Virtual Energy Allocation for Multi-Unit Building Solar Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-unit residential building owners struggle to realize the benefits of energy-producing assets like solar panels, as the energy produced is often consumed by the building and common areas, with the excess energy being pushed onto the grid without being able to be sold.
Innovation Solution
A virtual grid system that enables the shared use of distributed energy resources (DERs) by multi-unit buildings, tracking energy production and usage at individual unit levels, and allocating energy benefits based on consumption patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If energy producing assets are installed to meet tenant demand for sustainable energy, then energy production capability is improved, but the ability to sell produced energy deteriorates because excess energy is pushed onto the grid without sale capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments energy tracking and allocation at the individual unit level within multi-unit buildings. Each unit's energy consumption is separately measured and matched with produced energy, creating distinct energy accounts that enable individualized energy sales and benefits allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual grid system acts as an intermediary between energy producing assets and the utility grid. It introduces a layer of virtual energy trading that allows building owners to capture and monetize produced energy through software-based tracking and allocation before energy is pushed onto the physical grid.
2Reliability
If energy produced is consumed by the building and common areas, then energy self-sufficiency is improved, but the financial benefit is worsened because the owner cannot sell the produced energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of energy benefit allocation from a single building-level account to multiple individual unit-level accounts. This parameter change enables the tracking and monetization of energy produced, allowing owners to capture financial benefits through virtual energy trading while maintaining physical energy self-sufficiency.
3Measurement precision
If a virtual grid system implements individual unit tracking and allocation, then energy benefit allocation precision is improved, but system complexity worsens due to multiple current readers and data processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual grid server performs multiple functions including tracking energy production, measuring individual unit consumption, allocating energy benefits, and managing data communication. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single system that handles all energy management tasks across the multi-unit building.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual grid system is provided that enables allocation of energy produced by an energy producing asset to individual units of a multi-unit building. The system tracks the amount of electrical energy produced by the energy producing asset and also tracks an amount of electrical energy used by each individual unit. The system compares energy production information including pairs of an amount of energy produced and a corresponding time interval during which the amount of energy was produced to energy usage information including pairs of an amount of energy used and a corresponding time interval during which the amount of energy was used. The system allocates an amount of energy produced during each time interval to the individual units based on the amount of energy consumed by each respective individual unit during the time intervals. The system also calculates an energy cost allocation for each individual unit.