SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADVANCED ENERGY SETTLEMENTS, NETWORK-BASED MESSAGING, AND APPLICATIONS SUPPORTING THE SAME ON A BLOCKCHAIN PLATFORM
Systems and methods for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elements are constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract. The multiplicity of active grid elements generate messages autonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements are based on measurement and verification. The energy related data and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference.
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This application relates to and claims priority from the following U.S. patent applications. This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/111,071, filed Dec. 3, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/670,903, filed Aug. 7, 2017 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,861,112, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/518,412, filed Oct. 20, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,740,227, a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/644,080, filed Jul. 7, 2017 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,497,073, a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/918,840, filed Oct. 21, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,311,416, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/273,088, filed Sep. 22, 2016 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,475,138. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/518,412 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/290,598, filed May 29, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,983,669, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/563,535, filed Jul. 31, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,513,648. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/644,080 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/610,181, filed Jan. 30, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,704,206, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/292,418, filed May 30, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,419, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/193,600, filed Feb. 28, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,775,283, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/050,325, filed Oct. 9, 2013 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,706,583, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/746,703, filed Jan. 22, 2013 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,520, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/659,564, filed Oct. 24, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,849,715. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/918,840 claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/067,180, filed Oct. 22, 2014. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/273,088 claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/222,470, filed Sep. 23, 2015. Each of the above-mentioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to electric power messaging, data aggregation, data formatting, digital contracts and settlements, and more particularly, to advanced energy settlements, contracts, messaging, and applications for electric power supply, load, and/or curtailment and data analytics associated with the same.
2. Description of the Prior ArtGenerally, it is known in the prior art to provide electric power systems management including financial settlements and messaging. However, limited information is available to electric power consumers regarding their past, present, and future projected use of power with sufficient details to make informed choices about types of power supply and pricing alternatives. The lack of data is resulted from how the data is collected, who controls the data, and how the data is presented for choices and used for taking actions by an end user. Electric power supply data, power consumption data, market data, capacity, and transmission rights are not generally known by consumers/end users. Furthermore, retail electric providers (REPs) in prior art systems and methods have no access to data and analytics to provide optimal pricing for power supply to business and/or residential electricity customers, and do not have the ability to provide advanced energy settlements to provide the lowest pricing for power supplied at predetermined times, due at least in part to costs associated with obtaining power agreements without visibility to the data and analytics that provides reduced risk of capital and performance associated with the supply and demand sides. Emerging technologies such as blockchain technologies hold promise for solving some of these problems. However, Blockchain as a technology is evolving and the ability to present actionable data to consumers/end users and the market are rudimentary. Different blockchain technologies will emerge over time much in the same way that Internet browsing technologies and browsers did over time.
Examples of prior art documents include the following:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,931 for Energy credit card system by inventor Brobeck issued Dec. 27, 2005 describes a method of providing an energy credit system for providing redeemable energy or mass transit credits to consumers who contribute power to a shared electric power grid, wherein at least some of the consumers have their own local renewable energy source connected to the power grid including the steps of measuring the excess power generated by each consumer's energy source that is fed into the electric power grid, awarding energy credits to each of the consumers in relation to the excess power contributed to the electric power grid by the consumer, allowing each consumer receiving the energy credits to redeem them by acquiring fuel, power, or mass transit tickets from a fuel or power provider or mass transit system, and requiring the operator of the electric power grid to compensate the fuel for energy provided or mass transit system in direct relation to the energy credits redeemed by each consumer. Additionally, it claims recording the credits at an energy brokerage house, requiring the operator of the power grid to compensate the brokerage house for the expenses generated by the consumers, and allowing the brokerage house to retain as profit a portion of the compensation received from the operator of the power grid. See also, US Patent Application Publication No. 20040206813.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,900,556 by Provanzana, and assigned on the face of the patent to American Electric Power Company, Inc., for Power load-leveling system and packet electrical storage issued May 31, 2005, describing a large-scale, capacitor-based electrical energy storage and distribution system capable of effectuating load-leveling during periods of peak demand and a cost savings associated with the purchase of electrical energy; and disclosing a method of storing and distributing electrical energy to achieve a cost savings associated with the purchase thereof including the steps of providing a source of electrical energy, providing at least one electrical energy storage capacitor capable of storing a significant amount of energy, the capacitor in communication with the source, providing control equipment adapted to analyze and monitor the real-time cost of purchasing electrical energy from the source and to predict a future cost, supplying an amount of electrical energy to the capacitor to charge it in response to a charge signal from control equipment, discharging at least a portion of the stored energy to a load, and repeating to maximize cost savings; also disclosing deducting the value of the electrical energy sold back to the source for any costs of purchasing energy from the source. See also US Patent Application Pub. No. 20030160595.
