METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING THE DISCHARGE OF DISTRIBUTED POWER STORAGE DEVICES AND FOR LEVELIZING DISPATCH PARTICIPATION

• US 20080281663A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Inventors: Shnekendorf, Edward, Golden, Brian, Axelrod, Zach, Szablya, Louis, Hakim, David, Barnes, Michaela, Hyams, David, Cowett, Alexei, Jhirad, Nicholas, Hugg, Steven, Cartwright, Sarah, Lewis, R. Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/048 Fuzzy inferencing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/466 Scheduling the operation of the generators, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a given demand
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

Disclosed is a computerized method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in a discharge event so that the energy stored in individual devices is levelized, or so that an operator request is met. Evaluation of event parameters may be deferred. The method may be utilized to dispatch energy from plug-in electric vehicles. Systems and methods to account for electricity dispatched to or from electric vehicles are disclosed. Systems and methods for incentivizing consumers to participate in a dispatch event or curtail energy use are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in a discharge event so that the energy stored in individual devices is levelized, comprising the steps of:

receiving a dispatch request comprising an amount of power required during a dispatch event and a duration of the event;

determining accomplishability of the dispatch request;

determining individual resource participation in the dispatch event utilizing rules that set the amount of energy to be discharged from each participating resource so as to keep the level of energy stored in each individual resource equal relative to the energy level of other participating resources; and

,

scheduling individual resource dispatches.

2. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 1, wherein said distributed resource comprises plug-in electric vehicles.

3. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 1, wherein said distributed resource comprises distributed consumer electrical power generation devices.

4. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 1, wherein said distributed resource comprises distributed power storage devices.

5. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 4, wherein said distributed power storage devices comprise batteries in consumer power control appliances.

6. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of determining individual resource participation comprises setting the rate at which participating distributed resources discharge energy such that each said resource runs out of energy in substantially the same duration of time.

7. A method for dispatching energy from distributed resources to meet an operator request, comprising the steps of:

receiving a dispatch request comprising an amount of power required during a dispatch event and a duration of the event;

determining accomplishability of the dispatch request,

determining individual resource participation in a planned dispatch event;

scheduling individual resource dispatches at a future time; and

,

commanding said individual resources to dispatch energy at said future time;

wherein said receiving, determining, scheduling, and commanding steps are performed by one or more computing devices.

8. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 7, wherein the operator request is a specification of an amount of energy desired and a duration.

9. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 7, wherein said operator request comprises a selection of which resources are to be levelized.

10. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 7, wherein said operator request comprises a selection of a type of energy from the group consisting of:

green energy, cheap energy, expensive energy, or carbon-expensive energy.

11. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 7, wherein said step of determining individual resource participation is performed so as to dispatch stored energy to preserve as much as possible the ability to meet subsequent dispatch requests.

12. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 7, wherein the start and stop times of the allocated resources are redistributed to minimize any coincidental starting or stopping of the discharge of resources to minimize the ripple on the electrical grid caused by multiple resources starting or stopping simultaneously.

13. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 12, wherein the start time of each resource is further changed by the addition of a factor, to further minimize ripple.

14. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 7, wherein said distributed resource comprises a plug-in electric vehicle.

16. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 14, wherein said distributed resource comprises a plug-in electric vehicle.

15. A method for dispatching energy from distributed resources that attempts to bring stored energies to level, comprising the steps of:

receiving a dispatch request;

determining accomplishability of the dispatch request;

determining individual resource participation in a planned dispatch event utilizing rules which set the rate at which participating distributed resources discharge energy such that each said resource runs out of energy in substantially the same duration of time; and

,

scheduling individual resource dispatches.

17. A method for dispatching energy from distributed resources that defers evaluation of event parameters, comprising the steps of:

receiving a dispatch request;

determining accomplishability of the dispatch request,

determining individual resource participation in a planned dispatch event;

scheduling individual resource dispatches at a future time;

re-determining accomplishability of the dispatch request prior to said future time; and

,

commanding said individual resources to dispatch energy based upon said re-determination of accomplishability;

wherein said receiving, determining, scheduling, re-determining and commanding steps are performed by one or more computing devices.

18. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 17, wherein said re-determining step comprises repeatedly re-determining accomplishability of the dispatch request prior up until said future time.

19. The method for dispatching energy from distributed resources in accordance with claim 17, wherein said distributed resource comprises a plug-in electric vehicle.

20. A method for dispatching energy from plug-in electric vehicles, comprising the steps of:

receiving a dispatch request;

determining accomplishability of the dispatch request,

using a data network to determine availability of individual PEVs at a requested future time for a dispatch event;

determining resource participation in a planned dispatch event based upon said availability;

scheduling individual PEV dispatches at the future time; and

,

commanding said individual resources to dispatch energy at said future time;

wherein said receiving, determining, scheduling, and commanding steps are performed by one or more computing devices.

21. The method for dispatching energy from plug-in electric vehicles in accordance with claim 20, wherein a statistical method is used to determine accomplishability.

22. The method for dispatching energy from plug-in electric vehicles in accordance with claim 20, wherein a database is used to determine accomplishability.

23. The method for dispatching energy from plug-in electric vehicles in accordance with claim 20, wherein small timesteps are used to determine participation information and schedule dispatches.

24. The method for dispatching energy from plug-in electric vehicles in accordance with claim 23, wherein the length of the timesteps is determined with reference to historical data about the arrival and departure of PEVs from a location.

25. The method for dispatching energy from plug-in electric vehicles in accordance with claim 23, wherein the length of the timesteps is selected to minimize as much as possible the number of resources which may be removed from the electrical grid during a dispatch event.

