Patent ID: RE41821

Claim:
A fuel cell-powered generating system ( 8 ) at a site for inclusion as a distributed generating resource in a distributed generation utility power grid ( 10 ), comprising: a. multiple fuel cell power plants ( 18 1-n ) at the site; b. at least one electrical load ( 14 L1-Lx ) located substantially at the site; and c. a site management system ( 11 ) operatively connected in each of the multiple fuel cell power plants ( 18 1-n ), the at least one load ( 14 ), and the utility power grid ( 10 ) for issuing command signals for controlling multiple control functions of the power generating system in an integrated manner, including controlling the multiple fuel cell power plants ( 18 1-n ) and the at least one load ( 14 L1-Lx ) in an integrated manner, with respect to each other and with respect to the at least one load, in, alternatively: i. a grid connected mode of operation having the fuel cell power plants ( 18 ) directly connected to the at least one load ( 14 L1-Lx ) and to the utility power grid ( 10 ), and ii. a grid independent mode of operation having the fuel cell power plants ( 18 ) directly connected to the at least one load ( 14 L1-Lx ) independent of connection to the utility power grid ( 10 ) ; wherein the site management system is configured to control a transition of each fuel cell power plant from operation in one of the grid connect and grid independent modes, to operation in the other .