer (PC) connected to a dedicated monitor and a dedicated printer, then when the computer is switched off, the monitor or the printer will not be used. However, if the printer is switched off, the PC and the monitor may still require power. Therefore, the power status of the PC determines the power status of the monitor and printer. Accordingly, the plug socket  250  to which the PC is connected is a “master” plug socket in a group formed of the PC, monitor and printer, and the plug socket connected to the monitor and the printer are “slave” plug sockets. So, when the PC is switched off, the mains adaptor  315  in the “master” plug socket informs the HEG  100  that the PC has been switched off. The HEG  300  then sends a command to the “slave” plug sockets instructing those sockets to switch the power off to those “slave” devices. 
         [0039]    It is also possible to set the amount of power down applied to each “slave” device. 
         [0040]    For example, the HEG  100  can instruct the “slave” plug socket to place the device into standby when the power to the “master” device is switched off. This control over the amount of shut-down in the slave device is useful if the slave device needs to start quickly, or if user data needs to be retained. 
         [0041]    Additionally, a plug socket connected to a light may be the “master” plug socket for all devices in the room during night-time hours. When the light is switched off, then it is assumed that the room is no longer in use. Therefore, the devices in that room can be appropriately shut-down or placed into standby. However, during daylight hours, the plug socket to which the light is connected may not be a “master” plug socket. Indeed, a motion sensor could be attached to the HEG  100 . In this case, if the motion detector detects the movement of another person in the room, if the light connected to the master socket is switched off, then if the motion detector detects movement in the room, the remaining “slave” plug sockets are not switched off. In other words, the allocation of a plug socket to be a master or slave plug socket in a group may change at different times of the day, month or year. 
         [0042]    Scenario 2 
         [0043]    As noted above, the HEG  100  is configured to record the usage of each plug socket  250  within the network during the day. Therefore, the HEG  100  stores the operational status of each device in the network at all times during the day. Over time, this means that a typical usage profile for the network can be formed. This is advantageous in a security scenario when a user is away from the house. 
         [0044]    Typically, when a user leaves a property for a number of days, they attach electrical devices to timers which switch on and off at certain times. However, over time, it becomes apparent that the user is not in because the lights and devices switch on at the same time irrespective of the day of the week. 
         [0045]    For example, on a weekday (Monday-Friday), as many people work, the energy consumption in a network is low compared to the evening when many devices such as televisions, PCs, lights and cooking equipment are used as people return from work. Similarly, during the day at the weekend, when many people do not work, the usage pattern is very different to the usage pattern of the daytime usage Monday-Friday. Therefore, an observer would see that having the same devices coming on at the same time, irrespective of the day of the week, is unconvincing. 
         [0046]    Using the information stored by the HEG  100 , it is possible to identify the time and day that different devices are operational. For example, a plug socket to which a radio is connected may be on every day Monday to Friday between 6 am until 8:30 am, a kitchen light is on between 5:30 pm until 8:30 pm, and is on again between 10 pm and 10:30 pm. However, during the weekend, the radio may be on between 5 am and 10 am and the kitchen light may be on 4 pm until 10 pm. 
         [0047]    Therefore, when a user leaves the house for a period of time, it is possible for the user to set a security group of devices which switches the plug sockets on and off in accordance with the energy usage pattern observed by the HEG  100 . 
         [0048]    In a default situation, all the devices that a user would normally use would be operated. 
         [0049]    However, this may mean that unnecessary lights and devices are operated which increases cost and environmental impact. In order to reduce the costs and environmental impact, the user may define different categories of device. For example, if one light is a security light at the front of the house and is easily observed and a second light is a kitchen light in the back of the house and, as such is not visible to an observer, the user may decide to not switch on the kitchen light, but the security light must be switched on during the security mode. This reduces costs and environmental impact. 
         [0050]    Moreover, the user may wish to set an energy cap to ensure that the energy expenditure does not exceed a threshold. In this case, the user may wish to switch on the kitchen light if the fixed battery has a certain level of charge. Additionally, the user may wish to allocate energy to certain groups of devices to operate during security mode. For example, the user may wish for the fridge and freezer and all security lights to operate irrespective of the cost. However, the user may define other devices such as interior lights and a radio as being a medium priority device. 
         [0051]    Low priority devices such as televisions may also be set. The user can then allow the medium priority devices to operate only when enough energy has been generated by the solar panels, or a certain level of energy is stored in the fixed battery. Similarly, low priority devices will only be allowed to operate if all the medium priority devices are operational. 
