IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0829785
(2013-03-14)
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등록번호 |
US-9376958
(2016-06-28)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Bonora, Anthony
- Duff, David G.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Hickman Palermo Becker Bingham LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
▼
An electricity generation system (EGS) is provided that can be deployed at a point-of-use site (e.g. residence, business, etc.). In one implementation, the EGS includes a generator for generating electricity (where the generator includes a Stirling engine that uses gaseous fuel for a combustion fuel
An electricity generation system (EGS) is provided that can be deployed at a point-of-use site (e.g. residence, business, etc.). In one implementation, the EGS includes a generator for generating electricity (where the generator includes a Stirling engine that uses gaseous fuel for a combustion fuel source), an interface for interfacing with an electrical infrastructure of the site as well as a power grid, and a controller for controlling the operation of the EGS. The EGS may be used in conjunction with the power grid, and may selectively provide electricity to the electrical infrastructure based upon instructions from a utility provider that manages the power grid, based upon an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure, based upon the electrical capacity provided by the power grid, based upon cost considerations, etc. By taking some or all of these considerations into account, the EGS can adapt its behavior to fit changing conditions.
대표청구항
▼
1. A system, comprising: a generator, wherein the generator comprises: a Stirling engine having a gaseous fuel intake for receiving gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel infrastructure at a site, the Stirling engine operable to use the gaseous fuel for combustion to produce heat energy, and to convert th
1. A system, comprising: a generator, wherein the generator comprises: a Stirling engine having a gaseous fuel intake for receiving gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel infrastructure at a site, the Stirling engine operable to use the gaseous fuel for combustion to produce heat energy, and to convert the heat energy into mechanical motion; anda converter operable to convert the mechanical motion provided by the Stirling engine into electricity;an interface coupled to receive electricity from the generator, the interface operable to selectively couple to an electrical infrastructure of the site to provide electricity thereto, wherein the electrical infrastructure is coupled to a power grid to receive electricity therefrom, and wherein the interface comprises a first conditioner and a set of one or more switches, wherein the first conditioner is operable to condition electricity received from the generator to produce electricity having characteristics that are compatible with electricity delivered from the power grid to the electrical infrastructure, and wherein the set of one or more switches is operable to selectively couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure; anda controller operable to automatically control operation of the generator and the interface, the controller configured to automatically control operation of the Stirling engine, including selectively causing the Stirling engine to start or stop, and to automatically control operation of the one or more switches, including selectively causing the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to or decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure, based upon one or more considerations;wherein a set of rate schedule information specifies how much electricity provided by the power grid costs at various times, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically cause the Stirling engine to start or stop, thereby causing the generator to start or stop generating electricity, and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to or decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure, based at least in part upon the rate schedule information. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conditioner is operable to condition electricity received from the generator to produce electricity having a voltage, a frequency, and a phase structure compatible with electricity delivered from the power grid to the electrical infrastructure. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a communication interface operable to receive a first message from a component external to the system, wherein the first message indicates that the system should provide electricity to the electrical infrastructure, and wherein the controller is configured to respond to the first message by automatically causing the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a communication interface operable to receive a first message from a component external to the system, wherein the message indicates that the system should provide electricity to the electrical infrastructure, and wherein the controller is configured to respond to the first message by automatically causing the Stirling engine to be started to cause the generator to start generating electricity and by automatically causing the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication interface is operable to receive a second message indicating that the system should cease providing electricity to the electrical infrastructure, and wherein the controller is configured to respond to the second message by automatically causing the one or more switches to decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure. 6. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication interface is operable to receive a second message indicating that the system should cease providing electricity to the electrical infrastructure, and wherein the controller is configured to respond to the second message by automatically causing the one or more switches to decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure and automatically causing the Stirling engine to stop operation. 7. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication interface is a network interface communicatively coupled to a network, and wherein the first message is received as one or more network packets. 8. The system of claim 3, wherein the communication interface is coupled to the power grid, and wherein the first message is received via the power grid. 9. The system of claim 3, wherein the first message is sent by a utility provider that manages the power grid. 10. The system of claim 3, wherein the first message is sent by a user. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the electrical load surpasses a threshold, and in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the threshold, to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically control operation of the Stirling engine, based at least in part upon the electrical load, to cause the generator to generate more or less electricity to adapt to the electrical load. