Demand charge and response management using energy storage

1. A method for controlling battery charge levels to maximize power demand savings in a behind the meter energy management system, the method comprising:

predicting a demand charge threshold with a power demand management controller based on historical load to reduce peak demand charges;

optimizing the demand charge threshold with a demand charge threshold optimizer by modifying the demand charge threshold for each of a plurality of time-of-use periods with a demand charge threshold modification corresponding to a tariff rate corresponding to each of the plurality of time-of-use periods to form an optimized demand charge threshold including each of the demand charge threshold modifications;

predicting a net energy demand for a current day with a short-term forecaster;

determining a demand threshold for maximizing financial savings using the net energy demand;

comparing the net energy demand with the demand threshold to determine a demand difference with the real-time controller; and

controlling battery charge levels of the one or more batteries with the real time controller according to the demand difference.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein predicting the demand charge threshold further includes:

determining a billing cycle demand charge threshold based on historical loads from past billing cycles with a medium-term layer controller; and

optimizing the demand charge threshold for a current period shorter than the billing cycle using the real-time load and the renewable energy source utilization with a short-term layer controller.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the billing cycle is one month.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the current period is one day.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including recording a power load demand, including a real-time load demanded from an energy distribution network and a renewable energy source utilization.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein determining the demand threshold includes:

determining an optimum demand charge threshold for reducing demand charges; and

determining firm service levels corresponding to demand response programs issued for a distribution network, wherein the demand threshold is defined by the firm service levels when the optimum demand charge threshold exceeds the firm service levels.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including determining demand response rewards by summing rewards and penalties associated with power demanded from the grid compared to firm service levels of demand response programs issued for a distribution network.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including concurrently optimizing financial savings including:

summing demand charge savings associated with the demand charge threshold with rewards associated with firm service levels of demand response programs issued for a distribution network to produce a total savings; and

maximizing a reduction in the demand charge threshold according to the total savings.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including determining a battery state of charge to prevent discharge the one or more batteries below a minimum state of charge.

10. A method for controlling battery charge levels to maximize power demand savings in a behind the meter energy management system, the method comprising:

recording a power load demand, including a real-time load demanded from an energy distribution network and a renewable energy source utilization;

predicting a demand charge threshold with a power demand management controller based on historical load to reduce peak demand charges, the predicting a demand charge threshold including:

determining a billing cycle demand charge threshold based on historical loads from past billing cycles with a medium-term layer controller; and

optimizing the demand charge threshold for a current period shorter than the billing cycle using the real-time load and the renewable energy source utilization with a short-term layer controller;

optimizing the demand charge threshold with a demand charge threshold optimizer by modifying the demand charge threshold for each of a plurality of time-of-use periods with a demand charge threshold modification corresponding to a tariff rate corresponding to each of the plurality of time-of-use periods to form an optimized demand charge threshold including each of the demand charge threshold modifications;

predicting a net energy demand for a current day with a short-term forecaster;

determining a demand threshold for maximizing financial savings using the net energy demand;

comparing the net energy demand with the demand threshold to determine a demand difference with the real-time controller; and

controlling battery charge levels of the one or more batteries with the real time controller according to the demand difference.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the billing cycle is one month.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the current period is one day.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein determining the demand threshold includes:

determining an optimum demand charge threshold for reducing demand charges; and

determining firm service levels corresponding to demand response programs issued for a distribution network, wherein the demand threshold is defined by the firm service levels when the optimum demand charge threshold exceeds the firm service levels.

14. The method as recited in claim 10 , further including determining demand response rewards by summing rewards and penalties associated with power demanded from the grid compared to firm service levels of demand response programs issued for a distribution network.

15. The method as recited in claim 10 , further including concurrently optimizing the financial savings including:

summing demand charge savings associated with the demand charge threshold with rewards associated with firm service levels of demand response programs issued for a distribution network to produce a total savings; and

maximizing a reduction in the demand charge threshold according to the total savings.

16. The method as recited in claim 10 , further including determining a battery state of charge to prevent discharge the one or more batteries below a minimum state of charge.

17. A behind the meter energy management system for controlling battery charge levels to maximize power demand savings, the system comprising:

a power demand management controller that predicts a demand charge threshold based on historical load to reduce peak demand charges;

a demand charge optimizer that optimizes the demand charge threshold by modifying the demand charge threshold for each of a plurality of time-of-use periods with a demand charge threshold modification corresponding to a tariff rate corresponding to each of the plurality of time-of-use periods to form an optimized demand charge threshold including each of the demand charge threshold modifications;

a short-term forecaster that predicts a net energy demand for a current day;

a rolling time horizon optimizer that determines a demand threshold for maximizing financial savings using the net energy demand; and

a real-time controller that controls battery charge levels, controlling the battery charge levels including:

comparing the net energy demand with the demand threshold to determine a demand difference; and

controlling battery charge levels of the one or more batteries according to the demand difference.

18. The behind the meter energy management system as recited in claim 17 , further including a demand charge threshold optimizer that determines the demand threshold, including:

determining an optimum demand charge threshold for reducing demand charges; and

determining firm service levels corresponding to demand response programs issued for a distribution network, wherein the demand threshold is defined by the firm service levels when the optimum demand charge threshold exceeds the firm service levels.

19. The behind the meter energy management system as recited in claim 17 , further including a rewards optimizer that determines demand response rewards by summing rewards and penalties associated with power demanded from the grid compared to firm service levels of demand response programs issued for a distribution network.

20. The behind the meter energy management system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the rolling time optimizer includes a rewards optimizer to concurrently optimize the financial savings, including:

summing demand charge savings associated with the demand charge threshold with rewards associated with firm service levels of demand response programs issued for a distribution network to produce a total savings; and

maximizing a reduction in the demand charge threshold according to the total savings.