ENERGY ARBITRAGE BY LOAD SHIFTING
First Claim
1. A computer-assisted method of electrical energy load shifting utilizing an electrical energy storage device connected to receive electrical energy from an electrical power grid, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a budget of unreserved cycles of discharging and charging the electrical energy storage device for load shifting purposes within a given time period;
establishing a schedule for load shifting within sub-parts of said time period, based upon said budget and input data regarding multiple rate levels applicable to electrical energy available from the electrical power grid during the sub-parts of said time period; and
executing load shifting cycles within one or more of said sub-parts of said time period, in accordance with said schedule, by discharging electrical energy stored in said electrical energy storage device in a first interval for which a first rate is applicable to energy available from the grid, and charging said electrical energy storage device with electrical energy obtained from the grid during a second interval for which a second rate lower than said first rate is applicable to energy obtained from the grid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for realizing energy cost savings through load shifting utilizing a battery bank that may serve as a battery back-up on a premises for providing power in the event of a grid power outage or curtailment. A budget of unreserved cycles of battery charging and discharging is determined, taking into account the rated battery life in terms of both time (e.g., years) and number of cycles. That cycle budget is allocated to days of the year identified as days on which the greatest savings can be realized through load shifting. These days are identified by taking into account the peak and off-peak usage rates applicable on those days, any rate tiers that may be entered as a result of the additional energy expended to load shift, and the round trip efficiency of the charge/discharge cycles. Load shifting is executed in accordance with an established schedule of the identified days, by discharging the batteries during peak usage hours and charging the batteries during off-peak periods. In the event the budget of unreserved cycles exceeds the number of profitable days for load shifting, the depth of discharge on each cycle may be increased to realize greater savings on the scheduled days, at the tolerable cost of losing cycles not expected to be used in any event.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A computer-assisted method of electrical energy load shifting utilizing an electrical energy storage device connected to receive electrical energy from an electrical power grid, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a budget of unreserved cycles of discharging and charging the electrical energy storage device for load shifting purposes within a given time period; establishing a schedule for load shifting within sub-parts of said time period, based upon said budget and input data regarding multiple rate levels applicable to electrical energy available from the electrical power grid during the sub-parts of said time period; and executing load shifting cycles within one or more of said sub-parts of said time period, in accordance with said schedule, by discharging electrical energy stored in said electrical energy storage device in a first interval for which a first rate is applicable to energy available from the grid, and charging said electrical energy storage device with electrical energy obtained from the grid during a second interval for which a second rate lower than said first rate is applicable to energy obtained from the grid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrical energy management system permitting load shifting, comprising:
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power electronics for interfacing with an electrical power grid in order to obtain power therefrom; an electrical energy storage device for receipt and storage of electrical energy from the grid through said power electronics; and a control module configured to control said power electronics to carry out load shifting within a given time period, in accordance with a schedule for load shifting within sub-parts of said time period, said load shifting cycles being executed within one or more of said sub-parts of said time period by discharging electrical energy stored in said electrical energy storage device in a first interval for which a first rate is applicable to energy available from the grid, and charging said electrical energy storage device with electrical energy obtained from the grid during a second interval for which a second rate lower than said first rate is applicable to energy obtained from the grid. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An electronic data storage medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer forming part of an electrical energy management system permitting load shifting, cause the system to perform the steps of:
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establishing a budget of unreserved cycles of discharging and charging an electrical energy storage device for load shifting purposes within a given time period; establishing a schedule for load shifting within sub-parts of said time period, based upon said budget and input data regarding multiple rate levels applicable to electrical energy available from the electrical power grid during the sub-parts of said time period; and executing load shifting cycles within one or more said sub-parts of said time period, in accordance with said schedule, by discharging electrical energy stored in said electrical energy storage device in a first interval for which a first rate is applicable to energy available from an electrical power grid, and charging said electrical energy storage device with electrical energy obtained from the electrical power grid during a second interval for which a second rate lower than said first rate is applicable to energy obtained from the grid. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification