Systems and methods for managing electricity supply from demand

Abstract

A system to manage power consumption from a grid includes a building switchgear; an independent system organization (ISO) meter coupled to the building switchgear, the ISO meter including a telemetry unit to communicate with an ISO; and an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to the building switchgear, wherein the ESS selectively provides power in response to a customer power demand to prevent a customer grid power consumption from spiking and peaking at grid imbalance highest cost on peak times.

Claims

1. A system to manage power consumption from a grid, comprising: a switchgear for a building; an independent system operator (ISO) revenue grade meter coupled to the switchgear, the ISO meter including a telemetry unit to communicate with an ISO for utility bill settlement calculations; a local meter to capture energy usage; and an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to the switchgear, the local meter, and the ISO or a System Performance Meter, and code to determine an ESS capacity by analyzing a highest peak and a lowest peak during a selected period from historical data and operate the ESS based on the local meter output to selectively provide power in response to a customer power demand to prevent a customer grid power consumption from spiking and peaking at grid imbalance highest cost on peak times, while the ISO or System Performance meter output is processed as a utility bill for the building.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a power management system (PMS) coupled to the ESS.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising an ESS system performance site meter coupled to the PMS.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a utility revenue grade meter coupled to the grid building switchgear.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising an ESS controller to control operations of the ESS.

6. The system of claim 5, comprising a battery management system in a battery rack.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising a power conversion system (PCS) coupled to a battery rack.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the ESS comprises a cooling system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the ESS controller controls a fire alarm, signal, alert, or suppression system.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising an AC and DC disconnect switches positioned between the grid and one or more power conversion systems (PCSes).

11. The system of claim 1, comprising code to profile Customer Electricity Usage, and code to determine electricity cost savings.

12. The system of claim 11, comprising code to optimize resource capacity.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the resource capacity includes power from one or more batteries and one or more solar panels.

14. The system of claim 1, comprising code to determine a consumption behavior over a period of time to identify a Demand and Energy Peak Usage Pattern and Patterns during ON PEAK hours under Utility Tariffs.

15. The system of claim 1, comprising code to find a highest peak (kW) during ON PEAK hours.

16. The system of claim 1, comprising code to find a lowest peak (kW) during ON PEAK hours.

17. The system of claim 1, comprising code to determine a demand cut on a customer load during a peak hour.

18. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules coupled to the ESS.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of PV modules are connected to one or more PV combiners.

20. The system of claim 19, comprising a DC-DC converter coupled to the PV combiners, further comprising a plurality of battery combiners coupled to the DC-DC converter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary process for optimizing electricity cost for power consumers.

(2) FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate an exemplary on-line user interface to illustrate electricity cost analysis and recommendations for a customer.

(3) FIGS. 2C-2D illustrate an exemplary electricity costs analysis and recommendation for a customer.

(4) FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate in more detail operation 2 of FIG. 1, while FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary cost saving projection.

(5) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary hardware formed using the capacity sizing solution in the process of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5 shows in more details one implementation of FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 shows an optional PV module that is connected to the ESS of FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 7 shows an exemplary cloud based energy management system.

DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary process for optimizing electricity cost for power consumers. The process starts by profiling the customer Electricity Usage using historical 15 min interval data gathered from utility GB data sharing or utility interval data files, and such information is used to illustrate potential approaches for cost savings (2). The result is rendered as an online service as illustrated in the exemplary user interface of FIGS. 2A-2B, and a report can be generated as illustrated in FIG. 2C. Next, the process optimizes Resource Capacity of Equipment based on Profile and Design Equipment including ESS or ESS+ Alternative Generation with the Capacity (4).

(10) The equipment is enhanced with separate meters, one for the load, one for the Regional ISO (such as the California Independent System Operator), and one for the network operations center (NOC) controller and for local control of equipment (6). The NOC manages the equipment to minimize cost for customer (8) and to provide on-site availability of Power to Grid on Demand (10).

(11) As the NOC controls a large number of distributed equipment that can provide precise available power for the grid operation on demand, the NOC acts as virtual power plant whose power can be drawn on-demand over a selected period to avoid high costs and electricity losses of peaking plants while assisting in the relief of congestion interties of electricity transporting through the grid, for example.

(12) FIGS. 2A-2B illustrates an exemplary on-line user interface to illustrate electricity cost analysis and recommendations for a customer, while FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary electricity costs analysis and what will be provided by the system for a customer site.

