Patent ID: 7385373

Claim:
A distributed energy storage device that is configured for connection to one or more other distributed energy storage devices over an electrical distribution network, the distributed energy storage device comprising: an energy storage medium for storing energy; a controller for controlling operation of the distributed energy storage device; and a communications unit that is configured to enable the distributed energy storage device to communicate and exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices, wherein the controller is configured to: monitor a level of the energy stored in the energy storage medium, determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and one of the other distributed energy storage devices based on electricity transfer information exchanged through the communications unit with the one other distributed energy storage device and one or more of the monitored level of the energy stored in the energy storage medium and a forecasted energy demand, and in response to a determination to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and the one other distributed energy storage device, initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and the one other distributed energy storage device over the electrical distribution network.