Building Energy Management Using Demand Flexibility and Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing variability in renewable energy sources and power demand due to electrification poses challenges for maintaining grid reliability, necessitating improved demand-side flexibility in energy management systems beyond traditional curtailment and load shedding.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system that integrates a monitoring unit, management unit, and optimization unit to optimize power allocation based on demand-side flexibility, utilizing sensors to gather data, derive flexibility information, and implement actuation signals to adjust power consumption and storage devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If demand response programs with curtailment or load shedding are used during peak load times, then demand-side flexibility is achieved, but normal operations are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-charging energy storage devices during periods of low demand and low renewable costs, and pre-adjusting power consumption devices to flexible operating ranges before peak demand occurs. This allows the system to meet peak demand requirements without disrupting normal operations during critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts power allocation based on real-time conditions including renewable energy availability, storage state of charge, and flexible operating ranges of consumption devices. The optimization continuously adapts the balance between curtailment, storage charging/discharging, and flexible device operation to maintain both demand-side flexibility and operational continuity.
2Productivity
If conventional energy management systems optimize power allocation, then supply-side resources and storage assets are utilized, but demand-side flexibility is not fully integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified optimization framework that simultaneously manages supply-side resources, storage assets, and demand-side flexibility. The optimization unit coordinates power allocation across generation devices, storage devices, and flexible consumption devices, making the system versatile in handling both traditional and demand-response scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the optimization unit continuously receives information about power generation, consumption, storage state of charge, and flexible operating ranges. This feedback enables real-time adjustment of power allocation to fully integrate demand-side flexibility while maintaining energy optimization efficiency.
3Reliability
If renewable energy sources are increased to achieve decarbonisation, then environmental goals are met, but grid variability and reliability challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by pre-charging energy storage devices during periods of high renewable generation and low demand, creating an energy buffer that cushions against the variability of renewable sources. This allows the system to maintain grid reliability even when renewable generation fluctuates unexpectedly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of power consumption devices within their flexible operating ranges to adapt to renewable energy variability. By adjusting parameters such as power setpoints, timing, and intensity of flexible devices, the system maintains reliability while accommodating the variable nature of renewable energy sources.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the teachings herein include an energy management system for a building having power consumption devices, power generation devices, and power storage devices. An example includes: a monitoring unit to acquire information about power generated by the power generation devices, about power consumed by the power consumption devices, and about a respective state of charge of the power storage devices; a management unit to derive information about a flexibility of the power demand of the power consumption devices deployed in the building based on the information acquired by the monitoring unit; and an optimization unit to optimize the power allocation of the power produced by the power generation devices to the power consumption devices and/or to the power storage devices based at least in part on the derived flexibility information of the power demand.