Portfolio managed, demand-side response system

A system for changing power consumption of a portfolio of energy loads connected to an energy distribution grid that each has a power consumption, said method comprising:

• a central computer arranged to receive a portfolio response function indicating a desired power response of said portfolio of energy loads to a signal able to be measured on said energy distribution grid at each of said energy loads, said central computer being further arranged to determine a local response function for each of said energy loads indicating a power change amount in response to variations in said signal;
• a dispatch computer coupled to said central computer and arranged to dispatch said local response functions to their respective energy loads from said central computer;
• a signal detector located at each of said energy loads that, after said dispatch, is arranged to detect at each of said energy loads that said signal has changed at said each energy load;
• and
• a local computer located at each of said energy loads that, in response to said detection, is arranged to change the power consumption of said each energy load independently and automatically by said power change amount according to said each local response function, wherein said desired power response is realized by the combination of said power change amounts.

A method of changing power consumption of a portfolio of energy loads connected to an energy distribution grid that each has a power consumption, said method comprising:

• receiving, at a central computer, a portfolio response function indicating a desired power response of said portfolio of energy loads to a signal able to be measured on said energy distribution grid at each of said energy loads;
• receiving an optimization function having a term indicating for each energy load a probability that said each energy load will have an available power amount at particular signal values;
• maximizing said optimization function to produce for said each energy load a local response function indicating a power change amount in response to variations in said signal;
• and
• dispatching said local response functions to their respective energy loads from said central computer, whereby said portfolio response function is realized by the combined operation of said local response functions.

A system for changing power consumption of a portfolio of energy loads connected to an energy distribution grid that each has a power consumption, said method comprising:

• a central computer arranged to receive a portfolio response function indicating a desired power response of said portfolio of energy loads to a signal able to be measured on said energy distribution grid at each of said energy loads, said central computer being further arranged to receive an optimization function having a term indicating for each energy load a probability that said each energy load will have an available power amount at a particular signal value;
• an algorithm computer coupled to said central computer arranged to maximize said optimization function to produce for said each energy load a local response function indicating a power change amount in response to variations in said signal;
• and
• a dispatch computer coupled to said central computer and arranged to dispatch said local response functions to their respective energy loads from said central computer, whereby said portfolio response function is realized by the combined operation of said local response functions.