Method and System for Using Renewable Energy Sources

• US 20100161147A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Natcon7 GmbH
• Original Assignee: Natcon7 GmbH
• Inventors: ADAM, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 9,543,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2201/00 Prediction; Simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/22 The renewable source being solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/004 Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/472 For selectively connecting the AC sources in a particular order, e.g. sequential, alternating or subsets of sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/48 Controlling the sharing of the in-phase component
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/50 Controlling the sharing of the out-of-phase component
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Method for using renewable energy sources, comprising

• • at least one remote energy generation plant, which is operated by a renewable energy source,
  • a remote control unit at the location of the at least one remote energy generation plant, which controls the operation thereof, and
  • a central control unit,
• the method comprising the following steps:
• a) Producing a proposed schedule, in which for a future time period presettings for the operation of the at least one remote energy generation plant are established, and transmitting the proposed schedule to the central control unit via a computer network,
• b) Producing a schedule based on the proposed schedule,
• c) Transmitting the schedule from the central control unit to the remote control unit via a computer network,
• d) Automatic control of the at least one remote energy generation plant by the remote control unit according to the schedule.

Claims

1. Method for using renewable energy sources, comprising

at least one remote energy generation plant (10), which is operated by a renewable energy source,

a remote control unit (36) at the location of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10), which controls the operation thereof, and

a central control unit (24),

the method comprising the following steps:

a) Producing a proposed schedule (20), in which for a future time period presettings for the operation of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10) are established, and transmitting the proposed schedule (20) to the central control unit (24) via a computer network (22),

b) Producing a schedule (32) based on the proposed schedule (20),

c) Transmitting the schedule (32) from the central control unit (24) to the remote control unit (36) via a computer network (34),

d) Automatic control of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10) by the remote control unit (36) according to the schedule (32).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that when producing the proposed schedule (20) or the schedule (32), forecasts of the operating conditions of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10) are taken into account.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the presettings of the proposed schedule (20) and/or the schedule (32) comprise an active power and/or reactive power to be generated and/or network system services to be obtained.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the proposed schedule (20) is produced by a person who is locally responsible for the operation of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10).

5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the proposed schedule (20) is produced by means of a computer network (22).

6. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that when producing the schedule (32) in the central control unit, a comparison of the proposed schedule (20) takes place with a forecast demand and the schedule (32) is produced, adapted to the demand, optionally deviating from the proposed schedule (20).

7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the remote control unit (36) comprises a monitoring device (42) which monitors operating data and/or environmental conditions of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the operating data and/or environmental conditions monitored by the monitoring device (42) are transmitted via a computer network (48, 50) to the central control unit (24) and compared with the schedule (22).

9. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of remote energy generation plants (10) are present which are operated by renewable energy sources, a corresponding number of proposed schedules (20) and schedules (32) being produced.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that a schedule (32) is adapted when the comparison of the operating data and/or environmental conditions monitored by the monitoring device exhibits deviations from a schedule (32).

11. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that in the central control unit (24) a report is produced which comprises deviations from the schedule (32) and/or the schedules.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the report is transmitted via a computer network (52) to the person locally responsible for the operation of the at least one respective remote energy generation plant.

13. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that there is a primary coordination point (60) which produces and/or alters a proposed pool schedule (58) for a plurality of remote energy generation plants (10) connected to the central control unit (24), and transmits said proposed pool schedule (58) via a computer network (62) to the central control unit (24).

14. System for using renewable energy sources comprising

at least one remote energy generation plant (10) which is operated by a renewable energy source,

a remote control unit (36) at the location of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10), which may control the operation thereof automatically according to a predeterminable schedule (32), and

a central control unit (24) which comprises a device for receiving a proposed schedule via a computer network (22), a device for producing a schedule (32) based on the proposed schedule (20) and a device for transmitting the schedule to the remote control unit (36) via a computer network (34).

15. System according to claim 14, characterised in that the central control unit (24) is configured such that when producing the schedule (32) it may consider forecasts of the operating conditions of the at least one remote energy production plant (10).

16. System according to claim 14, characterised in that the at least one remote energy generation plant (10) is a biogas plant.

17. System according to claim 14, characterised in that a device is present for inputting a proposed schedule (16) which may be connected via a computer network (22) to the central control unit (24).

18. System according to claim 14, characterised in that the remote control unit (36) comprises a monitoring device (42) which is connected to the remote energy generation plant (10) and/or to sensors, and may monitor operating data and/or environmental conditions (14) of the at least one remote energy generation plant (10).

19. System according to claim 18, characterised in that the monitoring device (42) may be connected via a computer network (48, 50) to the central control unit (24), and may transmit the monitored operating data and/or environmental conditions to the central control unit (24).

20. System according to claim 14, characterised in that a plurality of remote energy generation plants (10) are present which are operated by renewable energy sources.

21. System according to claim 14, characterised in that in the central control unit (24) a reporting module (30) is present, which may produce a report which comprises deviations from the schedule (32) and/or the schedules.

22. System according to claim 20, characterised in that a primary coordination point (60) is present, which may have access to a device (54) by which a proposed pool schedule (58) for a plurality of remote energy generation plants (10) connected to the central control unit (24) may be produced and/or altered, the coordination point (60) being able to be connected via a computer network (62) to the central control unit (24) and being able to transmit the proposed pool schedule (58) thereto.