Local Energy Community Grid Isolation With Timetabled Power Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Local Energy Communities (LECs) face complex and costly requirements to ensure compatibility with public electricity grids, necessitating stringent adherence to grid parameters that complicate their establishment and operation.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for controlling a local grid area within an LEC that includes galvanic isolation from the public grid, allowing independent operation and simplified control procedures by using timetable information to manage energy transmission and regulation of elements within the local grid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a timetable is introduced to coordinate energy exchanges between prosumers and consumers, then energy efficiency and local balance are improved, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit automatically generates and adjusts the timetable based on predefined criteria and real-time data from measurement units, enabling the system to self-regulate energy exchanges without manual intervention. The control unit autonomously optimizes the timetable to maintain local energy balance while coordinating prosumer and consumer activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The timetable is prepared in advance with scheduled energy exchanges between prosumers and consumers, allowing the system to anticipate and plan energy flows before they occur. This preliminary scheduling enables efficient coordination while reducing the need for complex real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If real-time measurement and control systems are deployed to monitor energy flows, then energy balance precision is improved, but system cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy balance precisionVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement system is divided into separate measurement units for each prosumer and consumer, with each unit independently monitoring its own energy production and consumption. This segmentation allows for precise local measurements while distributing system complexity across multiple simple, standardized units rather than requiring one complex centralized measurement system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the system operates without a timetable allowing free energy exchange, then operational flexibility is maintained, but energy loss and inefficiency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidenergy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The timetable is designed to be dynamic and adaptable, allowing adjustments based on changing energy production and consumption patterns. The control unit can modify the timetable in real-time while maintaining the structured coordination of energy exchanges, thus preserving operational flexibility while preventing energy loss through uncoordinated exchanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3861521B1Control of a local network sector for implementing a local energy community with a timetable
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 INNOGY SE
  • EP3861521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3861521B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates inter alia to a method, carried out by a control device, the method comprising: obtaining an item of timetable information indicative of an amount of electrical energy which is to be transmitted at at least one coupling point between a local network area and a public power supply network for a pre-defined period of time, a first method of transmission of the electrical energy within the local network area deviating at least temporarily from a pre-defined second method of transmission of the public power supply network, and a galvanic isolation of the local network area from the public power supply network at the coupling point being implemented; and controlling and/or regulating one or more elements which are comprised by the local network area, the control and/or regulation taking place at least partially based upon the timetable information obtained. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out and/or controlling said method, to a system comprising one or more devices for carrying out and/or controlling said method, and to a computer program for carrying out and/or controlling said method by means of a processor.