(13) Turning now to FIGS. 2A-2B, the set of User Interfaces consists of, a) Logging in with user name and Id. b) Click on ESSEmulator. c) Select customer's profile from the list. d) Select from ‘Validate Customers Profile (VCP)’, ARES™ (50, 75, 95), Conventional Solar. e) Click on customer load graph to view Monthly to Daily, Daily to 15 Min interval. f) Click ‘Back’ button to view 15 Min interval to Daily, and Daily to Monthly. g) Click ‘Back to all’ button to view 15 Min interval or Daily to Monthly Graph. Customers who are registered with the system and connected with 15 min interval data such as Green Button to the system database will be profiled in the savings simulator. Utility Tariff Rate Schedule, energy consumption pattern will be displayed.

(14) The system operator can select Customer from the list, and the site load data, and tariff rate schedule will be automatically displayed. Next, QBR Analysis software will be providing optimal input capacity by looking at the highest peak and lowest peak during the peak hours. The 95 percent of lowest peak, and 50% of the highest peak. Whichever has lower value will be the optimal input capacity. The software will display demand cut (50%, 75%, 95%) on the customers load graph during highest peak hours (4 pm to 9 pm). The optimized scenario adjusts system output so that the lowest power consumption is at zero. The savings caused by Energy Storage System will be generated and displayed. The software can display the highest peak date graph with 50%, 75%, 95%, and optimized graph of highest peak during peak hours. That will be used as system input capacity and will display demand cut by the input capacity during the highest peak (4 pm to 9 pm) and savings will be generated based on the amount cut and tariff schedule. A conventional Solar Analysis can also be done to show the difference between traditional solar on demand/usage at site versus AERSTM optimum with or without solar, where the software will display solar kWh cut on the customers load graph during sun hours (11 am to 5 pm). The solar input and output data are based on NREL PVwatt calculator where QBR analysis system connects directly with through API. A visual of traditional and optimum of solar kWh cut will be displayed on the customers load graph during the sun hours and highest peak expensive hours of grid. Using customer's address information, NREL API will provided the solar input and output data to generate the enhanced QBR ESS+ Solar system projection data.

(15) As shown in FIGS. 2C-2D, QBR savings analysis report for ESS+ Solar specializes in analyzing optimum system capacity based on load analysis of site for the purpose of reliability, congestion relief, cost reduction and deferral needs of grid operation rather than the traditional increasing of solar system capacity and alteration of utility rate tariff to accommodate grid balancing. Solar generation can then significantly be in a real-time controllable environment to be utilized at the proper times of load usage and grid needs with less costs for customers, utility and grid operators.

(16) FIGS. 3A-3B shows in more details the profiling operation 2 of FIG. 1. Turning now to FIG. 3A, more details are provided for determining the client profile. First, the process obtains a Validated Customer/Clients Profile (VCP). The customer authorizes and provides 15 min interval data, and in one embodiment with PG&E as the utility, this is done via a Green Button connection (“Validation Process”). The most recent one-year data of the customer's consumption behavior is digitized by yearly/monthly/daily patterns to find the Demand Peak Patterns and the Patterns during ON PEAK hours under Utility Tariffs. Typically the utility and grid operators provides 2-3 times more demand capacity than actual usage of clients. This causes significant “waste” by oversupplying energy, transmission delivery capacity (T-Demand) and distribution delivery capacity (D-Demand). The system performs synchronizing of customer's pattern into Grid operation, which is the ultimate goal of “Balancing.”

(17) Turning now to FIG. 3B, the process of emulating and optimizing BTM Resources and Savings is detailed. An Emulator calculates and optimizes the capacity of BTM resources which can be integrated with Energy Storage System (ESS) and Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. One implementation of the Emulator runs the following pseudocode:

(18) Find the highest peak (kW) during ON PEAK hours (highest electricity price by congested pricing)

(19) Find the lowest peak (kW) during ON PEAK hours

(20) Calculate both monthly (seasonal effects are counted) and daily

(21) Calculate 95% of lowest peak and compensate with highest peak with compensators of 50%, 75% and 95%, and optimized (or lowest consumption at zero)

(22) As an example, a Client with 1,000 kW (highest peak) and 800 kW (lowest peak during ON PEAK hours)

(23) Optimum ESS Capacity: 800 kW×95%=760 kW compensated with 76% of highest peak

