ENERGY ALLOCATION FOR ENERGY STORAGE COOPERATION

• US 20120242148A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engie Storage Services NA LLC (ENGIE SA)
• Original Assignee: Green Charge Networks LLC (ENGIE SA)
• Inventors: GALATI, RICHARD C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,837,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• 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

Abstract

Systems that allow energy allocation for energy storage cooperation are disclosed, with specific methods outlined concerning allocating energy stored by an energy storage device between a utility provider, a customer, and/or a third party. The methods may include allocating a portion of stored energy for a utility provider'"'"'s benefit which may be gained as a result of a part of the allocated energy being dispatched into a utility network and allocating another portion of energy stored in the energy storage device for the benefit of the customer. Additional embodiments disclose the dispatching of the energy stored, signals used to bring about a dispatch, the nature of the relationship between the utility provider, the customer, and the energy stored, methods for making energy available to a utility provider without a prearranged reservation of the energy, penalties for misallocating energy, apparatus for allocating energy and causing dispatch, and more.

Claims

1. A method of allocating energy storage between a utility provider and a customer, the method comprising

a. allocating a first portion of energy stored in an energy storage device for the benefit of the utility provider, which benefit may be gained by the utility provider as a result of a part of the first portion of allocated energy being dispatched into a utility network;

and

b. allocating a second portion of energy stored in the energy storage device for the benefit of the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the first portion of allocated energy and the second portion of allocated energy in the energy storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising yielding part of the first portion of allocated energy to the utility network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the yielding of allocated energy is performed at the discretion of the utility provider.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving part of the first portion of allocated energy into the utility network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing the customer from consuming a portion of allocated energy.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing incentives to the customer to not consume the allocated energy.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising compensating the customer for allocating the first portion of energy stored in the energy storage device for the benefit of the utility provider.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising compensating a party other than the customer for allocating the second portion of energy for the benefit of the customer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the energy storage device to the utility network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of allocated energy is stored in a division of the energy storage device and is cycled between said division and one or more other divisions of the energy storage device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of allocated energy is allocated from an energy storage device operated by the customer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of allocated energy is allocated from an energy storage device operated by a party other than the customer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the benefit to the utility provider includes demand reduction in the utility network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is part of one of (a) a backup power source, (b) a power management system, (c) a load leveling device, and (d) a peak mitigation device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the utility provider is represented by an agent, employee, or other representative acting under the direction of a utility production or distribution administrator.

17. A method comprising

a. receiving part of a first allotment of energy that has been discharged into a utility network from an energy repository, the first allotment of energy having been reserved for the benefit of a utility network administrator and having been stored in the energy repository with a second allotment of energy that has been reserved for the benefit of a customer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first division of energy has been discharged into the utility network when the utility network administrator so elected.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the discharged reserved energy supplements another energy source in the utility network.

20. An apparatus comprising

a. means for allocating energy stored in an energy storage device between a utility provider and a customer, wherein the utility provider receives a benefit as a result of a portion of the allocated energy being dispatched to a utility network;

and

b. means for actuating a dispatch of energy allocated to the utility provider in the energy storage device to the utility network.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for preventing the customer from consuming a portion of energy allocated to the utility provider.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus actuates a dispatch of energy by connecting the energy storage device to the utility network.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus actuates a dispatch of energy by transmitting a notification.

24. A propagated signal comprising

a. a component representing instructions to dispatch a first portion of energy from an energy storage device to a utility network;

b. in which energy storage device the first portion of the energy stored is allocated for the benefit of a utility provider, which benefit is gained by the utility provider as a result of a part of the first portion of the allocated energy being dispatched into the utility network; and

c. in which energy storage device a second portion of the energy stored is allocated for the benefit of the customer.