Virtual Power Plant Scheduler for Grid Dispatch Optimization

The patent introduces a virtual power plant (VPP) as an intermediary layer between distributed electric resources and the utility grid. The VPP aggregation software creates a virtual entity that consolidates control and management of multiple small-scale resources (HVAC systems, water heaters, EV batteries) without requiring physical aggregation infrastructure. This intermediary handles provisioning, coordination, and grid interaction, reducing the complexity burden on individual components while enabling large-scale resource aggregation.

The patent implements preliminary action by continuously collecting, validating, and preprocessing operational data from distributed resources and grid systems in real-time as events occur. Data is normalized, stored in structured formats, and pre-aggregated into meaningful metrics before analysis is needed. This preliminary data preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming data gathering and cleaning during after-the-fact analysis, enabling rapid generation of performance evaluations and root-cause insights.

The patent implements dynamic scheduling through the VPP dispatch software that continuously adapts dispatch decisions based on real-time changing conditions including grid demand, resource availability, weather patterns, and pricing signals. The system uses dynamic optimization algorithms that recalculate optimal dispatch strategies as conditions change, rather than relying on static pre-planned schedules. This dynamic approach enables real-time efficiency improvements while the modular software architecture manages computational complexity through incremental optimization.