On-Site Battery Dispatch Control for Firm Capacity Aggregation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems require significant infrastructure investment by utilities to manage peak demand, leading to high costs passed on to customers, and customers bear the burden of installing and operating on-site energy storage systems without adequate control or cost savings.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that optimize energy dispatch across a fleet of on-site energy assets, including energy storage systems, to provide firm electric capacity and reduce electric costs for customers, by using a platform and gateway apparatus to calculate site load curves, perform portfolio-level optimization, and control on-site energy assets in real-time or near real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If utilities build infrastructure to support peak demand, then firm capacity is provided, but infrastructure investment costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple distributed on-site energy storage systems into a virtual power plant, merging their capacities to collectively provide firm capacity that replaces traditional utility infrastructure investments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a platform apparatus as an intermediary that coordinates and controls on-site energy storage systems, enabling them to function collectively as firm capacity without direct utility infrastructure
2Use of energy by moving object
If customers install on-site energy storage systems, then energy costs are reduced, but customers bear installation and operation costs without adequate control
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway apparatus serves as an intermediary between the on-site energy storage system and the platform, providing customers with remote control capabilities and transparency into system operation without requiring technical expertise
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the platform monitors and controls on-site energy storage operation, providing customers with information about energy usage, costs, and system status to enable informed decision-making
3Adaptability or versatility
If utilities have no control over on-site energy storage systems, then customer autonomy is maintained, but utilities cannot rely on these resources for firm capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The platform and gateway apparatuses serve as intermediaries that enable utilities to remotely monitor and control on-site energy storage systems, providing firm capacity reliability while preserving customer autonomy through agreed-upon service arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic control where the platform can adjust operation of on-site energy storage systems in real-time based on grid needs and customer preferences, allowing flexible adaptation between customer autonomy and utility reliability requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are provided for facilitating the operation and control of a fleet of on-site energy assets and optimizing energy dispatch across the fleet, thereby facilitating the use of the on-site energy assets instead of grid-supplied electric consumption. An example system may comprise a central platform and a plurality of on-site gateway devices configured to perform on-site asset control. An example method may comprise receiving a service availability call, performing fleet-level optimization, generating a set of site-level schedules, and causing, as a function of the site-level schedules, real-time on-site asset control. Other embodiments provide for determining a location of each grid-connected energy consumer at which to reduce grid-supplied energy consumption, determining an amount of a reduction of grid-supplied energy consumption, and transmitting a signal to each corresponding gateway device located at the determined location, the signal comprising data indicative of instructions for performing on-site energy dispatch.