System and method for managing and optimizing power use

• US 7,873,442 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Energy Authority, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Energy Authority, Inc.
• Inventors: Tsui, Jonah
• Primary Examiner(s): VON BUHR, MARIA N
• Application Number:
  US11/380,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/291, 700/295, 700/297, 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/10, 705/1.1, 323/234, 323/299, 323/304, 323/318, 706/21, 706/907, 706/915
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• 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

A system and method to optimize the use of utility power. The system and method obtains real-time and scheduled data. The data is saved into a database. An application is run to optimize the use of the utility power based on forecasted load requirements and available resources. A schedule is produced after optimizing the desired use for the utility power for a given user.

Claims

1. An optimization method for the use of utility power said method comprising:

a. initializing a utility power load requirement forecast, an amount of available utility power, an aggressiveness position for optimizing the use of available utility power, a utility power use schedule;

b. determining an initial utility power use position for a peak load utility power use range and a low load utility power use range;

c. adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions;

d. adjusting for utility power storage flexibility;

e. producing a utility power use schedule for optimized use of said utility power in said low load utility power use range and said peak load utility power use range.

2. The optimization method according to claim 1 wherein said determining an initial utility power use position further comprises steps of:

a. initializing a block of pre-allocated utility power for a scheduled date range;

b. initializing hourly transactions within said scheduled date range;

c. initializing predetermined real-time transactions in said scheduled date range;

d. adjusting pre-allocated utility power block into said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range within said scheduled date range.

3. The optimization method according to claim 2 wherein said determining an initial utility power use position further comprises the step of:

adjusting Sunday hours for the low load utility power use range.

4. The optimization method according to claim 2 wherein said determining an initial utility power use position further comprises:

a. said low load utility power use ranges from about the beginning of hour 23 to about the end of hour 6;

b. said peak load utility power use ranges from about the beginning of hour 7 to about the end of hour 22.

5. The optimization method according to claim 1 wherein said adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. initializing predetermined real-time transactions into said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range;

b. initializing predetermined maximum allowable real-time utility power use limits;

c. initializing maximum utility power use limit for said peak load utility power use range;

d. factoring a maximum utility power use limit cushion.

6. The optimization method according to claim 5 wherein said adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. determining the maximum iteration to fill said peak load utility power use range;

b. performing an iteration by;

i. fixing the utility power use for real-time transactions within said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range;

ii. determining if the utility power use for real-time transactions and a block of pre-allocated utility power as adjusted into peak load utility power use range and low load utility power use range exceeds said predetermined maximum allowable real-time utility power use limits or said maximum utility power use limits for said peak load utility power use range;

iii. balancing said preallocated block utility power use between said low load utility power use range and said peak load utility power use range;

c. re-iterating until the utility power use is at said real-time utility power use transaction limit or said maximum utility power use limit for said peak load utility power use range.

7. The optimization method according to claim 6 wherein said fixing the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. checking for an hourly maximum violation of said utility power use;

b. reducing the amount utility power use for said iteration if a maximum violation exists.

8. The optimization method according to claim 6 wherein said fixing the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. checking for an hourly minimum violation of said utility power use;

b. raising the amounts of utility power use for said iteration if a minimum violation exists.

9. The optimization method according to claim 6 wherein said fixing the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. checking for an up ramp violation of said utility power use;

b. reducing the utility power use for said iteration to fix said up ramp violation.

10. The optimization method according to claim 6 wherein said fixing the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. checking for a down ramp violation of said utility power use;

b. raising the utility power use to fix said down ramp violation of said utility power use.

11. The optimization method according to claim 1 wherein said adjusting for utility power storage flexibility further comprises the steps of:

a. setting a tolerance level;

b. calculating an initial hourly transaction flexibility range;

c. determining if said initial hourly flexible range is greater than said maximum tolerance;

d. raising the real-time transaction level by the difference between said hourly flexibility range and said maximum tolerance.