US Patent Application Pub. No. 20090177548 for Cooperative environmental and life benefit exchange system by Eisnlohr filed Jan. 9, 2009 and published Jul. 9, 2009 describing a cooperative environmental and life benefit system including a grid transmitting available energy, a plurality of rate payers using energy generated from available energy sources, a plurality of utility companies providing the grid, a plurality of credits redeemable for acquiring one or more of a plurality of life benefits, and an administrator overseeing a redemption process, wherein credits are accumulated by the rate payers based on either a predetermined amount of electrical energy purchased from or sold back to the grid; further describing the redemption process wherein credits accumulated by the payers are redeemed at a redemption rate to provide a redemption value, which is remitted by the rate payers to satisfy benefit cost for acquiring the benefits, or portions thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,975 for Optimized energy management system by Miller and assigned to Gridpoint, Inc., issued Sep. 25, 2007 describing methods and systems for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand, including activating battery storage and alternative energy sources to sell energy to the power grid during favorable cost conditions, including method steps for allocating energy at a location where the electrical energy is consumed, with computer-implemented steps of: determining a marginal cost for each of a plurality of energy sources available at the location, at least one of which is a non-grid source of electricity; determining a capacity of electrical energy available from each non-grid energy source; determining a demand for electrical energy at the location; dynamically allocating, in order of lowest marginal cost to highest marginal cost, electrical energy capacity from each of the plurality of energy sources to meet the demand; reducing demand at the location by automatically deferring electrical consumption for a device for which consumption can be deferred from a higher-cost time period to a lower-cost time period, including the computer-implemented step of issuing a command to the device to cause the deferral to occur, and further including determining projected marginal costs in each of a plurality of future time frames and deferring electrical consumption for the device to one of the plurality of future time frames, while conforming to an operational constraint for the device, the operational constraint for the device comprising a maximum time duration for which the device can be switched off; further including step of determining, on the basis of time-varying cost of grid-based electrical energy, whether it is cost-effective to sell electrical energy back to a grid-based source, and if so, automatically initiating such sale; and the step of selling electrical energy from a battery to the grid-based source. See also US Patent Application Pub. Nos. 20110208365, 20070276547, and 20060276938.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,890,436 for Billing and payment methods and systems enabling consumer premises equipment by Kremen and assigned to Clean Power Finance, Inc. issued Feb. 15, 2011 and describes a variety of systems and methods enabling renewable energy consumer premises equipment (CPE) such as dual metering techniques, and disclosing supporting by increasing a likelihood of meeting financing obligations, a consumer purchasing, leasing, installing, and/or maintaining renewable energy CPE for power generation at a consumer premises; coupling the CPE to a power grid operable to receive at least a portion of the power generated by the CPE, measuring power generated by the CPE and delivered onto the power grid of a utility, and processing receivables from the utility associated with the power generated and delivered onto the power grid directly to the lender at times corresponding to power measurement to fulfill the consumer's obligation to repay the loan. See also US Patent App. Pub. Nos. 20080091625, 20080091581, 20080091626, 20080091590, 20080091580.
