Injecting electricity into a grid from distributed generation
Methods and arrangements for managing electricity generation in a distributed electricity generation system. A plurality of data inputs are received comprising: a sensed state of a power grid; a sensed state of local energy storage; and a sensed demand of a local electricity load. The data inputs are combined, and, based on the combined data inputs, there is determined a destination of electricity that is generated in the distributed electricity generation system. The at least one destination is selected from the group consisting of: a local electricity load, the power grid, and the local energy storage. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.
1. A method of managing electricity generation in a distributed electricity generation system, said method comprising:
utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code that performs the steps of:
receiving an indication of availability of electricity generated by a local entity in the distributed electricity generation system, wherein the local entity comprises a local generation source that injects electricity into a power grid system and a local power consumer;
receiving a plurality of data inputs comprising:
a sensed state of a power grid, wherein the sensed state of the power grid is determined via measurement of line voltage;
a sensed state of local energy storage, wherein the sensed state of local energy storage identifies a state of charge of the local energy storage; and
a sensed demand of a local electricity load, wherein the sensed demand of a local electricity load indicates local energy requirements of the local entity;
combining the data inputs;
based on the combined data inputs, determining an optimal destination, from a plurality of destinations, for the electricity generated by the local generation source, wherein the optimal destination is determined based upon energy requirements of the plurality of destinations, energy availability of the plurality of destinations, and energy context information determined from the combined data inputs, wherein the energy context information comprises cost information associated with each of the plurality of destinations;
wherein the plurality of destinations comprise: the local electricity load, the power grid, and the local energy storage;
the determining an optimal destination comprising selecting, from one of the plurality of destinations, a destination having a requirement for the electricity generated and wherein the selected destination provides a cost-efficient destination for the electricity generated based upon the energy context information; and
injecting, based upon the determined optimal destination comprising the power grid, the electricity generated by the local generation source into the power grid, wherein the injecting comprises matching at least one phase of the power grid by determining the probability of injection into one phase by determining a grid load condition from the moving average of line voltage and comparing a normalized probability of injection to values of the phases.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said receiving takes place at a regulator of a local electricity network.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the local energy storage comprises a storage battery; and
the sensed state of local energy storage comprises a measured terminal voltage of the storage battery.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the sensed state of local energy storage comprises a sensed state of charge of the storage battery state, based on the measured storage battery terminal voltage.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data inputs comprise electricity pricing information.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the pricing information includes at least one of: feed-in tariff information and time-of-use pricing.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensed state of the power grid includes at least one of: sensed grid frequency and sensed grid voltage.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensed state of the power grid includes both of: sensed grid frequency and sensed grid voltage.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensed state of the power grid includes grid line phase angle.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inputs comprise a determined future need of at least one local load.
11. An apparatus for managing electricity generation in a distributed electricity generation system, said apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising:
computer readable program code configured to receive an indication of availability of electricity generated by a local entity in the distributed electricity generation system, wherein the local entity comprises a local generation source that injects electricity into a power grid system and a local power consumer;
computer readable program code configured to receive a plurality of data inputs comprising:
a sensed state of a power grid, wherein the sensed state of the power grid is determined via measurement of line voltage;
a sensed state of local energy storage, wherein the sensed state of local energy storage identifies a state of charge of the local energy storage; and
a sensed demand of a local electricity load, wherein the sensed demand of a local electricity load indicates local energy requirements of the local entity;
computer readable program code configured to combine the data inputs;
computer readable program code configured to, based on the combined data inputs, determine an optimal destination, from a plurality of destinations, for the electricity generated by the local generation source, wherein the optimal destination is determined based upon energy requirements of the plurality of destinations, energy availability of the plurality of destinations, and energy context information determined from the combined data inputs, wherein the energy context information comprises cost information associated with each of the plurality of destinations;
wherein the plurality of destinations comprise: the local electricity load, the power grid, and the local energy storage;
the determining an optimal destination comprising selecting, from one of the plurality of destinations, a destination having a requirement for the electricity generated and wherein the selected destination provides a cost-efficient destination for the electricity generated based upon the energy context information; and
computer readable program code configured to inject, based upon the determined optimal destination comprising the power grid, the electricity generated by the local generation source into the power grid, wherein the injecting comprises matching at least one phase of the power grid by determining the probability of injection into one phase by determining a grid load condition from the moving average of line voltage and comparing a normalized probability of injection to values of the phases.
