Delayed Reactive Electrical Consumption Mitigation
The electrical consumption mitigation provided by energy storage systems can be unreliable when a consumption peak lasts long enough to deplete the energy stored and the remainder of the peak is unmitigated. By implementing a waiting period between detecting the peak and discharging the energy storage in which characteristics of the peak are observed, a peak mitigation system can lengthen the effective discharge duration of the energy storage system and prevent unmitigated plateaus from appearing. For example, when a consumption plateau is detected, the system may discharge at a slower rate than when a spike is detected in order to prolong mitigation activities before the conclusion of the plateau. Thus otherwise-incurred demand-related utility charges can be reduced without having to increase the capacity of the mitigation system. In some cases, these processes are performed with respect to the bounds of demand-averaged time periods used to calculate demand charges.
1 - 26 . (canceled)
27 . A method of electricity consumption mitigation using an electrical energy storage system (ESS) at a site, the method comprising:
measuring average electricity consumption of the site;
detecting electricity consumption of the site in excess of a threshold value, the threshold value being greater than the average electricity consumption;
responsive to detecting the electricity consumption of the site in excess of the threshold value, suspending discharge of the ESS for a waiting period;
measuring electricity consumption of the site during the waiting period;
discharging energy from the ESS following the waiting period at a rate of discharge based on a magnitude or a duration of the electricity consumption of the site in excess of the threshold value during the waiting period.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the rate of discharge is proportional or inversely proportional to a magnitude of the electricity consumption of the site in excess of the threshold value during the waiting period.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the rate of discharge is proportional or inversely proportional to a duration of electricity consumption in excess of the threshold value during the waiting period.
29 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the electricity consumption falls below the threshold value by the end of the waiting period and the rate of discharge is a maximum rate of discharge of the ESS.
30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the electricity consumption does not fall below the threshold value by the end of the waiting period and the rate of discharge is less than a maximum rate of discharge of the ESS.
31 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the waiting period is reduced in length if the electricity consumption of the site in excess of the threshold value is detected approximate an end of a demand-averaged period.
32 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the energy is discharged to the site.
33 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the rate of discharge is continuously-variable and inversely proportional to the electricity consumption of the site.
34 . A method of electricity consumption mitigation using an electrical energy storage system (ESS) at a site, the method comprising:
measuring average electricity consumption of the site;
detecting electricity consumption of the site in excess of a threshold value, the threshold value being greater than the average electricity consumption;
responsive to detecting the electricity consumption of the site in excess of the threshold value, determining whether the electricity consumption is caused by a predetermined load, and
upon determining that the consumption is not caused by the predetermined load, suspending discharge of the ESS for a duration of a waiting period; and
upon determining that the consumption is caused by the predetermined load, discharging energy from the ESS at a rate of discharge based on the electricity consumption of the site in excess of the threshold value.
35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising after suspending discharge of the ESS for the duration of the waiting period, discharging energy from the ESS at a second rate of discharge based on the electricity consumption of the site during the waiting period.
36 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the predetermined load is a predetermined device at the site.
37 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the predetermined load is a load occurring during a predetermined time period.
38 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the energy is discharged to the site.
39 . The method of claim 34 , wherein discharging energy from the ESS reduces a peak demand charge for the site.