Thus, there remains a need for improved information, controls, real-time or near-real-time data on power consumption for electric power market participants, REPs, customers, data centers, microgrid owners, and messaging and management of financial settlement therefor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the use of real-time or near real-time data for electric power messaging and settlements, and more particularly, to advanced energy settlements, messaging, and applications for electric power supply, load, and/or curtailment and data analytics associated with the same. The present invention also contemplates the use of blockchain technologies to solve problems associated with transparency, digital contracts, distributed ledgers, consensus, security, and compensation for suppliers and consumers of electric power in a market-based system, such as an Independent System Operator (ISO), an Regional Transmission Operator (RTO), a utility service area as defined by the National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or a governing entity responsible for establishing the regulations for the buying and selling of electric power, capacity, demand response or combinations. Systems and methods for ingress of data, aggregation of data, formatting of data, presentation of data or providing data analytics and customer or consumer guidance and controls are provided, and coupled with graphic user interfaces for interactive control and command of grid elements, design, specification, construction, management and financial settlement for any end user or consumer of electric power including commercial, residential, wholesale (brokers), retail electric providers, or any entity authorized by the governing entity to conduct transactions on the electric power grid. Furthermore, specific applications for distributed energy resources, renewable energy, storage devices, electric vehicles, fuel cells or any supply or demand side technologies are provided in data centers and/or microgrids for military, government, business and residence. The present invention also provides power consumption control, management, messaging and settlements, mobile applications, web sites, marketing offers, optimal pricing for comparable energy plans, retail electric provider and direct consumer alternatives, network of power architecture, EnergyNet applications, software development kit(s), application program interfaces (APIs), service oriented architecture (SOA) also known as web services, application web-based storefronts, and combinations thereof
The present invention provides for systems, methods, and graphic user interface embodiments for providing electric power usage (past, current, and/or future projected) information, management, financial settlements, and messaging, and applications as described herein. In addition, the present invention provides for the use of blockchain technologies that provide for market based electric power usage (past, current, and/or future projected) information collection, management, tokens, financial settlements, alternative currencies such as “crypto currencies”, distributed databases, distributed general ledgers and secure messaging distributed amongst coordinators and data processing nodes as described herein.
An advanced energy settlement platform is provided including at least one server computer operable for communication over a network with a multiplicity of distributed computing devices. The platform can also be embedded into grid elements that are physically or logically attached to a power grid, a network appliance, a coordinator and combinations thereof. The advanced energy settlement platform aggregates consumption data from energy customers or their grid elements associated with the customer that contains revenue grade and settlement information and aggregates revenue grade metrology data from distributed generation sources, demand side management devices, renewable energy sources, or consumption data from end users/consumers into settlement blocks. The advanced energy settlement platform is also capable of aggregating supply and consumption data from larger (macro) sources of generation such as combined cycle natural gas, coal, nuclear, utility sized renewable facilities into settlement blocks. The advanced energy settlement platform further aggregates and settles distributed energy charges with distributed generators or logical settlement nodes such as electrical buses (substations), nodal market clearing points as defined by the market and for energy consumers during the billing period through a clearing house that measures, verifies, clears, reconciles and settles the settlement grade or revenue grade data. The advanced energy settlement platform further aggregates and settles fixed energy changes with the energy retailer or retail energy provider for energy customers during the billing period.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elements are constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform. Each of the multiplicity of active grid elements comprises a computing component operatively coupled with a memory. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract; and generate messages autonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements are based on measurement and verification sufficient as defined by the market or grid operator. The energy related data and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference. The data also includes attributes of the grid element, supply or demand side relevant or important for market participation or compliance with market rules.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings, as they support the claimed invention.
Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for the purpose of describing preferred embodiment(s) of the invention at this time, and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. Any and all text associated with the figures as illustrated is hereby incorporated by reference in this detailed description.
