Grid asset manager

A method of distributing power from an aggregated distributed energy resources system (“DERs system”) having a plurality of assets, the method comprising:

• using a plurality of asset managers to manage the assets, each asset including a local dedicated asset manager separate from the other asset managers or a central controller, each asset manager having an interface to receive asset information relating to its asset;
• for each asset, producing a local cost function using its local dedicated asset manager, each local dedicated asset manager producing its local cost function using data relating to its local asset, the cost functions of the plurality of assets in the DERs system together representing a system cost function for the overall DERs system;
• determining, using the local cost function, an operating point for the given asset,
• determining, using real data from the given asset, a turn-on time for the given asset,
• determining, using real data from the given asset, a turn-off time for the given asset,
• using the determined operating point, the turn-on time, and the turn-off time for the given asset to manage operation of the given asset in the DERs system.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for distributing power from an aggregated distributed energy resources system (“DERs system”) having a plurality of assets, the computer program product comprising a tangible, non-transient computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:

• program code for communicating with a plurality of asset managers to manage the assets, each asset including a local dedicated asset manager separate from the other asset managers, each asset manager having an interface;
• program code for producing, for each asset, a local cost function using its local dedicated asset manager, each local dedicated asset manager producing its local cost function using data relating to its local asset, the cost functions of the plurality of assets in the DERs system together representing a system grid cost function for the overall DERs system;
• program code for determining, using the local cost function, an operating point for the given asset;
• and
• program code for determining, using real data from the given asset, a turn-on time for the given asset,
• program code for determining, using real data from the given asset, a turn-off time for the given asset,
• program code for using the determined operating point, the turn-on time, and the turn-off time for the given asset to manage operation of the given asset in the DERs system.