Hawaii Patent of the Month – September 2022
Solar power has become an increasingly popular way to obtain electricity. While the initial costs may be steep, the long-term positive effects include utilizing a renewable energy source, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing your electricity bill.
Batteries are an important component of solar panels, which enables the energy collected to be stored for use when the sun has gone down. Power conditioners are necessary systems that improve the quality of power from photovoltaic (PV) cells before transferring the energy into storage batteries. They typically implement a Maximum Power Point Tracking mechanism, which ensures the PV cells operate at their maximum power. These power conditioners are expensive, have a short lifespan due to increased power consumption, and are typically large in size.
Hive Energy Systems, LLC (Hive Energy Systems) is focused on providing users with high-efficiency lighting products and energy storage solutions. They want to ensure that power is stored in the most efficient manner. That means developing unique power conditioners that can better control energy transfers from PV panels to storage batteries.
Their new technology directly connects storage batteries to the output of PV panels through a power conditioner. Their power conditioner easily transfers power from the PV cells to the storage battery, preventing current from flowing backwards out of the battery. Hive Energy Systems’s development also limits energy transfer when the battery is fully charged. Unlike traditional power conditioners, their inverter prevents the battery charge from reaching zero, which can often destroy the chemistry of the battery. The development also automatically disconnects and reconnects to the battery as needed to preserve battery life and efficiency. With these innovative features, Hive Energy Systems helps users to prioritize their power usage in an efficient manner.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
