Enterprise energy automation

Abstract

The preferred embodiments described herein relate to enterprise energy automation. In one preferred embodiment, a method for enterprise energy automation is provided. In another preferred embodiment, a method for delivering ancillary services to an energy supply and delivery system by a group of buildings is provided. In yet another preferred embodiment, a method for integrating an energy automation system is provided. Other preferred embodiments are also provided.

1 . A method for enterprise energy automation, the method comprising: 
 (a) monitoring data from an energy supply and delivery system;    (b) extracting data from one or more building automation systems in a group of buildings designated for modifying coincident peak load on the energy supply and delivery system if building performance capability permits;    (c) determining a building operation strategy for one or more buildings in the group of buildings based on the data from the energy supply and delivery system and the data from the one or more building automation systems; and    (d) sending a bid to the energy supply and delivery system for an energy supply and delivery system product, wherein the bid is based on an availability of the one or more buildings to modify load in a manner consistent with the building operating strategy for a specific period of time.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data from the energy supply and delivery system and the data from the one or more building automation systems are received via the Internet.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data from the energy supply and delivery system and the data from the one or more building automation systems are received continuously.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data from the one or more building automation systems includes meter data.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data from the one or more building automation systems includes occupancy data.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving local weather data for the group of buildings, and wherein the building operation strategy is determined in (c) based on the data from the energy supply and delivery system, the data from the one or more building automation systems, and the local weather data.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operations strategy is determined using a model for each of the one or more buildings, a model of a composite of operations of the group of buildings, a current status of each of the one or more buildings, and data from the energy supply and delivery system.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy preserves quality of service in the one or more buildings.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy comprises a commitment to day-ahead load shifting to an estimated market price.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy comprises forward period load shifting to market price.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy comprises real-time load shifting.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy comprises actions to support a supply of spinning reserve to the energy supply and delivery system.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy comprises actions to support demand limiting products for the energy supply and delivery system.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy comprises curtailment.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the building operation strategy comprises two or more of the following: (i) a commitment to day-ahead load shifting to an estimated market price, (ii) forward period load shifting to market price, (iii) real-time load shifting, (iv) actions to support a supply of spinning reserve to the energy supply and delivery system, (v) actions to support demand limiting products for the energy supply and delivery system, (vi) and curtailment.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product modifies operation of the one or more buildings to capture energy margins.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce system coincident peak load.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce local coincident peak load.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce shaping and imbalance energy expense.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce risk management expense.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce ancillary services expense.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product modifies operation of the one or more buildings to arbitrage gas and electric prices.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy supply and delivery system product performs two or more of the following acts: (i) modifies operation of the one or more buildings to capture energy margins, (ii) modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce system coincident peak load, (iii) modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce local coincident peak load, (iv) modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce shaping and imbalance energy expense, (v) modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce risk management expense, (vi) modifies operation of the one or more buildings to reduce ancillary services expense, and (vii) modifies operation of the one or more buildings to arbitrage gas and electric prices.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (e) computing energy cost each of the one or more buildings saves under the building operation strategy.    
   
   
       25 . The method of claim I further comprising: 
 (e) computing power bill changes for each of the one or more buildings under the building operation strategy and confirming the power bill changes.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (e) if the energy supply and delivery system does not accept the bid, providing a different building operation strategy to the one or more buildings.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (e) continuously monitoring data from the energy supply and delivery system and changing the building operation strategy according to the continuously monitored data.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bid is based on an availability of the one or more buildings to reduce load in a manner consistent with the building operating strategy for a specific period of time.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bid is based on an availability of the one or more buildings to increase load in a manner consistent with the building operating strategy for a specific period of time.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data in (a) comprises price of an energy supply and delivery system product.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data in (a) comprises cost of an energy supply and delivery system product.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data in (a) comprises status of one or more of the following: a transmission line, a generating plant, and a distribution system.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving an acceptance of the bid from the energy supply and delivery system; and    (f) executing the building operation strategy.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 (g) providing compensation for the one or more buildings.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the compensation comprises a share of utility tariff demand savings.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the compensation comprises a share of ESP demand charge savings.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the compensation comprises utility interruptible program payments.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the compensation comprises ISO demand-response program payments.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the compensation comprises capacity sales within ISO-sponsored markets.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a)-(d) are performed by a national control center.  
   
