Systems and methods for integrating distributed energy resources

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016336752-A1
Application number	US-201515112252-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 17, 2014
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for using aggregated loads from a plurality of distributed energy resources to perform a function at a power distribution feeder. The invention includes a plurality of distributed energy resources, wherein at least one distributed energy resource includes a renewable energy resource, a communication network, a control device, a power distribution feeder coupled to the control device, and an energy storage system coupled to the power distribution feeder. The control device sends a signal to the plurality of distributed energy resources via the communication network. The signal is a request to switch a status of one or more of the distributed energy resources if one or more distributed energy resources is within a predetermined condition. Loads from the one or more of the distributed energy resources that switched status are aggregated to perform a function at the power distribution feeder.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for using aggregated loads from a plurality of distributed energy resources to perform a function at a power distribution feeder, the apparatus comprising:
the plurality of distributed energy resources, wherein at least one distributed energy resource includes a renewable energy resource; a communication network; a control device; the power distribution feeder coupled to the control device; and an energy storage system coupled to the power distribution feeder, wherein the control device sends a signal to the plurality of distributed energy resources via the communication network; wherein the signal is a request to switch a status of one or more of the distributed energy resources when one or more distributed energy resources is within a predetermined condition; and wherein loads from one or more of the distributed energy resources that switched status are aggregated to perform a function at the power distribution feeder.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distributed energy resources include a plurality of thermostatically controlled loads.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the thermostatically controlled loads are thermal storage units.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the thermostatically controlled loads include smart thermostats.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the energy storage system stores a portion of the aggregated load.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the function includes controlling the demand on the power distribution feeder.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the function includes contrasting intermittent renewable energy generation.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus does not include an advanced meter infrastructure.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal is sent to the plurality of distributed energy resources about once per second.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined condition is a temperature range.

11 . A method of using aggregated loads from a plurality of distributed energy resources to perform a function at a power distribution feeder comprising:
sending a signal to the plurality of distributed energy resources over a communication network, the signal including a request to switch a status of one or more of the distributed energy resources if the one or more distributed energy resources is within a predetermined condition; switching the status of one or more of the distributed energy resources if the one or more distributed energy resources is within the predetermined condition; aggregating loads of the one or more distributed energy resources that switched status; and using at least a portion of the aggregated loads to perform a function at the power distribution feeder.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the function comprises reducing peak load at the power distribution feeder.

13 . The method of claim 11 further comprising shifting distribution feeder loads to off-peak periods.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the function includes controlling a ramp rate of power at the power distribution feeder.

15 . The method of claim 11 further comprising adjusting power levels at the power distribution feeder to contrast intermittent renewable energy generation.

16 . The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more distributed energy resources comprises one or more thermostatically controlled loads.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the thermostatically controlled loads are thermal storage units.

18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the thermostatically controlled loads are smart thermostats.

19 . The method of claim 11 further comprising storing at least a portion of the aggregated load in an energy storage system.

20 . The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined condition is a temperature range.

Assignees

• Mammoli Andrea A
• Yasaei Yasser
• Stc Unm

Inventors

• Mammoli Andrea A
• Yasaei Yasser

Classifications

• H02J7/865

  Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J3/383

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J3/386

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J3/387

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J7/0068

  Electricity · mapped topic