12. The optimization method according to claim 11 wherein said setting a tolerance level further comprises:

setting a maximum tolerance level to at most 25% of said real-time transactions;

setting a minimum initial tolerance level to avoid overreacting.

13. A method for optimizing the use of utility power said method comprising:

a. obtaining actionable data into an optimization system through a server;

b. importing the actionable data into a utility power use optimization database;

c. executing a utility power use optimization application in the optimization system to access the actionable data in the utility power use optimization database;

d. preparing a utility power use forecast for a plurality of utility power users each having utility power load requirements;

e. correlating the utility power use forecast with available utility power data from various utility power providers;

f. executing an optimization method in the optimization application to optimize the use of utility power for the various utility power users;

i. initializing a utility power load requirement forecast, an amount of available utility power, an aggressiveness position for optimizing the use of available utility power, a utility power use schedule;

ii. determining an initial utility power use position for a peak load utility power use range and a low load utility power use range;

iii. adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions;

iv. adjusting for utility power storage flexibility;

v. adjusting said utility power use schedule for optimized use of said utility power in said low load utility power use range and said peak load utility power use range;

g. producing said utility power use schedule based on the optimization method results.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said action data further comprises:

a. utility power load requirement data from a plurality of utility power users;

b. utility power generation data from a plurality of utility power providers;

c. weather data;

d. targeted source water volume power data from one or more resources.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said plurality of utility power providers further comprises:

electric power generating facilities including hydroelectric facilities;

nuclear power plants;

wind energy generation facilities;

fossil fuel facilities;

other large-scale power producing facilities; and

from other utility power users who have stored in one form or another surplus utility power.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein said plurality of utility power users comprises:

public utility districts;

the school utility districts;

homes;

subdivisions;

office parks;

cities;

states;

industrial areas;

rural areas.

17. The method according to claim 13 wherein preparing the utility power use forecast further comprises:

a. importing from the optimization database into the optimization application forecasted and historical weather satellite data;

b. selecting from a list of scheduled days in the optimization application a candidate utility power use day to be forecasted;

c. comparing the candidate utility power use day'"'"'s expected weather forecast with at least one other historical weather data day having similar weather characteristics and/or seasonal characteristics;

d. providing historical utility power load requirement data for at least one of said historical weather data days;

e. utilizing the historical utility power load requirement for at least one of said historical weather data days to model the candidate utility power day'"'"'s utility power load requirement data.

18. The method according to claim 13 wherein said determining an initial utility power use position further comprises steps of:

a. initializing a block of pre-allocated utility power for a scheduled date range;

b. initializing hourly transactions within said scheduled date range;

c. initializing predetermined real-time transactions in said scheduled date range;

d. adjusting pre-allocated utility power block into said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range within said scheduled date range.

19. The method according to claim 13 said determining an initial utility power use position further comprises the step of:

adjusting Sunday hours for the low load utility power use range.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein said determining an initial utility power use position further comprises:

a. said low load utility power use range is from about the beginning of hour 23 to about the end of hour 6;

b. said peak load utility power use range is from about the beginning of hour 7 to about the end of hour 22.

21. The method according to claim 13 said adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. initializing predetermined real-time transactions into said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range;

b. initializing predetermined maximum allowable real-time utility power use limits;

c. initializing maximum utility power use limit for said peak load utility power use range;

d. factoring a maximum utility power use limit cushion.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. determining the maximum iteration to fill said peak load utility power use range;

b. performing an iteration by;

i. fixing the utility power use for real-time transactions within said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range;

ii. determining if the utility power use for real-time transactions and a block of pre-allocated utility power as adjusted into peak load utility power use range and low load utility power use range exceeds said predetermined maximum allowable real-time utility power use limits or said maximum utility power use limits for said peak load utility power use range;

iii. balancing said preallocated block utility power use between said low load utility power use range and said peak load utility power use range;

c. re-iterating until the utility power use is at said real-time utility power use transaction limit or said maximum utility power use limit for said peak load utility power use range.

