System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management

• US 9,881,259 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations Incorporated (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Forbes, Jr., Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuhui R
• Application Number:
  US14/341,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20140365025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 700295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/003 Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/004 Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

An active load management system (ALMS) is utilized to supply operating reserve to a utility. According to one embodiment, the ALMS determines amounts of power stored in power storage devices located at service points within the utility'"'"'s service area, and stores the stored power data in a repository. The ALMS also determines an amount of available operating reserve based on at least the stored power data. When the utility needs operating reserve, the ALMS receives a request for operating reserve from the utility. The ALMS then manages a flow of power from the power storage devices to a power grid accessible by the utility responsive to the utility'"'"'s request, taking into account the amount of available operating reserve. Determination of stored power data may be aided by reports received from control devices located at the service points, where the reports indicate amounts of power stored by the power storage devices.

Claims

1. A method for supplying operating reserve to a utility servicing one or more service points, the method comprising:

determining amounts of electric power stored by devices located at the one or more service points to produce stored power data;

storing the stored power data in a repository;

receiving communications from a first electric vehicle while the first electric vehicle is in motion and unconnected to a power grid indicating a location for the first electric vehicle and a current state of charge of the first electric vehicle;

managing charging of a second electric vehicle at a selected one of the service points;

determining an amount of available operating reserve based on at least the stored power data, stored energy available from the first electric vehicle, and projected energy savings resulting from a control event that interrupts the charging of the second electric vehicle by terminating the charging of the second electric vehicle prior to completion of the charging of the second electric vehicle at the selected service point;

receiving a request for operating reserve from the utility; and

responsive to the request for operating reserve, managing a flow of electric power from the devices to the power grid accessible by the utility, including sending a message to the selected service point to commence the control event and terminate the charging of the second electric vehicle prior to completion of the charging of the second electric vehicle at the selected service point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for operating reserve comprises:

receiving a command from an Automatic Generation Control (AGC) subsystem or a market signal from an independent system operator (ISO).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when the location of the first electric vehicle is within a service area associated with the request for operating reserve and the current state of charge of the first electric vehicle indicates the first electric vehicle has excess capacity, negotiating with the first electric vehicle for dispatch of at least a portion of the excess capacity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in the repository device identifiers for the devices, including the first and second electric vehicles, so as to associate each device identifier with a corresponding device;

associating in the repository each device identifier with a corresponding base service point of the one or more service points;

receiving, from a control device located at the selected service point, a device identifier for the second electric vehicle located at the selected service point and information regarding power stored and dispatched by the second electric vehicle while located at the selected service point, wherein the selected service point is not a base service point for the device identifier;

determining net carbon credits earned based on the information regarding power stored and dispatched by the second electric vehicle while located at the selected service point; and

associating the net carbon credits earned to the base service point for the device identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

re-commencing charging of the second electric vehicle responsive to determining that the control event at the selected service point has ended.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the amount of available operating reserve is determined by a predetermined amount or percentage specified in a customer profile for a second selected service point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to determining the amount of electric power stored by devices located at the one or more service points, detecting a presence of the second electric vehicle at the selected service point.

8. A method for supplying operating reserve to a utility servicing a plurality of service points, the method comprising:

determining, by a central controller, amounts of electric power stored by a plurality of devices located at the plurality of service points to produce stored power data, wherein one of the devices is a first electric vehicle located at a first service point;

storing, by the central controller, the stored power data in a repository;

managing, by the central controller, charging of a second electric vehicle at a second service point;

determining, by the central controller, an amount of available operating reserve based on at least the stored power data and projected energy savings resulting from a control event that interrupts charging of the second electric vehicle at the second service point by terminating the charging of the second electric vehicle prior to completion of the charging of the second electric vehicle;

receiving, by the central controller, a request for operating reserve from the utility; and

responsive to the request for operating reserve, managing, by the central controller, a dispatch of electric power from the plurality of devices to a power grid accessible by the utility, including;

sending a message to the first service point to dispatch electric power from the first electric vehicle, and

sending a message to the second service point to terminate the charging of the second electric vehicle prior to completion of the charging of the second electric vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving a request for operating reserve comprises:

receiving a command from an Automatic Generation Control (AGC) subsystem or a market signal from an independent system operator (ISO).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein managing a dispatch of electric power from the plurality of devices to a power grid accessible by the utility comprises:

receiving, by the central controller, notifications from control devices at the plurality of service points, the notifications including information regarding amounts of power dispatched to the power grid by the plurality of devices.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the central controller, carbon credits associated with the dispatch of electric power from the plurality of devices to the power grid.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining, by the central controller, net carbon credits earned as a result of storing power in a device of the plurality of devices and, at a later time, dispatching power from the device to the power grid; and

associating the net carbon credits earned to at least one of (a) a home or base service point for the device and (b) an owner of the device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing in the repository, by the central controller, device identifiers for the plurality of devices so as to associate each device identifier with a corresponding device of the plurality of devices;

associating in the repository, by the central controller, each device identifier with a corresponding base service point of the plurality of service points;

receiving, by the central controller from a control device located at a service point of the plurality of service points, a device identifier of a device of the plurality of devices located at the service point and information regarding power stored and dispatched by the device while located at the service point, wherein the service point is not the base service point for the device identifier;

determining, by the central controller, net carbon credits earned based on the information regarding power stored and dispatched by the device while located at the service point; and

associating, by the central controller, the net carbon credits earned to the base service point for the device identifier.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, by the central controller, communications from a third electric vehicle while the third electric vehicle is mobile indicating a location for the third electric vehicle and a current state of charge of the third electric vehicle,

wherein determining, by the central controller, an amount of available operating reserve includes stored energy available from the third electric vehicle when the location of the third electric vehicle is within a service area associated with the request for operating reserve.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein when the location of the third electric vehicle is within a service area associated with the request for operating reserve and the current state of charge of the third electric vehicle indicates the electric vehicle has excess capacity, negotiating with the third electric vehicle for dispatch of at least a portion of the excess capacity.

16. A system for supplying operating reserve to a utility servicing one or more service points, the system comprising:

a repository; and

at least one processor coupled to the repository, the at least one processor operable to;

determine amounts of electric power stored by devices located at the one or more service points to produce stored power data;

store the stored power data in the repository;

receive communications from a first electric vehicle while the first electric vehicle is in motion and unconnected to a power grid indicating a location for the first electric vehicle and a current state of charge of the first electric vehicle;

manage charging of a second electric vehicle at a selected one of the service points;

determine an amount of available operating reserve based on at least the stored power data, stored energy available from the first electric vehicle, and projected energy savings resulting from a control event that interrupts charging of the second electric vehicle by terminating the charging of the second electric vehicle prior to completion of the charging of the second electric vehicle at the selected service point;

receive a request for operating reserve from the utility; and

responsive to the request for operating reserve, manage a flow of electric power from the devices to the power grid accessible by the utility, including sending a message to the selected service point to commence the control event and terminate the charging of the second electric vehicle prior to completion of the charging of the second electric vehicle at the selected service point.