Facilitating Revenue Generation From Data Shifting By Data Centers

• US 20140039965A1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viridity Energy Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Viridity Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Steven, Alain P., Zibelman, Audrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,159,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.25
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/84 Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

The disclosure facilitates management data center utilization for generating energy-related revenue from energy markets. Operating schedules are generated, over a time period T, for operation of an energy management system of energy assets of data center sites. Since CPU utilization (or computing load) can be correlated to energy consumption, the operating schedules can cause the energy management system to modulate the CPU utilization (or computing load) of energy assets within a data center, or to indicate shifting of CPU utilization (or computing load) from one data center site in a certain energy market price region to another data center site in a different energy market price region. When implemented, the generated operating schedules facilitates derivation of the energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the energy assets according to the generated operating schedule.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a suggested operating schedule over a time period T for at least one data center operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one data center according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and a mathematical model for the at least one data center comprising a plurality of energy assets, wherein the mathematical model specifies at least one function that calculates an energy profile for the at least one data center and the plurality of energy assets based at least in part on an operating schedule for the at least one data center applied to the mathematical model, wherein the operating schedule relates to a CPU utilization or a computing load of at least one energy asset of the plurality of energy assets of the at least one data center; and

at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface, and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit;

A) determines the suggested operating schedule, over the time period T, for the at least one data center based at least in part on the mathematical model and at least one forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the at least one wholesale electricity market; and

B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the suggested operating schedule determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the suggested operating schedule.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of energy assets comprises at least one controllable energy consuming asset.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is at least one server, and wherein the operating schedule relates to a CPU utilization or a computing load of the at least one server.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a regulation market, and wherein the suggested operating schedule modulates the CPU utilization or the computing load based on a signal from an operator of the regulation market.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one controllable energy consuming asset includes at least one variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

the operating schedule also relates to the at least one controllable energy consuming asset; and

the operating schedule specifies a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one forecast wholesale electricity price includes at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one data center includes at least two data centers respectively located in the different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market; and

in A), the suggested operating schedule specifies at least one time period t less than T for shifting of at least a portion of the computing load from one of the at least two data centers to the other, based at least in part on the at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with the different geographic regions.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions in A), the at least one processing unit:

A1) generates a first simulated customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for the at least one data center, over the time period T, based on a typical operation of the at least one data center, comprising;

i) controlling the at least one communication interface to provide or receive a business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one data center over the time period T; and

ii) applying the BAU operating schedule to the mathematical model so as to generate the first simulated CBL energy profile; and

A2) determines the suggested operating schedule for the at least one data center based at least in part on the mathematical model, the first simulated CBL energy profile generated in A1), and the forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the suggested operating schedule for the at least one data center using an objective function by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T, wherein the objective function includes the mathematical model,

wherein the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:

the forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market;

an electricity consumption by the at least one data center; and

the first simulated CBL energy profile; and

wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and a demand response revenue over the time period T.

11. An apparatus for determining an operating schedule for at least one data center operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one data center according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and an objective function for the at least one data center comprising at least one energy consuming asset, wherein the at last one energy consuming asset comprises at least one server, wherein the objective function facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the at least one data center based at least in part on an operation characteristic of the at least one data center and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market, and wherein the operating schedule relates to a CPU utilization or a computing load of the at least one data center; and

at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit;

A) determines the operating schedule, over the time period T, for the at least one data center using the objective function and a customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for at least one energy consuming asset of the energy assets and at least one forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the at least one wholesale electricity market, over the time period T;

wherein the CBL energy profile is computed based on applying a business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one energy consuming asset to a mathematical model of the operation of the at least one energy consuming asset; and

B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for at least one data center determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on the at least one forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market and at least one regulation market price associated with a regulation market, and wherein the suggested operating schedule comprises modulating the CPU utilization or the computing load during a time interval t less than T based on a signal from an operator of the regulation market.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one energy consuming asset includes at least one variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

the operating schedule also relates to the at least one energy consuming asset;

the operating schedule specifies a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time; and

the BAU operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is specified by a business-as-usual (BAU) temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the energy consuming asset comprises a plurality of servers, and wherein the business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one energy consuming asset is based on an aggregate computing load of the at least one server.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one forecast wholesale electricity price includes at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the at least one data center includes at least two data centers respectively located in the different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market; and

in A), the suggested operating schedule specifies at least one time period t less than T for shifting of at least a portion of the computing load from one of the at least two data centers to the other, based at least in part on the at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with the different geographic regions.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one data center using the objective function in A) by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T,

wherein the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:

an electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset; and

the CBL energy profile; and

wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.

