Grid Control System for Renewable Energy Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of renewable energy sources into electric grids is challenging due to their uncontrollable and unpredictable nature, leading to imbalances in energy supply and demand, and a lack of transparency in energy information between utilities and consumers, making it difficult to manage the grid effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control system that detects and compares the production and consumption of electric energy, using energy storage devices like electric vehicles to balance supply and demand by storing excess energy or drawing from storage when demand exceeds supply, and optimizing the use of renewable energy resources across various forms such as solar, wind, and bio-digester generators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If renewable energy resources (wind and solar) are integrated into the electric grid, then the proportion of clean energy increases, but the unpredictability and fluctuation of energy supply worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary actions by detecting and comparing energy production and consumption in real-time, then proactively controlling energy storage devices to charge or discharge before supply-demand imbalances occur, preventing grid instability rather than reacting to it
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the control system monitors renewable energy generation and consumer demand, then adjusts storage device operations dynamically to maintain grid balance, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that responds to changing conditions
2Reliability
If the control system continuously monitors and controls energy supply and demand, then the grid balance is maintained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions through a single integrated platform: detecting energy production, monitoring consumption, comparing supply-demand levels, generating control signals, and coordinating storage devices, eliminating the need for separate specialized systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically detects imbalances and generates appropriate control signals without human intervention, and the energy storage devices autonomously execute charging or discharging operations based on received signals, creating a self-regulating system that reduces operational complexity
3Productivity
If energy storage devices are used to balance supply and demand, then the renewable energy utilization is maximized, but the device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of energy storage devices based on real-time grid conditions, switching between charging and discharging modes as needed, rather than using fixed or static storage configurations, allowing flexible adaptation to varying renewable energy availability and demand patterns
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention comprises a method for controlling an electric grid (10) by a control system (18), wherein at least one electric supply device (26) of the electric grid (10) produces electric energy (Ep) and at least one electric consumer (16) of the electric grid consumes electric energy (Ec), wherein the amount of produced electric energy (Ep) and the amount of consumed electric energy (Ec) is detected by a detection device (22) of the control system (18), wherein the amount of produced electric energy (Ep) and the amount of consumed electric energy (Ec) is compared by an electronic computing device (20) of the control system (18) and depending on the comparison at least one control signal (26) for controlling the electric supply device (26) and/or the electric consumer (16) is produced by the electronic computing device (20), wherein the electric supply device (26) is a renewable energy resource (12, 14) and depending on the comparison an energy storage device (28) of the electric grid (10) is additionally controlled by the control signal (26), wherein the energy storage device (28) is controlled in such a way that the energy storage device (28) stores electric energy (Es) from the renewable energy resource (12, 14) or provides stored electric energy (Es) for the electric consumer (16). Furthermore, the invention relates to a control system (18) as well as to an electric grid (10).