Patent ID: 8812164

Claim:
A system for power generation having a plurality of energy sources, comprising: a power generation unit; a thermal energy generation unit coupled to the power generation unit, wherein the thermal energy generation unit converts heat energy from the power generation unit into electrical energy; at least one renewable energy conversion unit including a light sensing unit and a renewable energy conversion unit programmable control unit configured to calculate an amount of power available from the renewable energy conversion unit based at least in part on a signal from the light sensing unit; a power distribution unit configured to receive and distribute power from the power generation unit, the thermal energy generation unit and the renewable energy conversion unit; and a master programmable control unit configured to: determine a combined amount of calculated available power, wherein determining the combined amount of calculated available power includes: receiving a signal from the renewable energy conversion unit programmable control unit, the signal including a calculated amount of power available from the renewable energy conversion unit; and calculating an amount of power available from the thermal energy generation unit; modify an amount of power produced by the power generation unit based on the combined amount of calculated available power, wherein the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is such that the power generation unit continues to produce power at a first modified level; and the master programmable control unit is configured to subsequently: determine a combined amount of provided power, wherein determining the combined amount of provided power includes: determining an amount of power provided from the at least one renewable energy conversion unit; and determining an amount of power provided from the thermal energy generation unit; and modify, by the power distribution unit, the amount of power produced by the power generation unit based on the combined amount of provided power, wherein the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is such that the power generation unit continues to produce power at a second modified level.