23. A method for optimizing utilization of electric power for a plurality of electric power users, said electric power provided from electric power providers such as electric power generating facilities including hydroelectric facilities, nuclear power plants, wind energy generation facilities, fossil fuel facilities, other large-scale power producing facilities, and from other electric power users who have stored in one form or another surplus electrical power, said method comprising:

a. obtaining actionable data comprising at least one or more of the following;

i. electrical load requirement data from a plurality of electric power users;

ii. electric power generation data from said electric power providers;

iii. weather data;

iv. targeted source water volume power data from one or more resources;

b. importing the actionable data into an electrical power optimization database;

c. executing a power optimization application resident in the optimization database to access the obtained data in the power optimization database;

d. preparing a forecast of the electrical load requirements for the various users utilizing the weather satellite data and electrical load requirement data;

e. correlating the forecasted electrical load requirements for the various electric power users with the available electrical power data from the various electrical power providers;

f. executing an optimization process in the optimization application to optimize the electrical power use of the various electric power users by;

i. utilizing the correlated forecasted electrical load requirement data and available electric power data to determine a day-ahead electrical power utilization position;

ii. allocating electrical power into either a peak load use range or a low load use range;

iii. using the actionable data to determine a maximum electrical power use violation level and a minimum electrical power use violation level;

iv. allocating a certain amount of electrical power to be used for real-time open market use;

v. correlating the used electrical power with the forecasted electrical load requirements to adjust for electrical power storage flexibility;

g. producing a schedule based on the optimization of electrical power which maximizes and/or minimizes the usage of the power for various users;

h. communicating the schedule back to the electrical power providers for scheduling of electrical power use for the various electrical power users.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein an electrical power provider further comprises a regional power authority which allocates the distribution of power to the various public and private power users.

25. The method according to claim 23 wherein the energy products include an energy entitlement system or contract where a participant or contractor of electrical power has an entitlement to a certain percentage of an electrical power provider'"'"'s output.

26. The method according to claim 23 wherein preparing the forecast of electrical load requirement data further comprises:

a. importing from the optimization database into the optimization application forecasted and historical weather satellite data;

b. selecting from a list of scheduled days in the optimization application a candidate electrical power use day to be forecasted;

c. comparing in the optimization application the candidate electrical power use day'"'"'s expected weather forecast with at least one other historical weather data day having similar weather characteristics and/or seasonal characteristics;

d. providing the historical electrical load requirement data for at least one of said historical weather data days;

e. utilizing in the optimization application the historical electrical load requirement for at least one of said historical weather data days to model the candidate electrical power day'"'"'s electrical load requirement data.

27. A method for optimizing utilization of electric power for a plurality of electric power users, said electric power provided from electric power providers such as electric power generating facilities including hydroelectric facilities, nuclear power plants, wind energy generation facilities, fossil fuel facilities, other large-scale power producing facilities, and from other electric power users who have stored in one form or another surplus electrical power, said method comprising:

a. obtaining actionable data comprising at least one or more of the following;

i. electrical load requirement data from a plurality of electric power users;

ii. electric power generation data from said electric power providers;

iii. weather forecast data and weather history data;

iv. targeted source water volume power data from one or more resources;

b. importing the actionable data into an electrical power optimization database;

c. executing a power optimization application resident in the optimization database to access the obtained data in the power optimization database;

d. preparing a forecast of the electrical load requirements for the various users utilizing the weather satellite data and electrical load requirement data and further comprising;

i. importing from the optimization database into the optimization application forecasted and historical weather satellite data;

ii. selecting from a list of scheduled days in the optimization application a candidate electrical power use day to be forecasted;

iii. comparing in the optimization application the candidate electrical power use day'"'"'s expected weather forecast with at least one other historical weather data day having similar weather characteristics and/or seasonal characteristics;

iv. providing the historical electrical load requirement data for at least one of said historical weather data days;

