Energy Virtual Twin Control for Decentralized Microgrid Trading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems are inefficient in adjusting to daily changes in electrical systems, leading to suboptimal energy utilization and negative consequences, and there is a need for systems that can aggregate distributed energy resources (DERs) to meet energy service requirements while minimizing carbon emissions and costs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-vector energy supply chain management system utilizing a persistent virtual world system and decentralized energy management system to digitally integrate and control energy flows, enabling seamless integration of artificial intelligence agents for automated energy management and trading, and supporting an Energy-as-a-Service economy for energy exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a decentralized energy management system with virtual twins is implemented, then energy management efficiency and adaptability improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual twins (digital copies) of physical energy assets, devices, and systems. These virtual replicas mirror the physical entities' behavior, state, and performance characteristics, enabling simulation, analysis, and optimization without directly modifying the complex physical system. This copying approach allows the system to handle complexity by working with simplified virtual models.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual twin system acts as an intermediary layer between the physical energy infrastructure and the management/control systems. This intermediate virtual layer enables complex energy management tasks by providing a simplified interface for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing energy flows without directly interfacing with the complex physical components.
2Productivity
If distributed energy resources are aggregated through virtual twins, then energy service requirements are better met, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple distributed energy resources into unified virtual twin representations. By consolidating information from numerous physical assets into integrated virtual models, the system achieves comprehensive energy service management while reducing the overall data processing burden compared to handling each asset separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual twin platform provides multi-functional capabilities for aggregating and managing diverse distributed energy resources. A single virtual twin system can handle multiple functions including monitoring, optimization, trading, and analysis across different energy assets, reducing the need for separate data processing systems for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy supply chain management and optimization system comprises an energy system comprising a plurality of inter-connected micro-grids connected to at least one macro-grid. The energy system connects to one or more cloud servers comprising at least one processor and memory storing computer code which, when executed by the at least one processor, implements a persistent virtual world system mapped according to the real world and comprising a plurality of virtual objects including at least one virtual replica of a corresponding real world element. The memory further stores a decentralized energy management system connected to the persistent virtual world system, comprising at least an energy control system configured to, through the virtualization of reality in the persistent virtual world system, digitally control energy flows based on data received from the energy system, and an energy market platform enabling energy aggregation and exchange between energy-related devices. Methods thereof are also disclosed.