Distributed Energy Allocation Using IoT Metering and Community Trading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for deploying distributed energy resources do not effectively consider local factors such as solar potential and grid limitations, leading to inefficient energy planning and accounting, and traditional energy production methods fail to account for lateral energy flows, which limits the value derived from renewable energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize IoT edge devices connected to a cloud computing infrastructure for measuring and allocating exported energy, employing algorithms to distribute energy based on demand, historic consumption, and other criteria, and implementing a simplified blockchain workflow that includes an embedded blockchain network to facilitate efficient energy trading among community members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional electrical consulting agencies perform detailed electrical simulation analysis, then the accuracy of grid impact assessment is improved, but the cost and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pre-configured simulation templates and standardized assessment models that can be quickly deployed and discarded for different projects. These templates contain pre-built grid models, load profiles, and DER configurations that eliminate the need for creating simulations from scratch each time, significantly reducing analysis time while maintaining acceptable accuracy for planning purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary grid assessments using standardized models and typical scenarios before detailed project-specific simulations are conducted. This preliminary analysis identifies key issues and provides initial guidance, allowing detailed simulations to focus only on critical areas, thereby reducing overall time and resource requirements
2Measurement precision
If traditional electrical consulting agencies perform detailed electrical simulation analysis, then the accuracy of grid impact assessment is improved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standardized, pre-configured simulation templates that can be reused across multiple projects with minimal customization. These templates include pre-built grid models, load profiles, and DER configurations that eliminate the need for expensive, custom-built simulations for each project, significantly reducing costs while maintaining acceptable accuracy for planning and comparison purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial simulations focusing only on the most critical grid impacts and key parameters rather than comprehensive full-detail simulations. This approach identifies the majority of significant issues at a fraction of the cost, with detailed simulations reserved only for cases where preliminary analysis indicates potential problems requiring deeper investigation
3Ease of operation
If net-metering accounting methods are used, then the simplicity of energy trading is improved, but the accuracy of lateral energy flow accounting is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy accounting system into multiple layers: a simple net-metering layer for basic utility billing and a detailed lateral trading layer for peer-to-peer transactions. This segmentation allows each layer to operate with appropriate complexity - simple for utility interface, detailed for local trading - resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy in different operational contexts
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary ledger and allocation algorithm that sits between the simple net-metering interface and the complex lateral energy flows. This intermediary tracks and attributes energy transactions, using allocation algorithms to distribute exported energy to nearby consumers based on proximity, demand, and other criteria, thereby enabling accurate lateral accounting while maintaining simple user interfaces
4Device complexity
If embedded devices are used as data sources only in blockchain workflows, then the device complexity is reduced, but the functionality and value of distributed energy trading is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs embedded devices with multi-functionality, enabling them to operate both as simple data sources and as active blockchain nodes depending on configuration and capabilities. Devices can perform local energy trading, validate transactions, and maintain distributed ledgers when needed, while falling back to data-source-only mode when resources are constrained, thereby achieving versatility without requiring all devices to be complex
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for allocating exported energy in a utility network is provided. A system and method comprising measuring the exported energy and a consumed energy via one or more IoT edge devices connected to a cloud computing infrastructure and coupled to one or more distributed energy resources in a community of energy consumers via a telecommunication network. Storing the measured exported energy and consumed energy on a memory coupled to a processor in the cloud computing infrastructure. Selecting one or more allocation algorithms executed by the processor based on the measured exported energy. Distributing and assigning the exported energy according to the one or more allocation algorithms selected and differentiating the community of energy consumers based on the one or more allocation algorithms selected.