Method for controlling decentralized loads in an energy system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy network systems face issues with cumulative load peaks and increased energy costs due to independent energy consumption and production fluctuations across multiple buildings, leading to inefficient energy distribution and potential climate parameter deviations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling decentralized loads across multiple buildings, utilizing load forecasts and operational plans to optimize energy consumption and production, incorporating renewable energy sources, and utilizing building thermal inertia to maintain climate comfort while minimizing load peaks and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If independent energy management is implemented for each building, then individual building climate control is optimized, but cumulative load peaks occur in the energy network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines individual building energy management with network-level coordination by creating an operational plan that considers all buildings in the energy network simultaneously. The central control device aggregates load forecasts from multiple buildings and generates a coordinated operational plan that distributes load peaks across different time periods, thereby merging individual optimization with collective load management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining load forecasts for each building in advance and creating an operational plan before peak demand occurs. The central control device uses predicted load patterns to pre-coordinate energy distribution, shifting some building operations to off-peak periods before the network peak occurs, thereby preventing cumulative load peaks while maintaining climate control reliability.
2Reliability
If sufficient basic capacity is provided for load peaks, then energy supply reliability is maintained, but energy costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic energy management where the operational plan is continuously adjusted based on actual load forecasts and network conditions. Instead of providing fixed sufficient capacity for all possible peak scenarios, the system dynamically coordinates building operations to smooth demand, allowing the energy supply to adapt to actual needs rather than provisioning for worst-case scenarios, thereby reducing energy costs while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If load forecasts are determined for individual buildings, then building-specific optimization is achieved, but network-wide load peaks are not prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The central control device acts as an intermediary between individual building load forecasts and network-wide energy distribution. It receives load forecasts from multiple buildings, aggregates them to identify potential network-level peak patterns, and generates a coordinated operational plan that distributes operations across buildings and time periods, thereby preventing cumulative load peaks while preserving building-specific optimization benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for controlling decentralized loads in an energy network, including at least two controllable loads, wherein the controllable loads are in particular energy consumers and/or energy storages and/or energy producers distributed over several buildings or building complexes. The loads are connected to a central energy supply by means of an energy supply line for providing power to the loads. In doing to, at least two controllable loads are provided. In the method, an inter-building load forecast is determined for several loads. In addition, an inter-building operational plan is created for at least two controllable loads on the basis of the inter-building load forecast. The controllable loads are driven on the basis of the inter-building operational plan and by means of the climate profiles of generated control data.