Power Option Load Control With BTM Loads for Price Volatility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The volatility in market prices for power supplied to the grid, particularly affecting renewable energy generators like wind farms, leads to inefficient power generation and management due to the inability to quickly adjust operations in response to price fluctuations, resulting in potential losses and reduced revenue.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with behind-the-meter (BTM) loads that utilize power received from generation stations without incurring traditional Transmission and Distribution (T&D) costs, allowing generation stations to selectively direct power to either the grid or BTM loads based on market conditions, thereby maximizing revenue and minimizing economic impact during unfavorable pricing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If generation stations supply power to the grid, then revenue is generated through power sales, but revenue is reduced during unfavorable market pricing conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power generation adjustment by enabling generation stations to flexibly switch between grid supply and BTM load supply modes based on real-time market pricing conditions. The system dynamically modifies power generation operations to respond to changing economic conditions, allowing stations to reduce or eliminate generation during unfavorable pricing periods while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces BTM loads as an intermediary element between the generation station and the grid. These local loads serve as a buffer that can absorb excess power during unfavorable market conditions, allowing the generation station to avoid selling power at loss-making prices while still utilizing its generation capacity efficiently.
2Productivity
If generation stations quickly adjust power generation operations, then revenue is maximized during price fluctuations, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors market pricing conditions and automatically adjusts power generation operations in response. The system receives pricing signals from the grid operator and uses this feedback to determine when to modify generation levels or switch between supply modes, enabling revenue optimization through automated decision-making rather than complex manual control.
3Loss of energy
If BTM loads are used to absorb excess power, then T&D costs are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of power generation, local consumption, and grid interaction into an integrated system. By combining BTM loads with the generation station infrastructure, the system eliminates the need for separate T&D infrastructure for local consumption, reducing overall system complexity despite the added functionality of dynamic power management.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples relate to adjusting load power consumption based on a power option agreement. A computing system may receive power option data that is based on a power option agreement and specify minimum power thresholds associated with time intervals. The computing system may determine a performance strategy for a load (e.g., set of computing systems) based on a combination of the power option data and one or more monitored conditions. The performance strategy may specify a power consumption target for the load for each time interval such that each power consumption target is equal to or greater than the minimum power threshold associated with each time interval. The computing system may provide instructions the set of computing systems to perform one or more computational operations based on the performance strategy.