The present invention relates to the use of real-time or near real-time data for electric power messaging and settlements, and more particularly, to advanced energy settlements, messaging, and applications for electric power supply, load, and/or curtailment and data analytics associated with the same. The present invention also contemplates the use of blockchain technologies to solve problems associated with transparency, digital contracts, distributed ledgers, consensus, security, and compensation for suppliers and consumers of electric power in a market-based system, such as an Independent System Operator (ISO), an Regional Transmission Operator (RTO), a utility service area as defined by the National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or a governing entity responsible for establishing the regulations for the buying and selling of electric power, capacity, demand response or combinations. Systems and methods for ingress of data, aggregation of data, formatting of data, presentation of data or providing data analytics and customer or consumer guidance and controls are provided, and coupled with graphic user interfaces for interactive control and command of grid elements, design, specification, construction, management and financial settlement for any end user or consumer of electric power including commercial, residential, wholesale (brokers), retail electric providers, or any entity authorized by the governing entity to conduct transactions on the electric power grid. Furthermore, specific applications for distributed energy resources, renewable energy, storage devices, electric vehicles, fuel cells or any supply or demand side technologies are provided in data centers and/or microgrids for military, government, business and residence. The present invention also provides power consumption control, management, messaging and settlements, mobile applications, web sites, marketing offers, optimal pricing for comparable energy plans, retail electric provider and direct consumer alternatives, network of power architecture, EnergyNet applications, software development kit(s), application program interfaces (APIs), service oriented architecture (SOA) also known as web services, application web-based storefronts, and combinations thereof
The present invention provides for systems, methods, and graphic user interface embodiments for providing electric power usage (past, current, and/or future projected) information, management, financial settlements, and messaging, and applications as described herein. In addition, the present invention provides for the use of blockchain technologies that provide for market based electric power usage (past, current, and/or future projected) information collection, management, tokens, financial settlements, alternative currencies such as “crypto currencies”, distributed databases, distributed general ledgers and secure messaging distributed amongst coordinators and data processing nodes as described herein.
An advanced energy settlement platform is provided including at least one server computer operable for communication over a network with a multiplicity of distributed computing devices. The platform can also be embedded into grid elements that are physically or logically attached to a power grid, a network appliance, a coordinator and combinations thereof. The advanced energy settlement platform aggregates consumption data from energy customers or their grid elements associated with the customer that contains revenue grade and settlement information and aggregates revenue grade metrology data from distributed generation sources, demand side management devices, renewable energy sources, or consumption data from end users/consumers into settlement blocks. The advanced energy settlement platform is also capable of aggregating supply and consumption data from larger (macro) sources of generation such as combined cycle natural gas, coal, nuclear, utility sized renewable facilities into settlement blocks. The advanced energy settlement platform further aggregates and settles distributed energy charges with distributed generators or logical settlement nodes such as electrical buses (substations), nodal market clearing points as defined by the market and for energy consumers during the billing period through a clearing house that measures, verifies, clears, reconciles and settles the settlement grade or revenue grade data. The advanced energy settlement platform further aggregates and settles fixed energy changes with the energy retailer or retail energy provider for energy customers during the billing period.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elements are constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform. Each of the multiplicity of active grid elements comprises a computing component operatively coupled with a memory. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract; and generate messages autonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements are based on measurement and verification sufficient as defined by the market or grid operator. The energy related data and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference. The data also includes attributes of the grid element, supply or demand side relevant or important for market participation or compliance with market rules.
The present invention provides systems and methods for data analysis, messaging, advanced energy settlements, command and control and management of electric power supply, demand, and/or curtailment including graphic user interface for consumers, including consumer profiles and alternative pricing programs and/or settlement programs for business and residential applications, including but not limited to graphic user interfaces for interactive control and command of grid elements, design, specification, construction, management and financial settlement for data centers and/or microgrids, business and residential power consumption, control, management, messaging and settlements, mobile applications, web sites, marketing offers, optimal pricing for comparable energy plans, retail electric provider and direct consumer alternatives, network of power architecture, EnergyNet applications, software development kit, application web-based storefronts, and combinations thereof. Apparatus embodiments are also provided in accordance with the systems and methods described herein.
