Predictive analytics device for integrating energy storage with solar generation coupled to electrical loads

Abstract

A device is disclosed that uses short term solar energy forecasting to enhance the use of energy storage coupled to an electrical load. By predicting momentary fluctuations in solar energy output, the energy storage is controlled to avoid short term drops in energy production resulting in higher apparent electrical load and potentially higher demand charges. By enhancing the use of the energy storage, less storage is required to mitigate demand charges, thereby reducing capital costs.

1 . A device to reduce operating costs of an electrical energy resource, the device comprising:
 a forecasting system that accesses future energy consumption and production of the energy resource, the energy resource including an electrical load, a solar energy production resource and an energy storage resource,   wherein the predicted future electrical consumption of the resource is over a timescale encompassing variations in the load, and wherein the forecasting system accesses future energy production for the solar energy resource over a time horizon T such that the time horizon T repeats over a timescale T′, the timescale T′ being at least two or more times longer than the time horizon T,   wherein the time horizon T covers a plurality of time increments dt during which momentary fluctuations in energy resource production are captured,   wherein the time horizon T is bounded by the cumulative length of the time increments dt such that the forecasting system obtains usable production forecasts for the momentary fluctuations in energy resource production;   an operational enhancement unit that receives the usable production forecasts and calculates enhanced energy resource control parameters based on the usable production forecasts by enhancing energy resource production value less a cost function including the cost of operating the electrical load prospectively over time horizon T wherein the enhanced energy resource control parameters are consistent with enhanced operation over the time scale T′, the operational enhancement over T being within energy resource operating constraints and electric utility operating constraints;   wherein the energy resource control parameters vary in response to variations in predicted future energy resource production over the time horizon T;   wherein the operational enhancement unit modulates the energy resource power based in part on the enhanced energy resource control parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the enhanced energy resource control parameters comprise state of charge and charging currents for the energy storage resource. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the cost function for the electrical load comprises a demand charge. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the operational enhancement ensures that operation over the time horizon T is consistent with enhanced operation over timescale T′ in part by restricting depletion of the energy storage resource over time horizon T. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein depletion of the energy storage resource over time horizon T is restricted by biasing the cost function such that in the absence of other driving forces, the storage resource state of charge settles towards a setpoint Q 0 . 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the operational enhancement unit may curtail electrical load and wherein the enhanced energy resource control parameters comprise a curtailing factor. 
     
     
         7 . A method for reducing operating costs for an electrical energy resource, the method comprising the steps:
 accessing predicted future electrical consumption and production of the energy resource, the energy resource including an electrical load, a solar energy production resource and an energy storage resource,   wherein the consumption forecast covers a timescale encompassing variations in the load;   wherein the production forecast predicts generation by the solar energy production resource covering a time horizon T and repeating over a timescale T′ wherein the time horizon T covers a plurality of time increments dt during which momentary fluctuations in solar energy resource production are captured, wherein the time horizon T is bounded by the cumulative length of the time increments dt providing usable production forecasts for the momentary fluctuations, and wherein the timescale T′ is at least several times longer than the time horizon T;   calculating enhanced energy resource operating parameters within the time horizon T for the energy resource to enhance total net revenue less costs within energy resource and electric utility operating constraints, wherein the costs comprise the cost of operating the load, wherein the enhanced energy resource operating parameters vary in response to the resource production forecast,   and modulating the energy resource power based in part on the enhanced energy resource operating parameters.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the enhanced energy resource operating parameters further comprise storage levels or charging and discharging rates for an energy storage resource. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the cost of operating the load comprises a demand charge. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the operational enhancement unit may curtail electrical load and wherein the enhanced energy resource control parameters comprise a curtailing factor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising an optionality preserving process ensuring the enhanced energy resource operating parameters calculated over time horizon T are consistent with enhanced operations over the timescale T′. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the optionality preserving process comprises biasing the storage level for the energy storage resource towards a set point Q 0 .