(24) Client's utility ON PEAK hours: 5 Hours

(25) Total Storage Capacity=760 kW×5 hours=3,800 kWh

(26) System Configuration of ESS: 760 kW (PCS)+3,800 kWh (Li-Battery)*—will be further adjusted by ex-factory hardware standard capacity (“name plate capacity”)

(27) Solar PV uses ONLY TO FEED BATTERY (i.e., NO A/C connection to Grid) Customer's site sun radiation hours: 6 hours (example)

(28) Maximum capacity of energy production from Solar: 3,800 kWh calculated by battery capacity

(29) 3,800 kWh×365 days/year=1,387,000 kWh/year

(30) 1,387,000 kWh to reverse calculated PV panel capacity from NREL (PV watts calculator): 1,387,000/6 hours/82% (NREL)/365 days=772 kWdc of Solar PV required*760 kW PCS+3,800 kWh Li-Battery+772 kWdc Solar PV are optimized to realize THE MAXIMUM VALUE OF ENERGY to balance rate and balance grid

(31) FIG. 3C shows an exemplary cost saving projection. In one embodiment, QBR Integration CONTROLS ENERGY AND TIME. QBR delivers precise amount of energy at the best time which often occurs highest price due to congestion of demand. QBR Integration saves BOTH DEMAND CHARGE ($/kW) and ENERGY CHARGE ($/kWh). QBR can precisely reduce Demand Peak and shows approximately 3 time more savings than that of conventional solar saving projections

(32) AERS™ QBR system integration designs with existing infrastructure in mind to help utilities, state, and authorized local jurisdiction (ALJ) defer and/or reduce the cost of upgrades and improvements to accommodate societal changes such as population/development growth, climate, and/or increased electrical connecting device lifestyles by balancing the electricity usage demand synchronized with grid operation balancing 24/7/365.

(33) Conventional solar system and its capacity is designed based on fix time (NREL sun hours) and financial attributes for the solar system energy generation itself such as utility solar tariffs which are normally capped for retail rates (non-export connection) or using variable hourly wholesale rates (export connection). In other words, the solar system is not controllable and/or synced with grid balancing operation. Therefore, when highest cost of on-peak hours changes with utility and grid balancing operation of physical electron supply and demand the solar power generation from the conventional system becomes part of the “wasted” power supply in the energy transportation chain and requires more expansive peaking power generation needed for grid stability. By using AERS™ Optimum QBR system configuration of ESS+Solar three things occur: 1) equipment costs of system integration reduces as solar becomes a DC coupled system directly into ESS power conversion system (PCS), therefore solar invertors are eliminated; 2) since solar is designed mainly for the purpose of assisting the energizing of ESS, system capacity of solar will never be more than ESS capacity and physical electrons does not directly connect to load usage directly; 3) controlled time operation of solar electron usage, which can be mostly dispatched accordingly on the hours of most needed times for both grid and usage demand, thus no alterations of utility tariff rate schedules is necessary and the dependency of sun hours can be irrelevant for grid operation.

(34) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary system designed in FIG. 1. In this system, power is supplied by the grid and consumed by one or more loads. Such consumption is measured by a utility meter 102 and a site meter 104, and a performance meter 106. Data captured by meter 106 is provided to a telemetry unit 108 that provides to an ISO/utility authorized communication protocol 110. The output of telemetry unit 108, along with the site meter 104, is provided to an energy storage system (ESS) controller 116. The controller 116 also receives line quality data as captured through protective relays 114. The controller 116 also controls HVAC systems, fire alarms, alert signal systems, and/or suppression systems, sensors, and input/output devices 122. The controller 116 also controls a battery system 124 with a battery management system and a plurality of battery racks. The controller 116 can control the charging of the battery system 124 using a power conversion system 126, which has a DC disconnect 128 for safe disconnect from the battery system 124. Similarly, an AC disconnect 130 is positioned between grid power and a second AC disconnect 132 before power goes into the PCS 126. Additionally, other PCS systems or battery systems 140 can be connected to the output of the AC disconnect 130.

(35) The ESS 116 selectively provides power in response to a customer power demand and energy usage behavior to prevent a customer grid power consumption from high spiking peaks during the grids most unstable or imbalanced high cost times. For the majority of AERSTM QBR operation, the customer's power consumption is well within the utility and grid operations baseload supply thus keeping the electric bill at the lowest cost possible. During the off-peak hours usually the baseload's low-cost rate period, the ESS is charged or energized from the grid power some or all of energy needed depending on QBR ESS or ESS+alternative power generation system installed on site. The increase of site loads off peak cost hours are minimal if any because discharging hours of QBR ESS for high cost on peak hours are mainly 6 hours or less accumulated in a 24 hours period and the lowest cost hours for charging can be spread through efficiently through a spread of the rest of 18 hours.

