Virtual power plant

Abstract

A virtual power plant is presented. A virtual power plant couples to one or more virtual power plant units that provide power and/or storage of power to a power grid. In some embodiments, a method of operating a virtual power plant includes receiving a request from a requester; determining whether the request can be performed by a set of units; reporting the result to the requester; and if a subsequent execution request is received from the requester, then executing the request.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating as a virtual power plant, comprising:
 receiving a request from a requester;   determining whether the request can be performed by a set of units;   reporting the result to the requester; and   if a subsequent execution request is received from the requester, then executing the request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request includes a set of required rules and a set of optional rules. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units includes:
 determining whether the set of required rules can be performed by the set of units.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining whether the set of required rules can be performed by the set of units includes creating a worksheet of instructions to individual units in the set of units based on current state parameters and characterization parameters of each of the set of units. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units includes, if the set of required rules alone cannot be performed by the set of units, determining whether performance of one or more of a set of optional rules allows performance of the set of required rules. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units includes, if the set of required rules cannot be performed with performance of one or more of the set of optional rules, determining whether a best-fit approximation to the set of required rules can be performed, the best-fit approximation being consistent with a set of best-fit rules. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein executing the request comprises:
 determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units; and   instructing each of the set of units so that the request is fulfilled.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further including
 monitoring the set of units during execution of the request;   determining if a new condition has developed; and   determining whether or not the request can be fulfilled in view of the new condition.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the new condition is a failure of one or more edge units that results in a change in the characterization parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the new condition includes failure of one or more edge units that results in the one or more edge units becoming non-functional to perform the request. 
     
     
         11 . A Virtual Power Plant, comprising:
 a processor;   a communications interface coupled to the processor, the communications interface configured to communicate with one or more virtual power plant units;   a second communications interface coupled to the process, the second communications interface configured to communicate with a requester; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing data and instructions to be performed by the processor, the instructions executed by the processor providing instructions for
 receiving a request from a requester; 
 determining whether the request can be performed by a set of units; 
 reporting whether or not the request can be performed to the requester; and 
 if a subsequent execution request is received to execute the request from the requester, then executing the request. 
   
     
     
         12 . The virtual power plant of  claim 11 , wherein the request includes a set of required rules and a set of optional rules. 
     
     
         13 . The virtual power plant of  claim 12 , wherein determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units includes:
 determining whether the set of required rules can be performed by the set of units.   
     
     
         14 . The virtual power plant of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the set of required rules can be performed by the set of units includes creating a worksheet of instructions to individual units in the set of units based on current state parameters and characterization parameters of each of the set of units. 
     
     
         15 . The virtual power plant of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units includes, if the set of required rules alone cannot be performed by the set of units, determining whether performance of one or more of a set of optional rules allows performance of the set of required rules. 
     
     
         16 . The virtual power plant of  claim 15 , wherein determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units includes, if the set of required rules cannot be performed with performance of one or more of the set of optional rules, determining whether a best-fit approximation to the set of required rules can be performed, the best-fit approximation being consistent with a set of best-fit rules. 
     
     
         17 . The virtual power plant of  claim 11 , wherein executing the request comprises:
 determining whether the request can be performed by the set of units; and   instructing each of the set of units so that the request is fulfilled.   
     
     
         18 . The virtual power plant of  claim 17 , further including
 monitoring the set of units during execution of the request;   determining if a new condition has developed; and   determining whether or not the request can be fulfilled in view of the new condition.   
     
     
         19 . The virtual power plant of  claim 18 , wherein the new condition is a failure of one or more edge units that results in a change in the characterization parameters. 
     
     
         20 . The virtual power plant of  claim 18 , wherein the new condition includes failure of one or more edge units that results in the one or more edge units becoming non-functional to perform the request.