12. A computer program product for managing electricity generation in a distributed electricity generation system, said computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
computer readable program code configured to receive an indication of availability of electricity generated by a local entity in the distributed electricity generation system, wherein the local entity comprises a local generation source that injects electricity into a power grid system and a local power consumer;
computer readable program code configured to receive a plurality of data inputs comprising:
a sensed state of a power grid, wherein the sensed state of the power grid is determined via measurement of line voltage;
a sensed state of local energy storage, wherein the sensed state of local energy storage identifies a state of charge of the local energy storage; and
a sensed demand of a local electricity load, wherein the sensed demand of a local electricity load indicates local energy requirements of the local entity;
computer readable program code configured to combine the data inputs;
computer readable program code configured to, based on the combined data inputs, determine an optimal destination, from a plurality of destinations, for the electricity generated by the local generation source, wherein the optimal destination is determined based upon energy requirements of the plurality of destinations, energy availability of the plurality of destinations, and energy context information determined from the combined data inputs, wherein the energy context information comprises cost information associated with each of the plurality of destinations;
wherein the plurality of destinations comprise: the local electricity load, the power grid, and the local energy storage;
the determining an optimal destination comprising selecting, from one of the plurality of destinations, a destination having a requirement for the electricity generated and wherein the selected destination provides a cost-efficient destination for the electricity generated based upon the energy context information; and
computer readable program code configured to inject, based upon the determined optimal destination comprising the power grid, the electricity generated by the local generation source into the power grid, wherein the injecting comprises matching at least one phase of the power grid by determining the probability of injection into one phase by determining a grid load condition from the moving average of line voltage and comparing a normalized probability of injection to values of the phases.
13. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein said receiving takes place at a regulator of a local electricity network.
14. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein:
the local energy storage comprises a storage battery; and
the sensed state of local energy storage comprises a measured terminal voltage of the storage battery.
15. The computer program product according to claim 14 , wherein the sensed state of local energy storage comprises a sensed state of charge of the storage battery state, based on the measured storage battery terminal voltage.
16. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein the data inputs comprise electricity pricing information.
17. The computer program product according to claim 16 , wherein the pricing information includes at least one of: feed-in tariff information and time-of-use pricing.
18. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein the sensed state of the power grid includes at least one of: sensed grid frequency and sensed grid voltage.
19. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein the sensed state of the power grid includes both of: sensed grid frequency and sensed grid voltage.
20. A method comprising:
utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code that performs the steps of:
receiving an indication of availability of electricity by a local entity in the distributed electricity generation system, wherein the local entity comprises a local generation source that injects electricity into a power grid system and a local power consumer;
sensing (i) a state of a power grid determined via measurement of line voltage, (ii) a state of local energy storage identifying a state of charge of the local energy storage, (iii) demand of a local electricity load indicating local energy requirements of the local entity, and (iv) electricity pricing information;
the sensed state of the power grid including at least one of: sensed grid frequency and sensed grid voltage;
deriving data from said sensing of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and combining the derived data;
receiving the derived data at a regulator of a local electricity network;
based on the derived data, determining an optimal destination, from a plurality of destinations, for the electricity generated by the local generation source, wherein the optimal destination is determined based upon energy requirements of the plurality of destinations, energy availability of the plurality of destinations, and energy context information determined from the combined data inputs, wherein the energy context information comprises cost information associated with each of the plurality of destinations;
wherein the plurality of destinations comprise: the local electricity load, the power grid, and the local energy storage;
the determining an optimal destination comprising selecting, from one of the plurality of destinations, a destination having a requirement for the electricity generated and wherein the selected destination provides a cost-efficient destination for the electricity generated based upon the energy context information; and
injecting, based upon the determined optimal destination comprising the power grid, the electricity generated by the local generation source into the power grid, wherein the comprises matching at least one phase of the power grid by determining the probability of injection into one phase by determining a grid load condition from the moving average of line voltage and comparing a normalized probability of injection to values of the phases.