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a fuel regulator operable to control how much gaseous fuel is fed from the gaseous fuel infrastructure to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine, and wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the Stirling engine by: determining, based at least in part upon the electrical load, whether more or less electricity should be generated by the generator;in response to a determination that less electricity should be generated, causing the fuel regulator to feed less gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine; andin response to a determination that more electricity should be generated, causing the fuel regulator to feed more gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the electrical load surpasses a threshold, and in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the threshold, to automatically cause the Stirling engine to be started to cause the generator to start generating electricity and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries, wherein the interface further comprises one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical load surpasses a threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple both the generator and the one or more batteries to the first conditioner and to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from both the generator and the one or more batteries, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries and a second conditioner, the second conditioner operable to condition electricity received from the one or more batteries to produce electricity that has characteristics that are compatible with electricity from the power grid, wherein the interface further comprises one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical load surpasses a threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure; andautomatically cause the one or more switches to couple the second conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the one or more batteries, conditioned by the second conditioner, to also be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries, wherein the interface further comprises one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical load surpasses a first threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the first threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the generator to the first conditioner and to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure;determine whether the electrical load surpasses a second, higher threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the second threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to also couple the one or more batteries to the first conditioner to cause electricity from both the generator and the one or more batteries, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries and a second conditioner, the second conditioner operable to condition electricity received from the one or more batteries to produce electricity that has characteristics that are compatible with electricity from the power grid, wherein the interface further comprises one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical load surpasses a first threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the first threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure;determine whether the electrical load surpasses a second, higher threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical load surpasses the second threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the second conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the one or more batteries, conditioned by the second conditioner, to also be provided to the electrical infrastructure, such that electricity from both the generator and the one or more batteries is provided to the electrical infrastructure. 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises one or more capacity sensors operable to sense an electrical capacity provided by the power grid to the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the electrical capacity is below a threshold, and in response to a determination that the electrical capacity is below the threshold, to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the threshold is set at a level that is substantially higher than an outage level, wherein the outage level is a capacity level that would be exhibited when the power grid is experiencing an outage. 21. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically control operation of the Stirling engine, based at least in part upon the electrical capacity provided by the power grid, to cause the generator to generate more or less electricity to adapt to the electrical capacity provided by the power grid. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system further comprises a fuel regulator operable to control how much gaseous fuel is fed from the gaseous fuel infrastructure to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine, and wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the Stirling engine by: determining, based at least in part upon the electrical capacity, whether more or less electricity should be generated by the generator;in response to a determination that less electricity should be generated, causing the fuel regulator to feed less gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine; andin response to a determination that more electricity should be generated, causing the fuel regulator to feed more gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine. 23. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises one or more capacity sensors operable to sense an electrical capacity provided by the power grid to the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the electrical capacity falls below a threshold, and in response to a determination that the electrical capacity falls below the threshold, to automatically cause the Stirling engine to be started to cause the generator to start generating electricity and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 24. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries, wherein the interface further comprises one or more capacity sensors operable to sense an electrical capacity provided by the power grid to the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical capacity falls below a threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical capacity falls below the threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple both the generator and the one or more batteries to the first conditioner and to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from both the generator and the one or more batteries, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 25. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries and a second conditioner, the second conditioner operable to condition electricity received from the one or more batteries to produce electricity that has characteristics that are compatible with electricity from the power grid, wherein the interface further comprises one or more capacity sensors operable to sense an electrical capacity provided by the power grid to the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical capacity falls below a threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical capacity falls below the threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure; andautomatically cause the one or more switches to couple the second conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the one or more batteries, conditioned by the second conditioner, to also be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 26. