Intelligent distributed energy storage system for demand side power management

• US 7,385,373 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stem, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gaia Power Technologies, Inc. (iPower Systems Ltd.)
• Inventors: Olsen, Ib Ingemann, Pasquale, Nicholas Blaise, Doruk, Zeynep Bige
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton; Gary L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fantu; Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US10/710,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20040263116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/166, 340/531, 307/48, 702/57, 713/300
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 13/00 General layout or general methods of operation of complete plants
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

The current invention is an intelligent distributed energy storage system for demand side power management. It provides a system that can store electric energy close to the point of use or close to the distributed production for use when demanded by the users. These storage nodes can communicate with a central clearing entity to negotiate if the nodes should buy energy for storage, provide energy to the user above a given power level, or sell power back to the grid. The function will depend on the amount of energy stored in the node, the cost of the electric energy, the cost of the electric peak power, the price of resold electrical energy and power, plus the local usage.

Claims

1. A distributed energy storage device that is configured for connection to one or more other distributed energy storage devices over an electrical distribution network, the distributed energy storage device comprising:

an energy storage medium for storing energy;

a controller for controlling operation of the distributed energy storage device; and

a communications unit that is configured to enable the distributed energy storage device to communicate and exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices, wherein the controller is configured to;

monitor a level of the energy stored in the energy storage medium,

determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and one of the other distributed energy storage devices based on electricity transfer information exchanged through the communications unit with the one other distributed energy storage device and one or more of the monitored level of the energy stored in the energy storage medium and a forecasted energy demand, and

in response to a determination to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and the one other distributed energy storage device, initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and the one other distributed energy storage device over the electrical distribution network.

2. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein:

the controller is configured to determine an energy need at the distributed energy storage device;

the communications unit is configured to exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices by;

broadcasting an energy request signal to the other distributed energy storage devices in response to a determination of an energy need at the distributed energy storage device by the controller, and

receiving an energy offer signal from at least the one other distributed energy storage device in response to the broadcasted energy request signal; and

the controller is further configured to;

determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the one other distributed energy storage device to the distributed energy storage device based on the received energy offer signal from the one other distributed energy storage device, and

initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the one other distributed energy storage device to the distributed energy storage device over the power distribution network in response to a determination to initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the one other distributed energy storage device to the distributed energy storage device.

3. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein:

the communications unit is configured to exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices by;

broadcasting an energy offer signal to at least the one other distributed energy storage device, and

receiving an energy acceptance signal from the one other distributed energy storage device in response to the broadcasted energy offer signal, and the controller is configured to;

determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the distributed energy storage device to the one other distributed energy storage device based on the received energy acceptance signal from the one other distributed energy storage device, and

initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the distributed energy storage device to the one other distributed energy storage device over the power distribution network in response to a determination to initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the distributed energy storage device to the one other distributed energy storage device.

4. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the distributed energy storage device and the other distributed energy storage devices are distributed across the electrical distribution network and are physically separate from a centralized energy exchange.

5. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the distributed energy storage device is remote from the other distributed energy storage devices.

6. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the communications unit is configured to enable the distributed energy storage device to communicate and exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices over a communications network that connects the distributed energy storage device and the other distributed energy storage devices.

7. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the communications unit is configured to enable the distributed energy storage device to communicate and exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices over a peer-to-peer communications network that connects the distributed energy storage device and the other distributed energy storage devices.

8. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the communications unit is configured to enable the distributed energy storage device to communicate and exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices over a wireless communications network that connects the distributed energy storage device and the other distributed energy storage devices.

9. The distributed energy storage device of claim 6 wherein the electrical distribution network and the communications network are the same and the communications unit is configured to communicate and to exchange electricity transfer information with the other distributed energy storage devices by superimposing a communications signal on an electrical energy signal.

10. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the communications unit is configured to exchange, with the one other energy storage device, electricity transfer information that includes information related to one or more of energy availability, energy demand, energy purchase costs, and energy sale prices.

11. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the energy storage medium comprises one or more of a battery, a fuel cell, water stored in an elevated reservoir, a flywheel, and superconducting storage loops.

12. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the distributed energy storage device is located at a load serviced by the distributed energy storage device.

13. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the distributed energy storage device is located at an energy source that provides energy to the distributed energy storage device.

20. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that an entity that is external to the distributed energy storage device is demanding energy;

determine that a price that the entity that is external to the distributed energy storage device is willing to pay for the energy it is demanding is advantageous;

determine that a sufficient amount of energy is stored in the energy storage medium; and

based on determining that the entity that is external to the distributed energy storage device is demanding energy, that the price that the entity that is external to the distributed energy storage device is willing to pay for the energy it is demanding is advantageous, and that a sufficient amount of energy is stored in the energy storage medium, initiating a sale of energy to the entity that is external to the distributed energy storage device.

21. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and one of the other distributed energy storage devices based on the electricity transfer information exchanged through the communications unit with the one other distributed energy storage device and the level of the energy stored in the energy storage medium.

22. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and one of the other distributed energy storage devices based on the electricity transfer information exchanged through the communications unit with the one other distributed energy storage device and the forecasted energy demand.