v. utilizing in the optimization application the historical electrical load requirement for at least one of said historical weather data days to model the candidate electrical power day'"'"'s electrical load requirement data;

e. correlating the forecasted electrical load requirements for the various electric power users with the available electrical power data from the various electrical power providers;

f. executing an optimization process in the optimization application to optimize the electrical power use of the various electric power users by;

i. utilizing the correlated forecasted electrical load requirement data and available electric power data to determine a day-ahead electrical power utilization position;

ii. allocating electrical power into either a peak load use range or a low load use range;

iii. using the actionable data to determine a maximum electrical power use violation level and a minimum electrical power use violation level;

iv. allocating a certain amount of electrical power to be used for real-time open market use;

v. correlating the used electrical power with the forecasted electrical load requirements to adjust for electrical power storage flexibility;

g. producing a schedule based on the optimization of electrical power which maximizes and/or minimizes the usage of the power for various users;

h. communicating the schedule back to the electrical power providers for scheduling of electrical power use for the various electrical power users.

28. A method for optimizing utilization of electric power for a plurality of electric power users, said electric power provided from electric power providers such as electric power generating facilities including hydroelectric facilities, nuclear power plants, wind energy generation facilities, fossil fuel facilities, other large-scale power producing facilities, and from other electric power users who have stored in one form or another surplus electrical power, said method comprising:

a. obtaining actionable data comprising at least one of the following;

i. electrical load requirement data from a plurality of electric power users;

ii. electric power generation data from said electric power providers;

iii. weather data;

iv. targeted source water volume power data from one or more resources;

b. importing the actionable data into an electrical power optimization database;

c. executing a power optimization application resident in the optimization database to access the obtained data in the power optimization database;

d. preparing a forecast of the electrical load requirements for the various users utilizing the weather satellite data and electrical load requirement data;

e. correlating the forecasted electrical load requirements for the various electric power users with the available electrical power data from the various electrical power providers;

f. executing an optimization process in the optimization application to optimize the electrical power use of the various electric power users by;

i. utilizing the correlated forecasted electrical load requirement data and available electric power data to determine a day-ahead electrical power utilization position;

ii. allocating electrical power into either a peak load use range or a low load use range;

iii. using the actionable data to determine a maximum electrical power use violation level and a minimum electrical power use violation level;

iv. allocating a certain amount of electrical power to be used for real-time open market use;

v. correlating the used electrical power with the forecasted electrical load requirements to adjust for electrical power storage flexibility;

g. producing a schedule based on the optimization of electrical power which maximizes and/or minimizes the usage of the power for various users;

h. communicating the schedule back to the electrical power providers for scheduling of electrical power use for the various electrical power users.

29. A system to optimize the use of utility power said system comprising:

a. a server to obtain actionable data for an optimization system;

b. a utility power use optimization database to import and retain said actionable data;

c. a utility power use optimization application within said optimization system which utilizes said actionable data and said utility power use optimization database;

d. a forecast component to prepare a forecasted utility power load for one or more utility power users;

e. a correlation component to compare said forecasted utility power load with available utility power supply from various utility power providers;

f. an optimization component to optimize the scheduled use of utility power for the various utility power users;

i. said optimization component initializing a utility power load requirement forecast, an amount of available utility power, an aggressiveness position for optimizing the use of available utility power, a utility power use schedule;

ii. means for determining an initial utility power use position for a peak load utility power use range and a low load utility power use range;

iii. means for adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions;

iv. means for adjusting for utility power storage flexibility;

v. means for adjusting said utility power use schedule for optimized use of said utility power in said low load utility power use range and said peak load utility power use range;

g. a schedule component operating from said optimization component to produce said utility power use schedule based on the optimization component results for the various utility power users.

30. The system according to claim 29 wherein said action data further comprises:

a. utility power load requirement data from a plurality of utility power users;

b. utility power generation data from a plurality of utility power providers;

c. weather data;

d. targeted source water volume power data from one or more resources.