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries, wherein the interface further comprises one or more capacity sensors operable to sense an electrical capacity provided by the power grid to the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical capacity falls below a first threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical capacity falls below the first threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the generator to the first conditioner and to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure;determine whether the electrical capacity falls below a second, lower threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical capacity falls below the second threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to also couple the one or more batteries to the first conditioner to cause electricity from both the generator and the one or more batteries, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure. 27. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries and a second conditioner, the second conditioner operable to condition electricity received from the one or more batteries to produce electricity that has characteristics that are compatible with electricity from the power grid, wherein the interface further comprises one or more capacity sensors operable to sense an electrical capacity provided by the power grid to the electrical infrastructure of the site, and wherein the controller is configured to: determine whether the electrical capacity falls below a first threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical capacity falls below the first threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the generator, conditioned by the first conditioner, to be provided to the electrical infrastructure;determine whether the electrical capacity falls below a second, lower threshold;in response to a determination that the electrical capacity falls below the second threshold: automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the second conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the one or more batteries, conditioned by the second conditioner, to also be provided to the electrical infrastructure, such that electricity from both the generator and the one or more batteries is provided to the electrical infrastructure. 28. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically cause the Stirling engine to start, and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to the electrical infrastructure, when the cost of electricity provided by the power grid is above a threshold. 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the threshold. 30. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically cause the Stirling engine to start or stop, thereby causing the generator to start or stop generating electricity, and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to or to decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure, in accordance with a set schedule. 31. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises: a starting mechanism operable to initiate mechanical motion in the Stirling engine;a fuel regulator operable to control the amount of gaseous fuel provided from the gaseous fuel infrastructure to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine; andan igniter;wherein the controller is configured to start the Stirling engine by automatically causing the fuel regulator to provide gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine, automatically causing the igniter to ignite the gaseous fuel to initiate combustion, and automatically causing the starting mechanism to initiate mechanical motion in the Stirling engine. 32. The system of claim 1, wherein the converter is operable in a first mode in which mechanical motion is converted into electricity and a second mode in which electricity is converted into mechanical motion, and wherein the system further comprises: a fuel regulator operable to control the amount of gaseous fuel provided from the gaseous fuel infrastructure to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine; andan igniter;wherein the controller is configured to start the Stirling engine by automatically causing the fuel regulator to provide gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine, automatically causing the igniter to ignite the gaseous fuel to initiate combustion, and automatically causing the converter to operate in the second mode to initiate mechanical motion in the Stirling engine. 33. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger that uses heated air exhausted from the Stirling engine to preheat incoming air that is provided to the Stirling engine to support combustion. 34. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger that uses heated air exhausted from the Stirling engine to preheat incoming gaseous fuel that is provided to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine. 35. The system of claim 1: wherein the system further comprises one or more batteries and a charger coupled to the one or more batteries;wherein the one or more switches of the interface are operable to selectively couple the generator to the charger to deliver electricity generated by the generator to the charger for charging the one or more batteries;wherein the one or more switches of the interface are operable to selectively couple the one or more batteries to a second conditioner that conditions electricity received from the one or more batteries to produce electricity that has characteristics that are compatible with electricity from the power grid;wherein the one or more switches of the interface are operable to selectively couple the second conditioner to the electrical infrastructure to selectively provide electricity thereto;wherein the first conditioner and the second conditioner may be the same conditioner or separate conditioners; andwherein the controller is configured to automatically control the one or more switches to selectively cause the one or more batteries to be charged and to selectively cause electricity from the one or more batteries to be delivered to the electrical infrastructure, based upon one or more considerations. 36. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaseous fuel infrastructure at the site is an underground gas distribution network, and wherein the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine is coupled to the underground gas distribution network to receive gaseous fuel therefrom. 37. A system, comprising: a generator, wherein the generator comprises: a Stirling engine having a gaseous fuel intake for receiving gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel infrastructure at a site, the Stirling engine operable to use the gaseous fuel for combustion to produce heat energy, and to convert the heat energy into mechanical motion; anda converter operable to convert the mechanical motion provided by the Stirling engine into electricity;an interface coupled to the generator and an electrical infrastructure of the site, the interface facilitating provision of electricity from the generator to the electrical infrastructure, the interface comprising one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site; anda controller operable to automatically control operation of the generator, the controller configured to control operation of the Stirling engine, based at least in part upon the electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure, to cause the generator to generate more or less electricity to adapt to the electrical load;wherein a set of rate schedule information specifies how much electricity provided by the power grid costs at various times, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically cause the Stirling engine to start or stop, thereby causing the generator to start or stop generating electricity, and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to or decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure, based at least in part upon the rate schedule information. 