Behind-the-Meter Flexible Datacenters for Renewable Curtailment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Renewable energy generators like wind and solar face significant challenges due to curtailment, where excess power is wasted as it cannot be transmitted to the grid, leading to economic losses and inefficiencies in power generation.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising flexible datacenters that utilize behind-the-meter power from renewable sources, allowing for dynamic modulation of power delivery based on monitored conditions and operational directives, thereby reducing waste and lowering operational costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If renewable energy generators increase power generation, then energy production increases, but transmission losses and curtailment increase when grid capacity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generationVSAvoidtransmission losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a local load (datacenter) as an intermediary between the renewable energy generator and the grid. This intermediary consumes excess generated power locally, preventing transmission losses and curtailment while maintaining grid stability. The datacenter acts as a buffer that absorbs surplus energy during periods of low grid demand or high generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the power consumption into two distinct parts: critical loads connected to the grid and flexible loads connected behind-the-meter to the generator. This segmentation allows the flexible datacenter to consume excess power locally without affecting grid stability, thereby reducing transmission losses while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If local station operators supply power to the grid, then power generation revenue increases, but operational costs increase when market prices go negative

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supplyVSAvoidoperational losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible datacenter serves as an intermediary that absorbs excess power locally, preventing it from being injected into the grid during periods of oversupply. This eliminates the problem of negative pricing and operational losses while maintaining continuous power supply to the datacenter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the parameter of power flow direction based on market conditions. When grid prices are positive, power flows to the grid; when prices are negative or zero, the flexible datacenter consumes power locally, changing the operational parameter from grid export to local consumption to avoid losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If grid operators implement curtailment to maintain grid stability, then grid reliability is maintained, but renewable energy waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrid stabilityVSAvoidrenewable energy waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible datacenter acts as an intermediary load that absorbs excess renewable energy locally, replacing the need for curtailment. This intermediary consumes the surplus power that would otherwise be wasted, maintaining grid stability without causing renewable energy waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of excess power (which causes curtailment and waste) into a beneficial outcome by providing it to a flexible datacenter. The surplus power that would be wasted is instead utilized for computational operations, transforming a problem into a solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Loss of energy

If flexible datacenters use behind-the-meter power, then transmission costs are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission costsVSAvoidpower distribution system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the flexible datacenter load from the grid-connected critical datacenter and places it behind-the-meter directly connected to the generator. This extraction removes the transmission infrastructure requirement for the flexible portion, reducing transmission costs while isolating the complexity to a specific segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11949232B2System of critical datacenters and behind-the-meter flexible datacenters

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 LANCIUM LLC

AI summary

Systems include one or more critical datacenter connected to behind-the-meter flexible datacenters. The critical datacenter is powered by grid power and not necessarily collocated with the flexboxes, which are powered “behind the meter.” When a computational operation to be performed at the critical datacenter is identified and determined that it can be performed at a lower cost at a flexible datacenter, the computational operation is instead routed to the flexible datacenters for performance. The critical datacenter and flexible datacenters preferably shared a dedicated communication pathway to enable high-bandwidth, low-latency, secure data transmissions.