Optimized Energy Management System
First Claim
1. A method for deferring demand for electrical energy, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- (1) automatically estimating a cost over a forecasting period for electrical energy, wherein the forecasting period is divided into multiple zones;
(2) determining a demand for electrical energy by one or more devices;
(3) identifying a zone of the multiple zones in which an available marginal power supply capacity is greater that an electrical load of at least one device of the one or more devices;
(4) repeating step (3) to identify contiguous zones having a total duration exceeding a duration of time during which the at least one device is to be operated;
(5) selecting a plurality of the identified contiguous zones as a lower-cost time period; and
(6) automatically deferring electrical consumption for the at least one device from a higher-cost time period to the lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the at least one device to cause the deferral to occur.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand. An energy control unit includes one or more algorithms for scheduling the control of energy consumption devices on the basis of variables relating to forecast energy supply and demand. Devices for which energy consumption can be scheduled or deferred are activated during periods of cheapest energy usage. Battery storage and alternative energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic cells) are activated to sell energy to the power grid during periods that are determined to correspond to favorable cost conditions.
344 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for deferring demand for electrical energy, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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(1) automatically estimating a cost over a forecasting period for electrical energy, wherein the forecasting period is divided into multiple zones;
(2) determining a demand for electrical energy by one or more devices;
(3) identifying a zone of the multiple zones in which an available marginal power supply capacity is greater that an electrical load of at least one device of the one or more devices;
(4) repeating step (3) to identify contiguous zones having a total duration exceeding a duration of time during which the at least one device is to be operated;
(5) selecting a plurality of the identified contiguous zones as a lower-cost time period; and
(6) automatically deferring electrical consumption for the at least one device from a higher-cost time period to the lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the at least one device to cause the deferral to occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:
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(1) determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at a location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity, wherein at least one of the plurality of energy sources has a non-constant marginal cost that varies based on the capacity drawn by a single location from that energy source;
(2) determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source;
(3) determining a demand for electrical energy at the single location; and
(4) dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification