Building Switchgear and ESS Control for Peak Demand Shaving
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing utility bills due to grid imbalance during peak hours, particularly in time-of-use environments, are exacerbated by the reliance on thermal generators and uncontrollable renewable energy sources, leading to higher costs for consumers and grid operators.
Innovation Solution
A system incorporating a building switchgear, an energy storage system (ESS), and an independent system operator (ISO) meter to manage power consumption, allowing the ESS to selectively provide power in response to customer demand, thereby preventing grid power consumption spikes during peak times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal generators are used to mitigate high demand during peak hours, then grid reliability is improved, but energy cost increases and environmental harm worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system charges during off-peak hours and discharges during peak demand periods, performing the energy storage action in advance before the high-demand period arrives. This preliminary charging action allows the system to provide power during peaks without relying on thermal generators, thus maintaining grid reliability while avoiding the environmental harm of combustion-based peaking plants.
2Reliability
If thermal generators are deployed to meet peak demand, then power supply adequacy is improved, but energy cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary energy accumulation by charging the battery storage during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower. This advance preparation allows the stored energy to be discharged during peak demand periods, eliminating the need to purchase expensive peak-hour electricity from thermal generators and thereby reducing overall energy costs while maintaining power supply adequacy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If energy storage resources are deployed to participate in grid balancing, then dependency on thermal generators is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is equipped with autonomous control capabilities that enable it to automatically respond to grid conditions and participate in balancing services without requiring complex external coordination infrastructure. The system self-manages its charging and discharging operations based on grid signals, reducing the need for additional complex control systems and infrastructure while maintaining adaptability for grid balancing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system reduces grid balancing reliance from power supply to demand load, synchronizing energy usage with grid operations, thereby decreasing utility costs and deferring grid capacity upgrades, and transforming buildings into smart power plants.
Implementation Method 1
an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to the building switchgear, wherein the ESS selectively provides power in response to a customer power demand to prevent a customer grid power consumption from spiking and peaking at grid imbalance highest cost on peak times
Data Source
AI summary
A system to manage power consumption from a grid includes a building switchgear; an energy storage system (ESS) coupled to the building switchgear to selectively provide power in response to a customer power demand to prevent a customer grid power consumption from spiking and peaking at grid imbalance highest cost on peak times.