Shared DER Control Bundles for Grid Stability and Energy Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of renewable energy sources like photovoltaic solar panels and electric vehicles into the electrical grid poses challenges for grid stability due to bi-directional power flows, leading to voltage or frequency issues, outages, and equipment damage, necessitating effective control strategies for distributed energy resources (DERs).
Innovation Solution
A method for shared control of DERs is implemented through a platform that establishes multiple control access bundles with varying priorities, allowing consolidated control events to be generated and sent over a network, accommodating competing interests of entities such as homeowners and utilities, ensuring grid stability while maximizing energy production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple entities control distributed energy resources with competing interests, then each entity can maximize its own objectives (energy production, grid stability, returns), but control conflicts arise that complicate system operation and may endanger grid stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control access into hierarchical bundles with different ranks (first rank, second rank, etc.), where each bundle contains specific control events. This segmentation allows multiple entities to have controlled access to DERs without direct conflict, as the hierarchical structure pre-defines which entity's control events take precedence in each situation, thereby maintaining grid stability while accommodating diverse control objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform acts as an intermediary that receives control access bundles from multiple entities, consolidates their control events according to hierarchical ranks, and generates unified consolidated control events. This intermediary resolves control conflicts before they reach the DER, preventing grid instability while allowing all entities to have their control objectives considered.
2Reliability
If utilities control DERs to ensure grid stability, then voltage and frequency issues are mitigated, but the ability of DER owners to maximize energy production is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is dynamic and adaptive, allowing control priorities to change based on grid conditions and operational needs. The hierarchical control access bundles can be configured to prioritize energy production during normal conditions while automatically prioritizing grid stability controls when voltage or frequency issues arise, thus optimizing both productivity and reliability under different operating scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If DERs are deployed widely to reduce greenhouse gases and create economic value, then societal benefits increase, but the complexity of coordinating control among multiple stakeholders increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses standardized control access bundle templates that can be replicated across multiple DERs and entities. Instead of creating custom control arrangements for each DER, the same hierarchical bundle structures are copied and adapted, significantly reducing the complexity of coordinating control across widely deployed DERs while maintaining consistent control logic and grid stability standards.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of facilitating control of a distributed energy resource which includes establishing, at a platform in communication over a network with the distributed energy resource, a first control access bundle of a first rank. The first control access bundle defines a first container including a first plurality of control events for controlling a distributed energy resource. A second control access bundle of a different, second rank is also established at the platform. The second control access bundle defines a second container including a second plurality of control events for controlling the distributed energy resource. Consolidated control events are generated from the first plurality of control events and the second plurality of control events, which may be of different priority. Events corresponding to the consolidated control events are sent to the distributed energy resource, the events controlling one or more parameters of the distributed energy resource.