   
       41 . A method comprising: 
 (a) designating a portfolio of buildings to be available for reducing energy cost by time shifting energy usage;    (b) monitoring building automation systems in each building in the portfolio of buildings to determine each building's capacity to modify electrical energy consumption on a time-varying basis; and    (c) automating operation of electrical energy consumption in one or more buildings in the portfolio of buildings to modify electrical energy cost.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein (c) comprises performing curtailment.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein (c) comprises shifting peak demand into off-peak windows based on signals from an energy supply and delivery system.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41  further comprising: 
 (d) providing compensation for the one or more buildings in the portfolio of buildings.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the compensation comprises a share of utility tariff demand savings.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the compensation comprises a share of ESP demand charge savings.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the compensation comprises utility interruptible program payments.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the compensation comprises ISO demand-response program payments.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the compensation comprises capacity sales within ISO-sponsored markets.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the compensation comprises a share of utility tariff energy savings.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the compensation comprises a share of ESP energy charge savings.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein (b) comprises monitoring building automation systems in each building in the portfolio of buildings to determine each building's capacity to reduce electrical energy consumption on a time-varying basis.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein (b) comprises monitoring building automation systems in each building in the portfolio of buildings to determine each building's capacity to increase electrical energy consumption on a time-varying basis.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein (c) comprises automating operation of electrical energy consumption in one or more buildings in the portfolio of buildings to reduce electrical energy cost.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein (c) comprises automating operation of electrical energy consumption in one or more buildings in the portfolio of buildings to increase electrical energy cost.  
   
   
       56 . A method for delivering ancillary services to an energy supply and delivery system by a group of buildings, the method comprising: 
 (a) designating a portfolio of buildings to be available for providing services to an energy supply and delivery system by reducing energy consumption at times of high demand;    (b) monitoring building automation systems in each building in the portfolio of buildings to determine each building's capacity to modify electrical energy consumption on a time-varying basis; and    (c) automating operation of electrical energy consumption in one or more buildings in the portfolio of buildings to deliver an ancillary service to the energy supply and delivery system.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the ancillary service comprises a response reserve service.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the ancillary service comprises a non-spin reserve service.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the ancillary service comprises a regulation up and down service.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the ancillary service comprises a balancing energy up service.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the ancillary service comprises a replacement reserve service.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein (b) comprises monitoring building automation systems in each building in the portfolio of buildings to determine each building's capacity to reduce electrical energy consumption on a time-varying basis.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein (b) comprises monitoring building automation systems in each building in the portfolio of buildings to determine each building's capacity to increase electrical energy consumption on a time-varying basis.  
   
   
       64 . A method for integrating an energy automation system, the method comprising: 
 (a) designating a portfolio of buildings to be available for providing services to an energy supply and deliver system, each building in the portfolio having a building automation system; and    (b) monitoring building automation systems in each building in the portfolio of buildings via internet access.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising: 
 (c) monitoring an energy supply and deliver system via internet access.    
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the internet access to the building automation systems and the energy supply and delivery system is accessed through software that has one or more of the following features: (a) analyzes cost avoidance and revenue-enhancing strategies, (b) executes cost avoidance and revenue-enhancing strategies, (c) collects data, (d) monitors data, and (e) balances energy and comfort decisions.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the energy supply and deliver system is monitored in real-time.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising: 
 (c) automating operation of electrical energy consumption in one or more buildings in the portfolio of buildings to reduce electrical energy cost.    
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising: 
 (c) automating operation of electrical energy consumption in one or more buildings in the portfolio of buildings to deliver an ancillary service to the energy supply and delivery system.