CONFIGURING, OPTIMIZING, AND MANAGING MIRCO-GRIDS

1 . (canceled) A method for configuring micro-grids implemented in a computer infrastructure comprising:

determining, by a computer device, one or more premises in an electrical distribution grid comprising an energy resource;

determining, by the computer device, a configuration of the electrical distribution grid;

determining, by the computer device, a configuration of a micro-grid, the micro-grid comprising the one or more premises in the electrical distribution grid and the micro-grid being configured in the electrical distribution grid; and

monitoring the configuration of the micro-grid; and

issue messages to switching elements of the electrical distribution grid to modify a topology of the electrical distribution grid and modify a topology of the micro-grid.

2 . A method for configuring micro-grids implemented in a computer infrastructure comprising:

monitoring, by a computer device, a current condition of an electrical distribution grid;

determining, by the computer device, one or more controllable loads in the electrical distribution grid;

determining, by the computer device, one or more energy resources in the electrical distribution grid;

determining, by the computer device, a configuration of a micro-grid based on a current condition, the micro-grid comprising the one or more controllable loads and one or more energy resources in the electrical distribution grid and the micro-grid being configured in the electrical distribution grid; and

issue messages to switching elements of the electrical distribution grid to modify a topology of the electrical distribution grid and modify a topology of the micro-grid.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the current condition is a fault.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the configuration of the micro-grid isolates the fault from the electrical distribution grid and wherein isolating the fault comprises causing the switching elements in the electrical distribution grid to disconnect the micro-grid from the electrical distribution grid.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the current condition is an overload condition.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the configuration of the micro-grid sheds non-required and controllable loads as instructed by a micro-grid manager and wherein shedding the non-required and controllable loads comprises causing the switching elements in the electrical distribution grid to disconnect the micro-grid from the electrical distribution grid.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the current condition is a voltage loss event.

8 . The method of claim 5 wherein the configuration of the micro-grid isolates the loss of voltage event from the electrical distribution grid and wherein isolating the loss of voltage event comprises causing the switching elements in the electrical distribution grid to disconnect the micro-grid from the electrical distribution grid.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the determining the configuration of the micro-grid comprises determining a forecast of near-term conditions in the electrical distribution grid based on the current condition information, historical information, and forecast information.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the energy source is a variable energy source and wherein the forecast information comprises weather forecasts.

11 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the current condition is an unpowered state and wherein a microgrid controller performs a black start of the microgrid.

12 . A method for configuring micro-grids implemented in a computer infrastructure comprising:

determining, by a computer device, one or more energy resources in an electrical distribution grid;

determining a forecast of near-term conditions in the electrical distribution grid based on current condition information, historical information, and forecast information;

determining, by the computer device, a configuration of the electrical distribution grid based on the forecast of near-term conditions; and

determining, by the computer device, a configuration of a micro-grid, the micro-grid comprising the one or more energy resources in the electrical distribution grid and the micro-grid being configured in the electrical distribution grid.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the energy source comprises a gas generator and wherein the forecast of near-term conditions comprise energy consumption profiles.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the energy source comprises a variable generation source and an energy storage device.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the energy source comprises an energy storage device;

the forecast of near-term conditions comprises predicated power demand; and

the microgrid is configured to balance supply and demand of the micro-grid.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the energy source comprises an energy storage device and a gas generator;

the forecast of near-term conditions comprises predicated power demand and current energy storage; and

the microgrid is configured to balance supply and demand of the micro-grid.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the current condition is an unpowered state and wherein a microgrid controller performs a black start of the microgrid.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein switching elements in the electrical distribution grid disconnect the micro-grid from the electrical distribution grid to electrically isolate the micro-grid.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the switching elements communicate to a microgrid controller via a local area network, wherein the microgrid controller controls each of the switching elements to electrically isolate the microgrid.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the home area network communicates using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages.

21 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microgrid comprises a plurality of microgrids.