31. The system according to claim 30 wherein said plurality of utility power providers further comprises:

electric power generating facilities including hydroelectric facilities;

nuclear power plants;

wind energy generation facilities;

fossil fuel facilities;

other large-scale power producing facilities; and

from other utility power users who have stored in one form or another surplus utility power.

32. The system according to claim 30 were said plurality of utility power users comprises:

public utility districts;

the school utility districts;

homes;

subdivisions;

office parks;

cities;

states;

industrial areas;

rural areas.

33. The system according to claim 29 wherein said forecast component further comprises:

a. means for importing from the optimization database into the optimization application forecasted and historical weather satellite data;

b. means for selecting from a list of scheduled days in the optimization application a candidate utility power use day to be forecasted;

c. means for comparing the candidate utility power use day'"'"'s expected weather forecast with at least one other historical weather data day having similar weather characteristics and/or seasonal characteristics;

d. means for providing historical utility power load requirement data for at least one of said historical weather data days;

e. means for utilizing the historical utility power load requirement for at least one of said historical weather data days to model the candidate utility power day'"'"'s utility power load requirement data.

34. The system according to claim 29 wherein said means for determining an initial utility power use position further comprises:

a. means for initializing a block of pre-allocated utility power for a scheduled date range;

b. means for initializing hourly transactions within said scheduled date range;

c. means for initializing predetermined real-time transactions in said scheduled date range;

d. means for adjusting pre-allocated utility power block into said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range within said scheduled date range.

35. The system according to claim 34 wherein said means for determining an initial utility power use position further comprises the step of:

means for adjusting Sunday hours for the low load utility power use range.

36. The system according to claim 35 wherein said means for determining an initial utility power use position further comprises:

a. said low load utility power use ranges from about the beginning of hour 23 to about the end of hour 6;

b. said peak load utility power use range is from about the beginning of hour 7 to about the end of hour 22.

37. The system according to claim 29 wherein said means for adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. means for initializing predetermined real-time transactions into said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range;

b. means for initializing predetermined maximum allowable real-time utility power use limits;

c. means for initializing maximum utility power use limit for said peak load utility power use range;

d. means for factoring a maximum utility power use limit cushion.

38. The system according to claim 37 wherein said means for adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions further comprises the steps of:

a. means for determining the maximum iteration to fill said peak load utility power use range;

b. means for performing an iteration including;

i. means for fixing the utility power use for real-time transactions within said peak load utility power use range and said low load utility power use range;

ii. means for determining if the utility power use for real-time transactions and a block of pre-allocated utility power as adjusted into peak load utility power use range and low load utility power use range exceeds said predetermined maximum allowable real-time utility power use limits or said maximum utility power use limits for said peak load utility power use range;

iii. means for balancing said preallocated block utility power use between said low load utility power use range and said peak load utility power use range;

c. means for re-iterating until the utility power use is at said real-time utility power use transaction limit or said maximum utility power use limit for said peak load utility power use range.

39. A system for optimizing the use of utility power said system comprising:

a. means for obtaining actionable data into an optimization system through a server;

b. means for importing the actionable data into a utility power use optimization database;

c. means for executing a utility power use optimization application in the optimization system to access the actionable data in the utility power use optimization database;

d. means for preparing a utility power use forecast for a plurality of utility power users each having utility power load requirements;

e. means for correlating the utility power use forecast with available utility power data from various utility power providers;

f. means for executing an optimization method in the optimization application to optimize the use of utility power for the various utility power users;

i. means for initializing a utility power load requirement forecast, an amount of available utility power, an aggressiveness position for optimizing the use of available utility power, a utility power use schedule;

ii. means for determining an initial utility power use position for a peak load utility power use range and a low load utility power use range;

iii. means for adjusting the utility power use for real-time transactions;

iv. means for adjusting for utility power storage flexibility;

v. means for adjusting said utility power use schedule for optimized use of said utility power in said low load utility power use range and said peak load utility power use range;

g. means for producing said utility power use schedule based on the optimization method results.