Building Energy Forecasting and Power Scheduling for Grid Balance

Solution Overview

Problem

Modern building energy systems with multiple energy sources, controllable loads, and energy storage systems become increasingly complex, requiring proactive energy management to balance electrical power and reduce reliance on the grid.

Innovation Solution

A method of energy management that involves obtaining power data, determining an energy forecast using a forecasting model, and creating a power schedule to control flexible energy assets, thereby balancing electrical power in the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple energy sources and controllable loads are added to modern building energy systems, then energy flexibility and renewable utilization are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments energy assets into inflexible and flexible categories, and separates forecasting functions from scheduling functions. This segmentation allows complex systems to be managed through modular, organized components that can be independently controlled and optimized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary forecasting of energy production and consumption before creating power schedules. By predicting future energy availability and demand in advance, the system can proactively plan power distribution and storage, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If proactive energy management is implemented to balance electrical power, then reliability is improved, but computational requirements and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower balance reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary forecasting of energy production and consumption before creating power schedules. By predicting future energy availability and demand in advance, the system can proactively plan power distribution and storage, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors actual energy production and consumption against forecasts, and uses this feedback to refine future predictions and adjust power schedules. This closed-loop feedback mechanism improves reliability over time while automating the process to minimize processing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequent power schedule updates are performed, then adaptability to changing conditions is improved, but computational load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveschedule adaptabilityVSAvoidcomputational energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary forecasting of energy production and consumption before creating power schedules. By predicting future energy availability and demand in advance, the system can proactively plan power distribution and storage, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system updates power schedules at periodic intervals based on forecasted energy availability and actual system performance. This periodic updating approach maintains adaptability to changing conditions while avoiding the excessive computational load of continuous real-time optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20250155858A1A method of energy management for an electrical system of a building

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

Some embodiments relate to a method of energy management for an electrical system of a building. The electrical system comprises one or more inflexible energy assets and one or more flexible energy assets. The method comprises: obtaining power data for the electrical system; and operating the one or more flexible energy assets to balance electrical power in the electrical system by: determining an energy forecast for the electrical system based on the power data, wherein the energy forecast is determined using a forecasting model for the electrical system; and determining a power schedule for controlling the one or more flexible energy assets to balance the electrical power in the electrical system using the determined energy forecast.