(36) As the ESS 116 only kicks in on a minority of the time, the ESS 116 contains power that can be tapped into to correct grid disturbances. This ability is enhanced when aggregation of ESS 116 connected at C&I main electric switchgears that can be controlled by a network operations center (NOC) to collectively supply power into the grid by discharging for reduction of load from grid or by charging to increase load consumption when grid is over energized to address a power imbalance that can lead to brown-outs. When such collection of ESSes provide power to the grid, they can be compensated by the utility or ISO. The utility wins because it can avoid spending billions on a new powerplant, and the ESS/NOC wins with extra revenue from being a virtual power plant that can inject or reduce power for a selected period in response to a request from an ISO or a utility. Thus, the meters need to be ISO allowable and/or revenue grade meters.

(37) In the system of FIG. 4, the utility meter and the ISO meter are revenue grade meters that conform to specifications by the utility and the ISO. Meter data represents the energy generated or consumed during a settlement interval. The ISO, ISO metered entities, and scheduling coordinator (SC) metered entities follow prescribed processes and procedures to ensure the data is settlement quality. The ISO meter performs accurate metering of electricity generated or consumed provides key data inputs for accurate settlement calculations. Direct measurement of a generator or load participant through telemetry allows the ISO or the utility to manage and monitor power generation in real-time. The specification of the meter is highly controlled, as the ISO and utility bill based on the meter output.

(38) In one embodiment, CAISO Metered Entities ensure that the Meter Data obtained by the CAISO directly from their revenue quality meters is raw, unedited and un-aggregated Meter Data in kWh values. The CAISO or SC will be responsible for the Validation, Estimation, and Editing process of that Meter Data in order to produce Settlement Quality Meter Data.

(39) The system of FIG. 4 conforms to utility and ISO specifications, as the ISO controls the local utilities to ensure orderly operation for electricity supply in a region. For example, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is a non-profit Independent System Operator (ISO) serving California and oversees the operation of California's bulk electric power system, transmission lines, and electricity market generated and transmitted by its member utilities. By providing a separate compliant meter for the ISO, the system can now participate direct to the ISO to help facilitate local utility's reliability and CAISO's grid balancing of energy supply and demand. Each QBR resource are registered with CAISO SC resource ID and AERSTM Point of Control/Trade (POC/POT) ID that are synchronized with utility rate tariff, system load meter data, and CAISO Lap Points and pNodes.

(40) FIG. 5 shows in more details one implementation of FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a meter and a NOC network controller are connected to a power management system (PMS). The PMS in turn is connected to each of the aggregated ESS management system that are connected a remote on site NOC controller. Each BMS/PCS combination is tied to manual stop button or disconnect switches and circuit breakers on site to ensure safety and security of onsite system. Also, to ensure proper metering telemetry and the safety of physical electricity connection, the QBR system it is protected using protective relays approved by utilities. In turn each of the QBR POC satisfies the minimum requirement of California Public Utilities Commission Electrical Interconnection Tariff Rule 21.

(41) The charging and discharging scheduling method for ESS in FIG. 4-5 under time-of-use price applied in one embodiment, accesses the ESS as part of electricity grid device to safely and efficiently deliver electricity to and from buildings, that plays a role of load shifting, improves the safety and stability of the power and energy usage operation under time-of-use price, and meanwhile increases the efficiency of energy utilization and the economy of the transmission and distribution grid and load usage operation, that can truly make building-to-grid (B2G) feasible and controllable building demand into grid assets.

(42) The charging and discharging scheduling method for the system of FIG. 4-5 under time-of-use price applied in one embodiment, incorporates not only the ESS, but also the photovoltaic unit, and other power sources such as gas generator, into the optimal scheduling model of B2G, which consummates the optimal scheduling model considering only the ESS.

