Microgrid Building Energy Prioritization by Alternate Source Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management systems for microgrids struggle to efficiently allocate energy resources among buildings based on the availability of alternate energy sources, leading to inefficiencies and potential energy shortages.
Innovation Solution
A prioritized energy management system that utilizes a server to determine needed energy for buildings within a microgrid and allocates energy based on the availability of alternate sources, using blockchain technology for consensus and smart contracts to ensure efficient energy distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If energy is allocated equally among all buildings in a microgrid, then simplicity of management is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to lack of consideration for alternate energy source availability
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the availability of alternate energy sources at each building and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust energy allocation priorities. The server receives real-time data about solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems, then modifies distribution decisions accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through automated decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the allocation parameter from equal distribution to priority-based distribution based on alternate energy source availability. By modifying the distribution parameter dynamically according to each building's renewable energy capacity, the system achieves improved energy efficiency without requiring complex manual management, as the parameter adjustment is automated.
2Reliability
If prioritized energy allocation is implemented based on alternate energy source availability, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and decision-making requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs multiple functions: it manages energy allocation, monitors alternate energy source availability, executes smart contracts, and maintains blockchain consensus. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional platform, the system improves energy supply reliability through comprehensive management while avoiding the need for separate complex systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain technology acts as an intermediary layer that facilitates trustless verification and automated execution of energy allocation decisions. Smart contracts serve as intermediaries that automatically enforce allocation rules based on pre-programmed criteria, reducing the need for complex human decision-making processes and intermediate management layers, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Productivity
If traditional energy management systems are used without prioritization, then ease of operation is maintained, but energy distribution optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables buildings with alternate energy sources to effectively manage their own energy contributions and receive appropriate allocation priorities automatically. Each building's energy management becomes self-service oriented, where the system autonomously evaluates alternate energy availability and adjusts allocation without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving distribution efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
An example operation includes one or more of determining, by a server, needed energy at a building of a plurality of buildings served by a microgrid and providing, by the server, a portion of the needed energy to the building using a priority. The portion and the priority are based on an availability of alternate sources of energy at the building as compared with alternate sources of energy at other buildings of the plurality of buildings.