18. An apparatus for determining an operating schedule for at least one data center operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one data center according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and a mathematical model for the at least one data center, the at least one data center comprising at least one energy storage asset, wherein the mathematical model facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the at least one data center based at least in part on a first operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset, a second operation characteristic of at least one energy consuming asset in communication with the at least one energy storage asset, and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; and

at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit;

A) determines the operating schedule for the at least one data center, over the time period T, using the mathematical model, wherein the operating schedule for the at least one data center comprises an operating schedule for a controller of the at least one energy storage asset, and wherein the operating schedule for the at least one data center relates to a CPU utilization or a computing load of at least one server of the at least one data center; and

B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for the at least one data center determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule for the at least one data center.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset is at least one of a state of charge, a charge rate, a degree of non-linearity of charge rate a discharge rate, a degree of non-linearity of discharge rate, a round trip efficiency, and a degree of life reduction.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one energy consuming asset is at least one server, and wherein the second operation characteristic of the at least one energy consuming asset is a CPU computing load of the at least one server.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset is a charge rate and/or a discharge rate of the at least one energy storage asset, and wherein the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset comprises a suggested first time interval during the time period T of charging the at least one energy storage asset at a charge rate, and a suggested second time interval during the time period T of discharging the at least one energy storage asset at a discharge rate.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first time interval of charging the at least one energy storage asset during the time period T coincides with a corresponding time interval during which the forecast wholesale electricity price falls below a predetermined threshold value.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second time interval of discharging the at least one energy storage asset during the time period T coincides with a corresponding time interval during which the forecast wholesale electricity price exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one data center using the mathematical model in A) by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T, wherein:

the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on;

electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset;

first electricity consumption by the at least one energy storage asset; and

second electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset; and

the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and an economic demand response revenue over the time period T.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein in A), the at least one processing unit:

determines the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset using the mathematical model and a representative customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for the at least one energy consuming asset, over the time period T, wherein the representative CBL energy profile represents a typical operation of the at least one energy consuming asset by the energy customer.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the representative CBL is an energy consumption profile as a function of time for the at least one energy consuming asset.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the economic demand response revenue over the time period T is determined based on the forecast wholesale electricity price, the electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset, the first electricity consumption by the at least one energy storage asset, and the representative CBL energy profile for the at least one energy consuming asset.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset specifies a time interval within the time period T for use of the energy storage asset to power the energy consuming asset when the forecast wholesale electricity price exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a forecast wholesale electricity price for an energy market and a regulation market price associated with a regulation market; and

the operating schedule specifies a time interval t within the time period T for use of the energy storage asset, or for modulating the CPU utilization or the computing load, based on a signal from an operator of the regulation market, to maximize the energy-related revenue over the time period T.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a forecast wholesale electricity price for an energy market and a regulation market price associated with a regulation market; and

the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset specifies, during a time interval within the time period T, a first portion of an available state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage asset for use in the energy market and a second portion of the available SOC of the energy storage asset for use in the regulation market.

32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mathematical model facilitates determination of the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset further based at least in part on an expected energy-generating schedule of an energy generating asset and/or a renewable energy asset, the energy generating asset and/or the renewable energy asset being in communication with the energy storage asset and the energy consuming asset.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the energy generating asset and/or the renewable energy is at least one photovoltaic cell, at least one fuel cell, at least one gas turbine, at least one diesel generator, at least one flywheel, or at least one wind turbine.

34. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the energy storage asset is at least one battery and/or at least one uninterruptible power supply.

35. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one forecast wholesale electricity price includes at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein:

the at least one data center includes at least two data centers respectively located in the different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market; and

in A), the suggested operating schedule specifies at least one time period t less than T for shifting of at least a portion of the computing load from one of the at least two data centers to the other, based at least in part on the at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with the different geographic regions.

37. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a regulation market, and wherein the suggested operating schedule modulates the CPU utilization or the computing load based on a signal from an operator of the regulation market.

38. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the at least one energy consuming asset includes at least one variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

the operating schedule also relates to the at least one energy consuming asset; and

the operating schedule specifies a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time.

39. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the energy consuming asset comprises a plurality of servers, and wherein the operating schedule for the at least one energy consuming asset is based on an aggregate computing load of the at least one server.

40. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one forecast wholesale electricity price includes at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein:

the at least one data center includes at least two data centers respectively located in the different geographic regions of the at least one wholesale electricity market; and

in A), the suggested operating schedule specifies at least one time period t less than T for shifting of at least a portion of the computing load from one of the at least two data centers to the other, based at least in part on the at least two forecast wholesale electricity prices respectively associated with the different geographic regions.