23. The distributed energy device of claim 22 wherein the controller is configured to:

forecast energy demand; and

determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and one of the other distributed energy storage devices based on the electricity transfer information exchanged through the communications unit with the one other distributed energy storage device and the energy demand forecasted by the controller.

24. The distributed energy storage device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to initiate a transfer of electrical energy between the distributed energy storage device and one of the other distributed energy storage devices based on the electricity transfer information exchanged through the communications unit with the one other distributed energy storage device, the level of the energy stored in the energy storage medium, and the forecasted energy demand.

14. A method for initiating a transfer of energy to a distributed energy storage device that is connected to one or more other distributed energy storage devices over an electrical distribution network, the method comprising:

monitoring a level of energy stored by the distributed energy storage device;

based on the level of energy stored by the distributed energy storage device and a forecasted energy demand, determining an energy need at the distributed energy storage device;

broadcasting an energy request signal to the one or more other distributed energy storage devices in response to determining the energy need at the distributed energy storage device;

receiving one or more offers of available energy from one or more corresponding distributed energy storage devices in response to the broadcasted energy request signal;

selecting one offer of available energy from among the offers of available energy and identifying one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected offer of available energy; and

in response to selecting the one offer of available energy and identifying the one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected offer of available energy, initiating a transfer of electrical energy from the one other distributed energy storage device to the distributed energy storage device over the electrical distribution network.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising enabling a transfer of an amount of money from an entity associated with the distributed energy storage device to an entity associated with the one other distributed energy storage device in exchange for the electrical energy transferred from the one other distributed energy storage device to the distributed energy storage device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving, from the one other distributed energy storage device, a request to transfer an amount of energy to the one other distributed energy storage device;

determining that the amount of energy is available to transfer at the distributed energy storage device; and

initiating another transfer of electrical energy from the distributed energy storage device to the one other distributed energy storage device in response to receiving the request and determining that the amount of energy is available.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the one or more offers of available energy include one or more available energy sale prices; and

selecting one offer of available energy comprises selecting a lowest available energy sale price from among the one or more available energy sale prices.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein determining an energy need at the distributed energy storage device comprises:

forecasting a predicted energy demand in advance of an actual energy demand; and

determining an energy need at the distributed energy storage device based on the forecasted predicted energy demand.

19. A distributed energy storage device that is configured for connection to one or more other distributed energy storage devices over an electrical distribution network, the distributed energy storage device comprising:

means for monitoring a level of energy stored by the distributed energy storage device;

means for determining an energy need at the distributed energy storage device based on the level of energy stored by the distributed energy storage device and a forecasted energy demand;

means for broadcasting an energy request signal to the one or more other distributed energy storage devices in response to determining the energy need at the distributed energy storage device;

means for receiving one or more offers of available energy from one or more corresponding distributed energy storage devices in response to the broadcasted energy request signal;

means for selecting one offer of available energy from among the one or more offers of available energy and identifying one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected offer of available energy; and

means for initiating a transfer of electrical energy from the one other distributed energy storage device to the distributed energy storage device over the electrical distribution in response to selecting the one offer of available energy and identifying the one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected offer of available energy.

25. The distributed energy storage device of claim 19 wherein the means for determining an energy need at the distributed energy storage device comprises:

means for forecasting a predicted energy demand in advance of an actual energy demand; and

means for determining an energy need at the distributed energy storage device based on the forecasted predicted energy demand.

26. A distributed energy storage device that is configured for connection to one or more other distributed energy storage devices over an electrical distribution network, the distributed energy storage device comprising:

an energy storage medium for storing energy;

a controller for controlling operation of the distributed energy storage device and for determining an energy need at the distributed energy storage device; and

a communications unit, wherein;

the communications unit is configured to enable the distributed energy storage device to;

broadcast an energy request signal to one or more of the other distributed energy storage devices in response to a determination of an energy need at the distributed energy storage device by the controller, and

receive one or more energy offer signals from one or more of the other distributed energy storage devices in response to the broadcasted energy request signal; and

the controller is configured to;

select at least one of the received energy offer signals and identify at least one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected energy offer signal, and

initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the one other distributed energy storage device to the distributed energy storage device over the electrical distribution network based on selecting the received energy offer signal and identifying the one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected energy offer signal.

27. A distributed energy storage device that is configured for connection to one or more other distributed energy storage devices over an electrical distribution network, the distributed energy storage device comprising:

an energy storage medium for storing energy;

a controller for controlling operation of the distributed energy storage device; and

a communications unit, wherein;

the communications unit is configured to enable the distributed energy storage device to;

broadcast an energy offer signal to one or more of the other distributed energy storage devices, and

receive one or more energy acceptance signals from one or more of the other distributed energy storage devices in response to the broadcasted energy offer signal; and

the controller is configured to;

select at least one of the received energy acceptance signals and identify at least one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected energy acceptance signal, and

initiate a transfer of electrical energy from the distributed energy storage device to the one other distributed energy storage device over the electrical distribution network based on selecting the received energy acceptance signal and identifying the one other distributed energy storage device that corresponds to the selected energy acceptance signal.