(43) FIG. 6 shows an optional PV module that is connected to the ESS of FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the PV module provides power to the ESS that is then smoothed and used and/or stored by. As power is needed through the balancing of the grid operation chain, building's load usage can then provide and facilitate through the control of QBR systems. In another perspective the building's switchgear is upgraded to become a smart switch by adding on QBR attributes as a behind-the-meter resource for utilities and grid operators without the actual upgrade costs and time constraints. In this embodiment, a combiner collects outputs from the PV arrays, and the collective PV outputs are provided directly to a DC to DC coupled PCS connected to storage unit. When needed, the ESS drives an inverter to generate AC outputs, thus eliminates electricity loss or waste of generation. One embodiment runs the following determinations:

(44) a. winter_energy_arbitrage=winter_partpeak_energy−winter_offpeak_energy

(45) b. summer_energy_arbitrage=summer_maxpeak_energy−summer_partpeak_energy

(46) c. arbitrage_avg_rate=(winter_energy_arbitrage*8+summer_energy_arbitrage*4)/12

(47) d. energy_avg_rate=(winter_partpeak_energy*8+summer_maxpeak_energy*4)/12

(48) e. Solar_saving_DC_yr1=Summer_Maxpeak_demand*Input_capacity*4

(49) f. ECM_Saving_yr(n)=energy_avg_rate*Input_capacity*5*365*(1.05)n−1

(50) g. Total saving yr(n)=Solar_saving_DC_yr(n)+ECM_Saving_yr(n)

(51) h. WO_soalr_Total_yr(n)=Solar_saving_DC_yr(n)+WO_solar_ECM_yr(n)

(52) i. HoursFilterData={A.Math.Data: Data is in between 4 pm to 9 pm}

(53) j. AERS

(54) i. AERS_power_base=min(HoursFilter(daily max)*0.5, HoursFilter(daily_min)*0.95)

(55) ii. AERS_50=AERS_power base*0.5

(56) iii. AERS_75=AERS_power base*0.75

(57) iv. AERS_90=AERS_power base*0.95

(58) v. AERS_OPTIMUM=For all energy usage between 4 pm to 9 pm, subtract daily min

(59) k. Conventional Solar

(60) .PvWATT is an API call accepts parameters including input capacity, address, and so on.

(61) i. sunhours=PvWATT(input, address)/input/30

(62) In this embodiment, the customer's consumption history data is automatically download from Utility Servers, called “GREEN BUTTON.” An emulator calculates and computes lowest peak data during TOU-ON PEAK with highest peak one per yearly, monthly and daily out of the customer's history data. The emulator computes OPTIMUM capacity of resources, such as Energy Storage System, Solar PV and Gas Generator, in order to maximize economy value of the resources. The OPTIMUM CAPACITY value generates economy projections over 20-project years. VCP is a requirement in order to apply for California SGIP incentives program. Based on VCP, the system provides the fully TOU synchronized system design, called Qualified Balance Resources (QBR). QBR provides Definitive Capacity of Resources made by one or multiple integrations from Energy Storage System, Solar PV and Gas Generator as well as Grid power. The capacity from each resource shall be computed and synchronized by TOU patterns of the users and GRID.

(63) FIG. 7 shows an exemplary web architecture for the cloud based energy management system. The system includes web/html clients that communicate over http channels to an application server with an Application Program Interface (API). The server and API handler communicates with a database server that responds with data upon request.

(64) In some embodiments, the system of FIG. 7 may be implemented as a cloud-based computing environment, such as a virtual machine operating within a computing cloud. In other embodiments, the computer system may itself include a cloud-based computing environment, where the functionalities of the computer system are executed in a distributed fashion. Thus, the computer system, when configured as a computing cloud, may include pluralities of computing devices in various forms, as will be described in greater detail below. In general, a cloud-based computing environment is a resource that typically combines the computational power of a large grouping of processors (such as within web servers) and/or that combines the storage capacity of a large grouping of computer memories or storage devices. Systems that provide cloud-based resources may be utilized exclusively by their owners or such systems may be accessible to outside users who deploy applications within the computing infrastructure to obtain the benefit of large computational or storage resources. The cloud may be formed, for example, by a network of web servers that comprise a plurality of computing devices, such as the computer system, with each server (or at least a plurality thereof) providing processor and/or storage resources. These servers may manage workloads provided by multiple users (e.g., cloud resource customers or other users). Typically, each user places workload demands upon the cloud that vary in real-time, sometimes dramatically. The nature and extent of these variations typically depends on the type of business associated with the user.

(65) As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present disclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable medium(s) having computer-readable program code embodied thereon.

(66) Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

(67) A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium that is not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.