OADR Gateway Control for Secure Load Shedding and Meter Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Open Automated Demand Response (OADR) systems face challenges in implementing Internet connections, which are costly and may expose sensitive data, and existing protocols do not allow customers to access meter data for internal management.
Innovation Solution
An OADR endpoint device that translates market signals into actionable formats for energy management, includes secure communication protocols, and allows customers to manage energy consumption by shedding load or reducing operations based on market prices and consumption data, while enabling access to meter data for internal monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Internet connections are implemented for OADR communications, then energy market signals and DR signals can be transmitted and received, but implementation costs increase and sensitive data security risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an OADR gateway as an intermediary device that enables OADR communications without requiring direct Internet connections at the customer premises. The gateway translates OADR messages and communicates over existing utility communication infrastructure, thereby providing communication capability while avoiding the complexity and security risks of direct Internet implementation
2Adaptability or versatility
If Internet connections are implemented for OADR communications, then energy market signals and DR signals can be transmitted and received, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The OADR gateway serves as a mediator that enables communications over existing utility infrastructure rather than requiring separate Internet connections. This approach leverages already-deployed communication networks, thereby providing full OADR communication capability while avoiding the additional operational costs associated with Internet service subscriptions and maintenance
3Ease of operation
If customers are allowed to access meter data for internal management, then energy consumption management capability is improved, but data security and network protection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The OADR gateway acts as a secure intermediary between the utility system and customer energy management systems. It provides controlled access to meter data and enables load management functions while maintaining security boundaries. The gateway authenticates requests, controls data access, and protects the internal utility network from direct external access, thereby enabling energy management capability while maintaining network security
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the disclosure describe an Open Automated Demand Response (OADR) endpoint device. A method of the disclosure includes receiving, by a processing device of an endpoint device, a first message comprising a first market energy price, determining whether a first quantity of energy has been consumed within a first time period by at least one energy device associated with the endpoint device, responsive to a determination that the first quantity of energy has been consumed by the at least one energy device within the first time period, determining whether the first market energy price is greater than a price threshold and responsive to a determination that the first market energy price is greater than the price threshold, causing the at least one energy device to stop consuming additional amounts of energy.