Extracting maximal frequency response potential in controllable loads

A load aggregator comprising:

• a processor;
• a communication interface coupled to a power grid;
• and
• memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the instructions comprising:
• instructions that cause the processor to assign respective fitness metrics to a plurality of electrical devices coupled to the power grid including at least a first electrical device and a second electrical device, the fitness metric assigned to a respective one of the electrical devices being a probability that is calculated as a combination of an availability component and a quality component associated with the respective one of the electrical devices, wherein a first fitness metric assigned to the first electrical device has a higher value than a second fitness metric assigned to the second electrical device;
• instructions that cause the processor to assign respective frequency thresholds to the electrical devices based on their fitness metrics to cause the electrical devices to activate autonomously based on a frequency of the power grid, including instructions that cause the processor to assign a first frequency threshold to the first electrical device and a second frequency threshold to the second electrical device, the first frequency threshold being closer to a target grid frequency than the second frequency threshold;
• and
• instructions that cause the processor to transmit the respective assigned frequency thresholds to the plurality of electrical devices to cause the plurality of electrical devices to activate autonomously based on the respective assigned frequency thresholds and a frequency event of the power grid.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

• assigning a first fitness metric to a first electrical device coupled to a power grid, the first fitness metric indicating a likelihood that the first electrical device will perform a requested service over a time window, the first fitness metric being determined by combining an availability component and a quality component associated with the first electrical device;
• assigning a first frequency threshold based on the first fitness metric to cause the first electrical device to activate autonomously based on a frequency of the power grid;
• transmitting the assigned first frequency threshold to the first electrical device to cause the first electrical device to activate autonomously based on the assigned first frequency threshold and a frequency of the power grid;
• assigning a second fitness metric to a second electrical device coupled to the power grid, the second fitness metric being based at least in part on a second availability component and a second quality component associated with the second electrical device, the first fitness metric having a higher value than the second fitness metric;
• assigning a priority to the first and second electrical devices based on the first and second fitness metrics;
• assigning the first frequency threshold to the first electrical device and a second frequency threshold to the second electrical device based on the assigned priority of the devices, the first frequency threshold being closer to a target grid frequency than the second frequency threshold;
• and
• transmitting the assigned second frequency threshold to the second electrical device.