26. A method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity flowing through a charging receptacle to or from a storage device in an electric vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a clearinghouse a request for authorization that has been generated in response to connection of an electric vehicle to a charging receptacle, said request for authorization including identification data sufficient to identify a first account of a first utility company supplying electricity to said charging receptacle and to identify an electricity billing account associated with an account holder at a second utility company;

determining that the account holder is authorized to charge said account for electricity drawn from said charging receptacle;

transmitting data enabling the flow of electricity at said charging receptacle;

receiving data indicating the amount of electricity drawn from said charging receptacle to charge said storage device in said electric vehicle;

using said data to cause said account associated with the first utility company to be credited; and

,

using said data to cause said utility company account to be charged;

wherein said receiving, determining, transmitting, receiving data, and using data steps are performed by one or more computers.

27. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 26, wherein the identification data comprises a unique identifier associated with an electricity billing account of the electric vehicle owner'"'"'s home.

28. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 26, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving data identifying the vehicle that has been plugged in.

29. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 28, wherein the data identifying the vehicle comprises a unique identifier compliant with IETF RFC 2460.

30. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 28, wherein the data identifying the vehicle comprises a VIN number.

31. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 26, wherein the determining step comprises using a computer to determine a maximum dollar amount authorized to be charged by said account holder for drawing electricity.

32. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 26, further comprising the step of confirming with the account holder'"'"'s utility company that a transaction should be permitted.

33. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 26, wherein said step of transmitting data enabling the flow of electricity at said charging receptacle comprises transmitting one of a plurality of levels of permission.

34. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 26, wherein said step of determining that the account holder is authorized to charge said account comprises consulting a database of unique identifiers matched to billing electrical utility companies.

35. The method of receiving and transmitting data to account for electricity in accordance with claim 26, wherein said step of using said data to cause said utility company account to be charged further comprises causing said utility company account to be charged a roaming fee.

36. A method for establishing the lowest clearing price of energy to be charged by one or more utility companies to customers, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a message for display in a plurality of consumer user interfaces, said message indicating the utility company'"'"'s desire to purchase an amount of energy;

receiving data indicating a plurality of values for stored energy entered or selected through said consumer user interface; and

,

using said data indicating a plurality of values for stored energy to determine a lowest price at which a desired quantity of energy is purchasable from consumers who have entered or selected values via said plurality of consumer user interfaces.

37. The for establishing the lowest clearing price of energy in accordance with claim 36, wherein the consumer user interface allows a user to place a bid for energy and wherein said step of determining a lowest price comprises using said bids to conduct a dutch auction for energy.

38. A method for motivating consumers to discharge energy from distributed energy resources as part of an energy dispatch event, comprising the steps of:

transmitting data comprising an offer of an incentive to participate in an energy dispatch event to a plurality of consumers;

receiving from one or more of said plurality of consumers data comprising an acceptance of said offer of said incentive; and

,

iteratively transmitting one or more further offers of increasing incentives to participate in said energy dispatch event and receiving one or more further acceptances until receipt of sufficient consumer acceptance to support a desired level of participation in said energy dispatch event.

39. The method for motivating consumers to discharge energy in accordance with claim 38, wherein said plurality of consumers comprises a plurality of homeowners or business owners and said distributed energy resources comprise consumer power control appliances.

40. The method for motivating consumers to discharge energy in accordance with claim 38, wherein said plurality of consumers comprises a plurality of homeowners or business owners and said distributed energy resources comprise consumer power generation devices.

41. The method for motivating consumers to discharge energy in accordance with claim 38, wherein said plurality of consumers comprises a plurality of owners of plug-in electric vehicles and said distributed energy resources comprise energy stored in storage devices in said plug-in electric vehicles.

42. A method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event, comprising the steps of:

transmitting data to a plurality of consumer user interfaces, said data comprising an offer of a monetary incentive in exchange for curtailment of energy use by the consumer;

receiving data from a plurality of said consumer interfaces, said data comprising an indication of acceptance of said offer of said monetary incentive; and

,

causing said monetary incentive to be provided to consumers who have transmitted said data comprising an indication of acceptance;

wherein said steps of transmitting data, receiving data, and causing said monetary incentive to be provided are performed by one or more computers.

43. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 42, wherein said incentive comprises a discount on energy prices.

44. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 42, wherein said incentive comprises a coupon.

45. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 42, further comprising varying the incentive that is transmitted to the user interface based upon the current demand for electricity.

46. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 42, wherein said curtailment of energy use by the consumer comprises foregoing use of a vehicle.

47. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 42, wherein said monetary incentive comprises an increased price at which electrical power is purchased back from the consumer.

48. A method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event, comprising the steps of:

transmitting data to a plurality of consumer user interfaces, said data comprising an offer of a monetary incentive in exchange for making a distributed energy resource available on an electrical power grid;

receiving data from a plurality of said consumer interfaces, said data comprising an indication of acceptance of said offer of said monetary incentive; and

,

causing said monetary incentive to be provided to consumers who have transmitted said data comprising an indication of acceptance;

wherein said steps of transmitting data, receiving data, and causing said monetary incentive to be provided are performed by one or more computers.

49. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 48, further comprising the step of:

using said data comprising an indication of acceptance of said offer to schedule an energy dispatch event.

50. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 48, wherein said offer comprises an offer of a monetary incentive in exchange for making a distributed energy resource available on an electrical power grid.

51. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 48, wherein said incentive comprises a discount on energy prices.

52. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 48, wherein said incentive comprises a coupon.

53. The method of incentivizing consumer participation in an energy dispatch event according to claim 48, further comprising varying the incentive that is transmitted to the user interface based upon the current demand for electricity.