# US 8,996,183 B2 · System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management

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- Number: US 8,996,183 B2
- Document ID: US8996183B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/019,867
- Filed: 2011-02-02
- Published: 2011-07-14
- Granted: 2015-03-31
- Earliest claimed: 2007-08-28
- Assignees: Consert Inc.
- Applicants: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
- Inventors: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8996183B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G05F 1/66: Regulating electric power
- H02J 3/003: {Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand}
- H02J 3/004: {Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation}
- H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading
- H02J 2105/12: supplying households or buildings
- Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
- Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00)
- Y04S 20/00: Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
- Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A utility employs an active load management system (ALMS) to estimate available operating reserve for possible dispatch to the utility or another requesting entity (e.g., an independent system operator). According to one embodiment, the ALMS determines amounts of electric power stored in power storage devices, such as electric or hybrid electric vehicles, distributed throughout the utility's service area. The ALMS stores the stored power data in a repository. Responsive to receiving a request for operating reserve, the ALMS determines whether the stored power data alone or in combination with projected energy savings from a control event is sufficient to meet the operating reserve requirement. If so, the ALMS dispatches power from the power storage devices to the power grid to meet the operating reserve need. The need for operating reserve may also be communicated to mobile power storage devices to allow them to provide operating reserve as market conditions require.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for estimating operating reserve of a utility servicing one or more service points, the method comprising:
determining amounts of electric power consumed by at least a first set of devices during multiple periods of time to produce power consumption data, the first set of devices being located at the one or more service points;
storing the power consumption data in a repository;
determining that a control event is to occur during which a supply of electric power is to be reduced to at least the first set of devices;
after storage of the power consumption data in the repository and prior to commencement of the control event, estimating, under an assumption that the control event is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of at least the first set of devices during a future period of time based at least on the stored power consumption data, wherein the control event is expected to occur during the future period of time;
determining, prior to commencement of the control event, energy savings expected to result from the control event based at least on the estimated power consumption behavior of the first set of devices to produce projected energy savings;
determining, prior to commencement of the control event, amounts of electric power stored by a second set of devices located at the one or more service points to produce stored power data; and
determining, prior to commencement of the control event, an amount of available operating reserve based on the projected energy savings and the stored power data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
distributing the available operating reserve subsequent to commencement of the control event.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the utility utilizes at least some renewable energy produced by a renewable energy source and wherein the available operating reserve is distributed to provide regulating reserve during times of under-generation by the renewable energy source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
managing distribution of the available operating reserve subsequent to commencement of the control event.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a control event is to occur comprises:
determining that a control event is to occur responsive to receipt of an Automatic Generation Control command.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining energy savings expected to result from the control event comprises:
determining energy savings expected to result from the control event for each service point at which one or more devices of the first set of devices are located to produce intermediate projected energy savings; and
aggregating the intermediate projected energy savings for a plurality of service points to produce the projected energy savings.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein projected energy savings is determined on a service point by service point basis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein projected energy savings is determined on a utility-wide basis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of devices includes one or more electric or hybrid electric vehicles.

### Claim 10

A system that provides electrical service to one or more remotely located service points, each service point including at least one device that consumes power during operation thereof, the system comprising:
a repository; and
at least one processor coupled to the repository, the at least one processor operable to:
determine amounts of electric power consumed by at least a first set of devices during multiple periods of time to produce power consumption data;
store the power consumption data in the repository;
determine that a control event is to occur during which a supply of electric power is to be reduced to at least the first set of devices;
after storage of the power consumption data in the repository and prior to commencement of the control event, estimate, under an assumption that the control event is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of at least the first set of devices during a future period of time based at least on the stored power consumption data, wherein the control event is expected to occur during the future period of time;
determine, prior to commencement of the control event, energy savings expected to result from the control event based at least on the estimated power consumption behavior of at least the first set of devices to produce projected energy savings;
determine, prior to commencement of the control event, amounts of electric power stored by at least a second set of devices located at the one or more service points to produce stored power data; and
determine, prior to commencement of the control event, an amount of available operating reserve based on the projected energy savings and the stored power data.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine that the control event is to occur responsive to receipt of an Automatic Generation Control command.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to manage distribution of the available operating reserve subsequent to commencement of the control event.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine energy savings expected to result from the control event by:
determining energy savings expected to result from the control event for each service point at which one or more devices of the first set of devices are located to produce intermediate projected energy savings; and
aggregating the intermediate projected energy savings for a plurality of service points to produce the projected energy savings.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine projected energy savings on a service point by service point basis.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine projected energy savings on a utility-wide basis.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the second set of devices includes one or more electric or hybrid electric vehicles.

### Claim 17

A virtual utility system operable to at least offer energy to one or more requesting utilities for use as operating reserve for the one or more requesting utilities, the virtual utility system comprising:
a repository; and
at least one processor coupled to the repository, the at least one processor operable to:
determine amounts of electric power consumed by a first set of devices during multiple periods of time to produce power consumption data, the first set of devices being located remotely from the processor;
store the power consumption data in the repository;
determine that a control event is to occur during which a supply of electric power is to be reduced to the first set of devices;
after storage of the power consumption data in the repository and prior to commencement of the control event, estimate, under an assumption that the control event is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the first set of devices during a future period of time based at least on the stored power consumption data, wherein the control event is expected to occur during the future period of time;
determine, prior to commencement of the control event, energy savings expected to result from the control event based at least on the estimated power consumption behavior of the first set of devices to produce projected energy savings;
determine, prior to commencement of the control event, amounts of electric power stored by a second set of devices located remotely from the processor to produce stored power data;
determine, prior to commencement of the control event, an amount of operating reserve based on the projected energy savings and the stored power data; and
manage distribution of the amount of operating reserve to at least one of the requesting utilities subsequent to commencement of the control event.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The virtual utility system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine that the control event is to occur responsive to receipt of an Automatic Generation Control command.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The virtual utility system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine energy savings expected to result from the control event by:
determining energy savings expected to result from the control event for each service point at which one or more devices of the first set of devices are located to produce intermediate projected energy savings; and
aggregating the intermediate projected energy savings for a plurality of service points to produce the projected energy savings.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The virtual utility system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine projected energy savings on a service point by service point basis.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The virtual utility system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine projected energy savings on a utility-wide basis.