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the Stirling engine by: determining, based at least in part upon the electrical load, whether more or less electricity should be generated by the generator;in response to a determination that less electricity should be generated, causing the Stirling engine to produce less mechanical motion, thereby causing the generator to generate less electricity; andin response to a determination that more electricity should be generated, causing the Stirling engine to produce more mechanical motion, thereby causing the generator to generate more electricity. 39. The system of claim 37, wherein the system further comprises a fuel regulator operable to control how much gaseous fuel is fed from the gaseous fuel infrastructure to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine, and wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the Stirling engine by: determining, based at least in part upon the electrical load, whether more or less electricity should be generated by the generator;in response to a determination that less electricity should be generated, causing the fuel regulator to feed less gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine; andin response to a determination that more electricity should be generated, causing the fuel regulator to feed more gaseous fuel to the gaseous fuel intake of the Stirling engine. 40. A system, comprising: a plurality of generators, wherein each generator comprises: a Stirling engine having a gaseous fuel intake for receiving gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel infrastructure at a site, the Stirling engine operable to use the gaseous fuel for combustion to produce heat energy, and to convert the heat energy into mechanical motion; anda converter operable to convert the mechanical motion provided by the Stirling engine into electricity;a plurality of interfaces, each interface operable to selectively couple a corresponding generator to an electrical infrastructure of the site to provide electricity thereto;one or more load sensors operable to sense an electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure of the site; anda controller operable to automatically control operation of the plurality of generators and interfaces based, at least in part, upon the electrical load imposed on the electrical infrastructure to cause more or less electricity to be provided to the electrical infrastructure to adapt to the electrical load, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the plurality of generators and interfaces by:determining, based at least in part upon the electrical load, whether more or less electricity should be provided to the electrical infrastructure;in response to a determination that less electricity should be provided to the electrical infrastructure, causing at least one of the interfaces to decouple a corresponding generator from the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the corresponding generator to no longer be provided to the electrical infrastructure; andin response to a determination that more electricity should be provided to the electrical infrastructure, causing at least one of the interfaces to couple a corresponding generator to the electrical infrastructure to cause electricity from the corresponding generator to be provided to the electrical infrastructure;wherein a set of rate schedule information specifies how much electricity provided by the power grid costs at various times, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically cause the Stirling engine to start or stop, thereby causing the generator to start or stop generating electricity, and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to or decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure, based at least in part upon the rate schedule information. 41. The system of claim 40, wherein the controller is further configured to control the operation of the plurality of generators and interfaces by: in response to a determination that less electricity should be provided to the electrical infrastructure, causing the Stirling engine of the corresponding generator to stop operation. 42. The system of claim 40, wherein the controller is further configured to control the operation of the plurality of generators and interfaces by: in response to a determination that more electricity should be provided to the electrical infrastructure, causing the Stirling engine of the corresponding generator to start operation. 43. A system, comprising: a plurality of electricity generation systems (EGSs), each EGS implemented at a corresponding site, and each EGS comprising: a generator, comprising: a Stirling engine having a gaseous fuel intake for receiving gaseous fuel from a gaseous fuel infrastructure at a corresponding site, the Stirling engine operable to use the gaseous fuel for combustion to produce heat energy, and to convert the heat energy into mechanical motion; anda converter operable to convert the mechanical motion provided by the Stirling engine into electricity;an interface operable to selectively couple the generator to an electrical infrastructure of the corresponding site to provide electricity thereto, and to selectively couple the generator to a power grid to provide electricity thereto; anda controller operable to automatically control operation of the EGS based, at least in part, upon one or more conditions, to selectively cause the interface to couple the generator to the electrical infrastructure of the corresponding site to provide electricity thereto, and to selectively cause the interface to couple the generator to the power grid to provide electricity thereto;wherein a set of rate schedule information specifies how much electricity provided by the power grid costs at various times, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically cause the Stirling engine to start or stop, thereby causing the generator to start or stop generating electricity, and to automatically cause the one or more switches to couple the first conditioner to or decouple the first conditioner from the electrical infrastructure, based at least in part upon the rate schedule information;wherein the generator of each EGS is selectively coupled to the power grid to provide electricity thereto; andwherein the power grid is local to the plurality of EGSs such that the power grid transports electricity provided by the plurality of EGSs but not electricity provided by any external electricity provider. 44. The system of claim 43, wherein the plurality of EGSs comprises a particular EGS having a particular generator, a particular interface, and a particular controller, wherein the particular EGS is implemented at a particular site having a particular electrical infrastructure, and wherein the particular controller determines, based at least in part upon a load on the particular electrical infrastructure and a capacity of the power grid, whether to cause the particular interface to couple the particular generator to the power grid to provide electricity thereto.
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