Smart efficient solar DC micro-grid

A smart wireless DC micro-grid suitable for efficient utilization of energy available from Distributed Renewable Energy Generators (DREGs) is described. This concept is experimentally demonstrated using a 40 W solar photovoltaic (PV) array delivering power to fluorescent lighting; other DC loads such as Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and DC ceiling fans can be easily integrated into the proposed hybrid micro-grid. First-order calculations are presented to show significant energy savings. The proposed architecture is easily scalable to other power levels. It is ideally suited for residential and commercial applications as well as for powering communities that may not have access to a large scale AC grid or to supplement energy usage from renewable energy sources.