System and method for creating and operating an enhanced distributed energy network or virtual power plant
First Claim
1. A method for managing an electrical energy distribution network of local power production units over a distributed computing network comprising the steps of, (a) receiving and storing data relating to the operating performance of a plurality of local power production units;
- (b) receiving and storing data relating to the local power consumption for the plurality of local power production units;
(c) determining the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity for the plurality of local power production units based upon the operating performance data and the power consumption data;
(d) communicating to at least one power purchasing entity an offer to sell at least part of the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity of the plurality of local power production units;
(e) receiving from at least one power purchasing entity an order to purchase a quantity of excess power generated by the local power production units;
(f) communicating with the plurality of local power production units to provide each local power production unit with instructions regarding the quantity of power to be produced by that unit; and
(g) receiving and storing data relating to the quantity of power transmitted to at least one power purchasing entity by each local power production unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for operating a distributed power generation system comprising one or more Local Production Units (LPPUs) is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data relating to the operating performance of a plurality of LPPUs, receiving and storing data relating to the local power consumption for the plurality of LPPUs, determining the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity for the plurality of LPPUs based upon the operating performance data and the power consumption data, communicating to at least one power purchasing entity an offer to sell at least part of the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity, receiving from at least one power purchasing entity an order to purchase, and communicating with the plurality of LPPUs to provide each LPPU with instructions regarding the quantity of power to be produced. The system includes means for performing each of these steps.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for managing an electrical energy distribution network of local power production units over a distributed computing network comprising the steps of,
(a) receiving and storing data relating to the operating performance of a plurality of local power production units; -
(b) receiving and storing data relating to the local power consumption for the plurality of local power production units;
(c) determining the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity for the plurality of local power production units based upon the operating performance data and the power consumption data;
(d) communicating to at least one power purchasing entity an offer to sell at least part of the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity of the plurality of local power production units;
(e) receiving from at least one power purchasing entity an order to purchase a quantity of excess power generated by the local power production units;
(f) communicating with the plurality of local power production units to provide each local power production unit with instructions regarding the quantity of power to be produced by that unit; and
(g) receiving and storing data relating to the quantity of power transmitted to at least one power purchasing entity by each local power production unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)
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6. A method for managing an energy distribution network of local power production units over a distributed computing network comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving and storing data relating to the operating performance of a plurality of local power production units;
(b) receiving and storing data relating to a local power consumption for the plurality of local power production units;
(c) determining a available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity for the plurality of local power production units based upon the operating performance data and the power consumption data;
(d) calculating a cost of generating excess power for each of the plurality of local power production units;
(e) communicating with at least one power purchasing entity to determine a price that the at least one power purchasing entity is offering to pay for a quantity of power;
(f) comparing the cost of generating excess power for each local power production unit with the purchase price offered by at least one power purchasing entity to determine a quantity of excess power which can be economically provided by each local power production unit at the purchase price; and
(g) communicating with the at least one power purchasing entity the quantity of power to be provided by the local power production units at the purchase price. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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10. A system for managing an energy distribution network of local power production units over a distributed computer network comprising:
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(a) means for receiving and storing data relating to the operating performance of a plurality of local power production units;
(b) means for receiving and storing data relating to a local power consumption for the plurality of local power production units;
(c) means for determining an available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity for the plurality of local power production units based upon the operating performance data and the power consumption data;
(d) means for communicating an offer to sell at least part of the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity of the plurality of local power production units to at least one power purchasing entity;
(e) means for receiving from at least one power purchasing entity an order to purchase a quantity of excess power generated by the local power production units;
(f) means for communicating with the plurality of local power production units to provide each unit with instructions regarding a quantity of power to be produced; and
(g) means for receiving and storing data relating to a quantity of power transmitted to each power purchasing entity. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification