SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENERGY COST OPTIMIZATION
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a local energy system of devices, the devices comprising a generator and a shiftable load, the method comprising:
- establishing respective electronic communications between an energy controller and the generator as well as between the energy controller and the shiftable load;
receiving, at the energy controller, first operational state information from the generator;
receiving, at the energy controller, second operational state information from the shiftable load;
determining, by the energy controller, a time-variable marginal cost of energy; and
controlling, by the energy controller, the shiftable load based, at least in part, on the first operational state information and the time-variable marginal cost of energy, to optimize, at least partially, operational cost of the total energy consumed by the local energy system.
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Abstract
Energy-related devices such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units, electric vehicle charging platforms, and solar panels are becoming increasingly networkable within a home or business environment. Furthermore, utility providers are offering flexible pricing schemes that adjust the cost of energy over time based on overall demand, and the energy pricing data is made publically available. Provided are exemplary techniques that utilize this pricing data as well as exploit various synergies between the networked energy-related devices to develop automated and cost-effective energy control solutions.
32 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a local energy system of devices, the devices comprising a generator and a shiftable load, the method comprising:
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establishing respective electronic communications between an energy controller and the generator as well as between the energy controller and the shiftable load; receiving, at the energy controller, first operational state information from the generator; receiving, at the energy controller, second operational state information from the shiftable load; determining, by the energy controller, a time-variable marginal cost of energy; and controlling, by the energy controller, the shiftable load based, at least in part, on the first operational state information and the time-variable marginal cost of energy, to optimize, at least partially, operational cost of the total energy consumed by the local energy system. - 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. A method for controlling a local energy system of devices, the devices comprising a generator and an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
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establishing respective electronic communications between an energy controller and the generator as well as between the energy controller and the electric vehicle; receiving, at the energy controller, first operational state information from the generator; receiving, at the energy controller, second operational state information from the electric vehicle; determining, by the energy controller, a time-variable marginal cost of energy; and controlling, by the energy controller, charging of the electric vehicle based, at least in part, on the first operational state information and the time-variable marginal cost of energy, to optimize, at least partially, operational cost of the total energy consumed by the local energy system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for controlling a local energy system of devices, the devices comprising a generator and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, the method comprising:
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establishing respective electronic communications between an energy controller and the generator as well as between the energy controller and the HVAC unit; receiving, at the energy controller, first operational state information from the generator; receiving, at the energy controller, second operational state information from the HVAC unit; determining, by the energy controller, a time-variable marginal cost of energy; and controlling, by the energy controller, the HVAC unit based, at least in part, on the first operational state information and the time-variable marginal cost of energy, to optimize, at least partially, operational cost of the total energy consumed by the local energy system. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method for controlling a local energy system of devices, the devices comprising a generator, a shiftable load, and an energy storage device, the method comprising:
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establishing respective electronic communications between an energy controller and the generator, between the energy controller and the shiftable load, and between the energy controller and the energy storage device; receiving, at the energy controller, first operational state information from the generator; receiving, at the energy controller, second operational state information from the shiftable load; receiving, at the energy controller, third operational state information from the energy storage device; determining, by the energy controller, a time-variable marginal cost of energy; and controlling, by the energy controller, both the shiftable load and the energy storage device based, at least in part, on the first operational state information and the time-variable marginal cost of energy, to optimize, at least partially, operational cost of the total energy consumed by the local energy system.
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31. A method for controlling a local energy system of devices, the devices comprising a generator, a first shiftable load, and a second shiftable load, the method comprising:
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establishing respective electronic communications between an energy controller and the generator as well as between the energy controller and both of the first and second shiftable loads; receiving, at the energy controller, first operational state information from the generator; receiving, at the energy controller, second operational state information from the first shiftable load; receiving, at the energy controller, fourth operational state information from the second shiftable load; determining, by the energy controller, a time-variable marginal cost of energy; and controlling, by the energy controller, both the first and second shiftable loads based, at least in part, on the first operational state information and the time-variable marginal cost of energy, to optimize, at least partially, operational cost of the total energy consumed by the local energy system. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification