System and Method for Optimizing Returns of Power Feedstock Producers

• US 20120053748A1
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bennett Hill Branscomb
• Original Assignee: Bennett Hill Branscomb
• Inventors: Branscomb, Bennett Hill
• Granted Patent: US 9,385,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing the returns of power feedstock producers includes automated selection between selling raw feedstock or generating power and storing it in a storage device for subsequent sale under more favorable market conditions. The system may comprise grid-scale electric power storage devices which enable a feedstock supplier—e.g., a natural gas producer—to utilize real-time market data to allocate a feedstock between its sale “as is”—i.e., as fuel or chemical feedstock—and use of the feedstock to produce electric power which may be stored for later sale when the market price for peaking electric power is favorable. In certain embodiments, the system may be entirely automated and the collection of market data, the allocation of feedstock and the generation and subsequent supplying of electric power to a grid may be entirely performed by the system without operator intervention.

Claims

1. A system for selectively supplying electricity to an electric power grid comprising:

an electric power generator that is capable of generating electric power from a hydrocarbon fuel;

a battery capable of storing the electric power generated from the hydrocarbon fuel and configured for connection to an electric power grid; and

,

a processor-based subsystem containing instructions for causing the processor to

receive information concerning the market price of the hydrocarbon fuel when sold to a fuel distributor;

receive information concerning the market price of electric power delivered to an electric power grid; and

calculate an allocation of the hydrocarbon fuel to the electric power generator.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is natural gas.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the electric power generator comprises a gas turbine engine.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery is a grid-scale battery.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein the grid-scale battery comprises a sodium-sulfur battery.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the battery is a mobile battery.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein information concerning the market price of the feedstock when sold to the fuel distributor and information concerning the market price of electric power delivered to an electric power grid is received from a global computer network.

8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the electric power generator is proximate a source of the hydrocarbon fuel.

9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the calculation of allocation includes determining the potential netback on the hydrocarbon fuel.

10. A system of claim 6 where the battery is configured for transport to a remote site for connection to the electric power grid.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the information concerning the market price of electric power delivered to an electric power grid comprises projected market price.