         [0052]    Scenario 3 
         [0053]    Although the foregoing has been described as monitoring usage patterns, it is possible to use the HEG  100  to monitor energy production. As noted earlier, the solar panels  255  are connected to the network  200 . The solar panels are typically connected using a grid-tied-inverter placed in front of the mains circuit breaker. The power generated by the solar panel will be monitored using a smart meter. It is therefore possible to determine the amount of energy produced by the solar panels  255  over a given timeframe. 
         [0054]    It may be desirable for a user to define one or more plug socket(s) within the network which will only operate when the device can be powered by energy from the solar panels  255 . This is termed a “green plug”. This energy may be instantaneous energy (i.e. energy that is currently being generated by the solar panel  255 ) or may be energy that is produced by the solar panels but stored in the fixed battery  260 . In other words, the “green plug” uses energy that is generated within the home and does not use energy from the mains supply  230 . The “green plug” may only operate when the consumption of the device connected to the network is less than the power supplied by the solar panel or fixed battery  260  or the actual power to the device may be reduced when the power from the fixed battery  260  or the power from the solar panel is reduced. It is also envisaged that the “green plug” may have a combination of energy provided simultaneously by both the solar panel and the fixed battery. For example, if the energy provided by the solar panels is low, then the fixed battery may supplement the energy provided to the green plug to operate devices. 
         [0055]    Additionally, the HEG  100  determines the difference between the instantaneous energy generated by the solar panel  255  and the energy consumed by the device. If the device does not consume all the energy that is produced by the solar panel  255 , then the surplus renewable energy is stored in the fixed battery  260 . 
         [0056]    One example of this is charging batteries, for example in an electric vehicle. A user may wish to only charge the electric vehicle when there is locally produced electricity, which may be free. Moreover, the green plug may be configured to operate only when the locally produced electricity (for example from the solar panels) exceeds the consumption of the electricity. In other words, the green plug only operates when there is a surplus of locally generated electricity. The amount of power supplied to the batteries can be varied depending on the amount of renewable energy supplied by the solar panels  255 . In other words, if the amount of energy supplied by the solar panels  255  is low then the fixed battery will be charged slowly. However, if the energy supplied by the solar panel  255  is high, then the battery will be charged more quickly. Another example may be an electric fan used to cool a room. The amount of current provided to the fan may be reduced when the amount of electricity produced by the solar panels or fixed battery is low. However, with some other devices (such as televisions) it is not possible to reduce the amount of power whilst still having the device operational. In this case, the device may only be powered for a specified period from the solar panels. Also, in embodiments, the device attached to the “green plug” may be powered from a priority of sources. For example, the green plug may power the device from the solar panels as a first priority, then as a second priority, the device may be powered from the fixed battery and finally, the device may be powered from the mains electricity. 
         [0057]    Indeed, with some devices, like refrigerators, it may be appropriate to power the fridge from the green plug for a short period of time (to cool the interior of the refrigerator), and then to supply power again a short while later. This would reduce the amount of overall power used by the refrigerator. 
         [0058]    Moreover, in the situation where the user would like to have a different socket allocated to be the “green plug”, the display devices  225  or  205  may show the network containing all the plugs in the network. The user would then simply be able to touch the appropriate plug and make this a “green plug”. This selection would be passed back to the home network gateway and the profile of the plug socket would be updated. Indeed, the graphical user interface could be extended to show when a “green plug” does not have enough renewable energy provided by the solar panels or the fixed battery. In this case, the user will be given the option of using mains electricity to supplement or replace the locally generated power. 
         [0059]    Although the foregoing has been explained with reference to the plug sockets having the mains adaptor  315  and the device adaptor  305 , the disclosure is not so limited. It is possible that the mains adaptor  315  and the device adaptor  305  are integrated into the device itself. Of course, the memory  320  storing the identifier would also need to be integrated into the device. This would mean that rather than certain plug sockets being given certain status within the system, the device would have such a status. This means that the device can be plugged into any socket and moved around the house as required. Also, this means that conventional plug sockets can be used and would ensure backward compatibility. 
         [0060]    Further, it is envisaged that the plug sockets may be an adaptor that can be plugged into a conventional plug socket. The device would then plug into the adaptor. Again this ensures backwards compatibility. 
         [0061]    Further, although the foregoing has been explained with reference to the data being transferred over the mains network, the disclosure is not limited and the data may be transferred over a wireless, or wired network separate to the mains power system. 
         [0062]    Although the foregoing has been explained with reference to solar panels, any form of renewable energy, such as a wind turbine is also envisaged.