Methods, apparatus and systems for managing energy assets

1. An apparatus for determining an operating schedule of a controller of at least one energy storage asset operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy storage asset according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and a mathematical model for the at least one energy storage asset, wherein the mathematical model facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset based at least in part on a first operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset, a second operation characteristic of at least one energy consuming asset in communication with the at least one energy storage asset, and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; and

at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:

A) determines the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset using the mathematical model, wherein the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset specifies, during a time interval less than time period T, a proportion of an available state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage asset for use in an energy market and a remaining proportion of the available SOC of the energy storage asset for use in a regulation market; and

B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule for the controller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset is at least one of a state of charge, a charge rate, a degree of non-linearity of charge rate a discharge rate, a degree of non-linearity of discharge rate, a round trip efficiency, and a degree of life reduction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the proportion of the available SOC of the at least one energy storage asset for use in the energy market is supplied as a direct-current (DC) signal, and wherein the remaining proportion of the available SOC of the at least one energy storage asset for use in the regulation market is delivered at a variable charge rate or variable discharge rate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a sum of the proportion of the available SOC of the at least one energy storage asset for use in the energy market and the remaining proportion of the available SOC of the at least one energy storage asset for use in the regulation market is greater than a minimal allowed SOC of the at least one energy storage asset and less than a maximal allowed SOC of the at least one energy storage asset.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset using the mathematical model in A) by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T, wherein:

the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:

electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset,

first electricity consumption by the at least one energy storage asset, and

second electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset; and

the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and an economic demand response revenue over the time period T.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein in A), the at least one processing unit:

determines the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset using the mathematical model and a representative customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for the at least one energy consuming asset, over the time period T, wherein the representative CBL energy profile represents a typical operation of the at least one energy consuming asset by the energy customer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the representative CBL is an energy consumption profile as a function of time for the at least one energy consuming asset.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the economic demand response revenue over the time period T is determined based on, the forecast wholesale electricity price, the electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset for use in the energy market, a regulation price, and a time period that the at least one energy storage asset is used in the regulation market.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:

the at least one energy consuming asset includes at least one controllable energy consuming asset;

the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset constitutes a first operating schedule; and

in A), the at least one processing unit determines both the first operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset and a second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset, based at least in part on minimizing the net energy-related cost, over the time period T, associated with the electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset, the first electricity consumption by the at least one energy storage asset, and the second electricity consumption by the at least one controllable energy consuming asset.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein in A), the at least one processing unit:

determines the first operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset and the second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset using the mathematical model and a representative customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset, over the time period T, wherein the representative CBL energy profile represents a typical operation of the at least one controllable energy consuming asset by the energy customer as specified by a business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the economic demand response revenue over the time period T is determined based on the forecast wholesale electricity price, the electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset, the first electricity consumption by the at least one energy storage asset, and a difference between the second electricity consumption by the at least one controllable energy consuming asset and the representative CBL energy profile for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein in A), the at least one processing unit:

A1) selects a plurality of first candidate operating schedules for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset, and selects a plurality of second candidate operating schedules for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset, wherein each second candidate operating schedule is different from the BAU operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset;

A2) successively applies the plurality of first candidate operating schedules and the plurality of second candidate operating schedules to the mathematical model to generate a corresponding plurality of simulated energy profiles for the at least one energy storage asset and the at least one controllable energy consuming asset;

A3) calculates a plurality of projected net energy-related costs to the energy customer, wherein each projected net energy-related cost is computed based at least in part on the representative CBL energy profile and the simulated energy profiles corresponding to the respective first and second candidate operating schedules, and the forecast wholesale electricity price; and

A4) selects, as an optimal first operating schedule and an optimal second operating schedule, respective ones of the first and second candidate operating schedules corresponding to one simulated energy profile of the plurality of simulated energy profiles that results in a minimum net energy-related cost of the plurality of net energy-related costs calculated in A3).

