Systems, methods, and apparatus for utilizing forward market pricing to facilitate operational decisions

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for utilizing forward market pricing to facilitate operational decisions are disclosed. An example method may include interpreting an energy resource utilization requirement for a task system, and interpreting a behavioral data source, comprising entity behavioral data for an entity associated with the task system. The method may also include forecasting a forward market price for an energy credit resource in response to the energy resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data source. Then, in response to the forecast of the forward market price for the energy credit resource, adjusting an operation of the task system or executing a transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 interpreting an energy resource utilization requirement for a task system;   interpreting a behavioral data source, wherein the behavioral data source comprises entity behavioral data for an entity associated with the task system;   forecasting a forward market price for an energy credit resource in response to the energy resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data source; and   performing one of adjusting an operation of the task system or executing a transaction, in response to the forecast of the forward market price for the energy credit resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the behavioral data source comprises an automated agent behavioral data source, a human behavioral data source, or a business entity behavioral data source. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy resource utilization requirement comprises a first energy resource, and wherein the energy credit resource of the forward market price comprises an energy credit for the first energy resource, or an energy credit for a second energy resource that can be substituted for the first energy resource. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining a substitution cost of the second energy resource, and performing the one of adjusting the operation of the task system or executing the transaction further in response to the substitution cost of the second energy resource. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining at least a portion of the substitution cost of the second energy resource as an operational change cost for the task system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the performing comprises executing the transaction, wherein the transaction comprises one of purchasing or selling one of the energy credit for the first energy resource or the energy credit for the second energy resource on a market for at least one of the energy credit for the first energy resource or the energy credit for the second energy resource. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the operation of the task system adjusting operations of the task system to increase or reduce the energy resource utilization requirement. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting operations of the task system comprises adjusting operations of the task system to time shift at least a portion of the energy resource utilization requirement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting operations of the task system comprises: adjusting operations of the task system to substitute utilization of a first energy resource for utilization of a second energy resource; or accessing an external provider to provide at least a portion of the task. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing comprises executing the transaction, wherein the transaction comprises one of purchasing or selling the energy credit resource on a market for the energy credit resource. 
     
     
         11 . A transaction-enabling apparatus comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to:
 interpret an energy resource utilization requirement for a task system;   interpret a behavioral data source, wherein the behavioral data source comprises behavioral data for an entity associated with the task system;   operate a machine to forecast a forward market value for an energy credit for the energy resource in response to the energy resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data source; and   perform one of adjusting an operation of the task system or executing a transaction in response to the forecast of the forward market value for the energy credit for the energy resource.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the energy resource utilization requirement comprises a first energy resource, and wherein the energy credit resource of the forward market value comprises an energy credit for the first energy resource, or an energy credit for a second energy resource that can be substituted for the first energy resource. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the behavioral data comprises merger and acquisition behavior for a source of the first energy resource, or a source for the second energy resource. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the behavioral data comprises energy consumption behavior of the task system. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting the operation of the task system comprises adjusting operations of the task system to time shift at least a portion of the energy resource utilization requirement. 
     
     
         16 . A transaction-enabling system, comprising:
 a machine having an energy task requirement; and   a controller, comprising:   an energy resource requirement circuit structured to determine an energy resource utilization requirement for the machine to service the energy task requirement;   an external data acquisition circuit structured to acquire behavioral data from a behavioral data source, wherein the behavioral data source comprises behavioral data for an entity associated with the machine;   a forward market forecast circuit structured to forecast a forward market value for an energy credit for the energy resource in response to the energy resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data; and   a response circuit structured to adjust an operation of the machine or executing a transaction in response to the forecast of the forward market value for the energy credit for the energy resource.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the energy resource utilization requirement comprises a first energy resource, and wherein the energy credit of the forward market value comprises an energy credit for the first energy resource, or an energy credit for a second energy resource that can be substituted for the first energy resource. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the behavioral data comprises purchasing behavior of the machine. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the behavioral data comprises energy production behavior of a supplier of the first energy resource, or energy production behavior of a supplier of the second energy resource. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the adjusting the operation of the machine comprises accessing an external provider to provide at least a portion of the energy task requirement.