US7274975B2 — Optimized energy management system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 206 words

A method for allocating electrical energy at a location where the electrical energy is consumed, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (1) determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at the location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity; (2) determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source; (3) determining a demand for electrical energy at the location; (4) dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand; (5) reducing demand at the location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for a device for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost time period to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur, and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of a plurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption for the device to one of the plurality of future time frames while conforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operational constraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for which the device can be swithched off.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 206 words

A method for allocating electrical energy at a location where the electrical energy is consumed, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (1) determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at the location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity; (2) determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source; (3) determining a demand for electrical energy at the location; (4) dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand; (5) reducing demand at the location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for a device for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost time period to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur, and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of a plurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption for the device to one of the plurality of future time frames while conforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operational constraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for which the device can be swithched off.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein step (4) comprises the step of allocating electrical energy from at least two of the plurality of energy sources concurrently.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a grid-based source of electrical energy having a time-varying marginal cost.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of receiving at the location via electronic means the time-varying marginal cost of the grid-based source.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a photovoltaic source having a time-varying capacity, and wherein step (2) comprises the step of determining the capacity of electrical energy available from the photovoltaic source.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a microhydro-based source having a time-varying capacity, and wherein step (2) comprises the step of determining the capacity of electrical energy available from the microhydro-based source.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 , one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a gas turbine-based energy source.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a wind-based energy source having a time-varying capacity, and wherein step (2) comprises the step of determining the capacity of electrical energy available from the wind-based energy source.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a fuel cell-based energy source.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a backup generator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a battery.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein step (4) includes treating at least one of the plurality of sources as having a capacity exceeding demand.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether electrical energy in excess of the demand can be economically sold back to the power grid and, if so, allocating such excess electrical energy to the power grid.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein step (5) comprises the step of determining that a solar-based energy source will have a higher capacity in one of the future time frames.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein an operational constraint for a second device comprises an end time during which the second device must have completed its operating cycle.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of projecting demand in each of a plurality of future periods based on historical data and using the projected demand in making deferral determinations.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of projecting demand in each of a plurality of future time periods based on weather forecast data and using the projected demand in making deferral determinations.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein step (4) comprises the step of allocating non-grid energy sources having a lower marginal cost first and, only if non-grid energy sources cannot satisfy the demand, thereafter allocating a grid-based energy source.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of energy sources has a non-constant marginal cost that varies based on the capacity drawn by a single location from that energy source.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises a generator.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein step (1) comprises the step of approximating a cost production curve for the at least one energy source using piecewise linear segments.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein step (4) comprises the step of dynamically allocating electrical energy from a battery.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining, on the basis of step (1), whether to store electrical energy in a battery for later use and, if such determination is made, causing such storage to occur.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining, on the basis of a time-varying cost of grid-based electrical energy, whether it is cost-effective to sell electrical energy back to a grid-based source and, if so, automatically initiating such sale.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of selling electrical energy from a battery to the grid-based source.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of projecting future demand in future time periods.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein step (2) comprises the step of projecting capacity in each of a plurality of future time periods based on weather forecast data.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (1) through (4) continuously in a computer-controlled loop.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 203 words

A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of: (1) determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at a location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity; (2) determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source; (3) determining a demand for electrical energy at the location; (4) dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand; and (5) reducing demand at the location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for a device for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost time period to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur, and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of a plurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption for the device to one of the plurality of future time frames while conforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operational constraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for which the device can be swithched off.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 203 words

A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of: (1) determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at a location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity; (2) determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source; (3) determining a demand for electrical energy at the location; (4) dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand; and (5) reducing demand at the location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for a device for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost time period to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur, and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of a plurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption for the device to one of the plurality of future time frames while conforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operational constraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for which the device can be swithched off.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

The computer readable medium of claim 29 wherein step (4) comprises the step of allocating electrical energy from at least two of the plurality of energy sources concurrently.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 27 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a grid-based source of electrical energy having a time-varying marginal cost.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 27 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 31 , further comprising the step of receiving at the location via electronic means the time-varying marginal cost of the grid-based source.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein one of the plurality of energy sources comprises a photovoltaic source having a time-varying capacity, and wherein step (2) comprises the step of determining the capacity of electrical energy available from the photovoltaic source.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , further comprising the step of determining whether electrical energy in excess of the demand can be economically sold back to the power grid and, if so, allocating such excess electrical energy to the power grid.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 35 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , further comprising the step of projecting demand in each of a plurality of future periods based on historical data and using the projected demand in making deferral determinations.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 37 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , further comprising the step of projecting demand in each of a plurality of future time periods based on weather forecast data and using the projected demand in making deferral determinations.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 41 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 28 , further comprising the step of determining, on the basis of step (1), whether to store electrical energy in a battery for later use and, if such determination is made, causing such storage to occur.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 43 words

The computer-readable medium claim 29 , further comprising the step of determining, on the basis of a time-varying cost of grid-based electrical energy, whether it is cost-effective to sell electrical energy back to the grid-based source and, if so, automatically initiating such sale.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 210 words

An apparatus, comprising: a computer including a memory, the memory including computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer, perform the steps of (1) determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at a location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity, (2) determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source, (3) determining a demand for electrical energy at the location, (4) dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand, and (5) reducing demand at the location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for a device for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost time period to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur, and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of a plurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption for the device to one of the plurality of future time frames while conforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operational constraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for which the device can be switched off.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 210 words

An apparatus, comprising: a computer including a memory, the memory including computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer, perform the steps of (1) determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at a location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity, (2) determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source, (3) determining a demand for electrical energy at the location, (4) dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand, and (5) reducing demand at the location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for a device for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost time period to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur, and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of a plurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption for the device to one of the plurality of future time frames while conforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operational constraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for which the device can be switched off.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-09-24	2011-03-26	2011-09-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-09-24	2015-03-26	2015-09-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-09-24	2019-03-26	2019-09-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optimized energy management system

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