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein in B) the at least one processing unit:

controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the first operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset and the second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined first operating schedule for the controller and the second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:

the at least one controllable energy consuming asset includes at least one building having a variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

the second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset specifies a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time; and

the BAU operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is specified by a business-as-usual (BAU) temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein in A), the at least one processing unit:

determines the first operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset and the second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset using the mathematical model and a comfort cost attributed to a change in the energy customer's behavior in adopting the second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset instead of the BAU operating schedule.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the comfort cost is specified as a cost function based at least in part on at least one difference between the second operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset and the BAU operating schedule.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset specifies a time interval within the time period T for use of a larger proportion of the available SOC of the at least one energy storage asset to power the energy consuming asset when the forecast wholesale electricity price exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset specifies during a time interval within the time period T for use of a larger proportion of the available SOC of the at least one energy storage asset in the regulation market when the forecast wholesale price is below a predetermined threshold value.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mathematical model facilitates determination of the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset further based at least in part on an expected energy-generating schedule of an energy generating asset in communication with the energy storage asset and the energy consuming asset.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the energy generating asset is at least one photovoltaic cell, at least one fuel cell, at least one gas turbine, at least one diesel generator, at least one flywheel, at least one electric vehicle, or at least one wind turbine.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage asset is at least one battery, at least one ice unit, or compressed air.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the energy storage asset is at least one battery, and wherein the at least one battery is lithium ion battery, lead acid battery, a flow battery, or a dry cell battery.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller facilitates the communication between the at least one energy consuming asset and the at least one energy storage asset.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset is at least one of a state of charge, a charge rate, a degree of non-linearity of charge rate a discharge rate, a degree of non-linearity of discharge rate, a round trip efficiency, and a degree of life reduction.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second operation characteristic of the at least one energy consuming asset is a load use schedule of the at least one energy consuming asset.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the second operation characteristic of the at least one energy consuming asset is an energy consumption profile as a function of time of the at least one energy consuming asset.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the at least one energy consuming asset is a controllable energy consuming asset, and wherein the second operation characteristic of the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is a set point.

29. An apparatus for determining an operating schedule of a controller of at least one energy storage asset operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy storage asset according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, and wherein the wholesale electricity market includes an energy market and a regulation market, the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and a mathematical model for the at least one energy storage asset, wherein the mathematical model facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset based at least in part on an operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset, a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the energy market, and a regulation price associated with the regulation market; and

at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:

A) determines the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset using the mathematical model by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T, wherein:

the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:

duration of energy storage asset participation in the regulation market;

electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset; and

electricity consumption by the at least one energy storage asset; and

the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost; and

wherein the operating schedule specifies, during a time interval within the time period T, a first portion of an available output of the controller for use in the energy market and a second portion of the available output of the controller for use for use in the regulation market; and

B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule for the controller.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the available output of the controller is a charge rate of the at least one energy storage asset or a discharge rate of the at least one energy storage asset.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and an economic demand response revenue over the time period T.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset is at least one of a state of charge, a charge rate, a degree of non-linearity of charge rate a discharge rate, a degree of non-linearity of discharge rate, a round trip efficiency, and a degree of life reduction.

33. An apparatus for determining an operating schedule of a controller of at least one energy storage asset operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy storage asset according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, and wherein the wholesale electricity market includes an energy market and a regulation market; the apparatus comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and a mathematical model for the at least one energy storage asset, wherein the mathematical model facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset based at least in part on an operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset, an expected energy-generating schedule of an energy generating asset in communication with the energy storage asset, a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the energy market, and a regulation price associated with the regulation market; and

at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:

A) determines the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset using the mathematical model by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T, wherein:

the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:

amount of energy generation by the at least one energy generating asset;

duration of energy storage asset participation in the regulation market;

electricity generation by the at least one energy storage asset; and

electricity consumption by the at least one energy storage asset; and

the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost; and

wherein the operating schedule specifies, during a time interval within the time period T, a first portion of an available output of the controller for use in the energy market and a second portion of the available output of the controller for use for use in the regulation market; and

B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for the controller of the at least one energy storage asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule for the controller.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the available output of the controller is a charge rate of the at least one energy storage asset or a discharge rate of the at least one energy storage asset.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and an economic demand response revenue over the time period T.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy storage asset is at least one of a state of charge, a charge rate, a degree of non-linearity of charge rate a discharge rate, a degree of non-linearity of discharge rate, a round trip efficiency, and a degree of life reduction.