Furthermore, novel methods of the present invention provided for consumer guidance and controls are coupled with graphic user interfaces for mobile applications, web sites, and computer displays that provide improved information and controls for consumers for electric power consumption and management of financial settlement therefor.
In the description of the present invention, it will be understood that all EnergyNet embodiments and AES systems and methods descriptions include and incorporate by this reference without regard to individual, specific recitation for each example described, real-time and/or near-real-time data, including revenue grade metrology or revenue grade metrology equivalent (RGME) as defined herein, used for AES financial settlements. Additionally and similarly, real-time communication, messaging, and data packet transfer is provided over at least one network associated with the advanced energy settlement platform of the systems and methods of the present invention.
This detailed description of the present invention includes energy financial settlements and messaging and/or data packet transfer or transmission, including the following issued patents, copending application publications, and/or copending non-published applications by common inventor and/or assignee Causam Energy, Inc.: U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,849,715, 8,583,520, 8,595,094, 8,719,125, 8,706,583, 8,706,584, 2014/0180884, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,775,283, 8,768,799, 2014/0279326, WO2014/066087, 2014/0039699, 2014/0277788, 2014/0039701, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,588,991, 8,761,952, 2014/0277786, 2014/0277787, WO2014/022596, 2014/0039699, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,849,715, 8,983,669, Ser. No. 14/885525, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
The present invention includes a multiplicity of interactive graphic user interface (GUI) for all aspects of AES and/or EnergyNet embodiments. By way of example and not limitation, as illustrated in the figures, at least one GUI is provided for electric power consumption for business or commercial facilities, including information and/or controls wherein the GUI is provided for mobile applications, websites, terminal and/or computer displays, and combinations thereof. For mobile applications, one embodiment includes a mobile communication computer device, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or other mobile smart interactive communications device (personal/wearable or portable), having an application including software operable on a processor coupled with memory, wherein the mobile communication computer device is constructed and configured for network-based communication within a cloud-based computing system as illustrated in
By way of example, and not limitation, the computing devices 820, 830, 840 are intended to represent various forms of digital computers and mobile devices, such as a server, blade server, mainframe, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a desktop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet computer, a workstation, a laptop, a wearable computing device, and other similar computing devices. The components shown here, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the invention described and/or claimed in this document
In one embodiment, the computing device 820 includes components such as a processor 860, a system memory 862 having a random access memory (RAM) 864 and a read-only memory (ROM) 866, and a system bus 868 that couples the memory 862 to the processor 860. In another embodiment, the computing device 830 may additionally include components such as a storage device 890 for storing the operating system 892 and one or more application programs 894, a network interface unit 896, and/or an input/output controller 898. Each of the components may be coupled to each other through at least one bus 868. The input/output controller 898 may receive and process input from, or provide output to, a number of other devices 899, including, but not limited to, alphanumeric input devices, mice, electronic styluses, display units, touch screens, signal generation devices (e.g., speakers) or printers.
By way of example, and not limitation, the processor 860 may be a general-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a state machine, gated or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable entity or combinations thereof that can perform calculations, process instructions for execution, and/or other manipulations of information. Also included are embedded and open source program languages, machine language that can be executed at the coordinator, server, the end device, and combinations thereof
In another implementation, shown as 840 in
Also, multiple computing devices may be connected, with each device providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g., a server bank, a group of blade servers, or a multi-processor system). Alternatively, some steps or methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function or hardware appliances or discrete hardware devices that are capable of performing the tasks described herein.
According to various embodiments, the computer system 800 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to local and/or remote computing devices 820, 830, and 840 through a network 810. A computing device 830 may connect to a network 810 through a network interface unit 896 connected to the bus 868. Computing devices may communicate communication media through wired networks, direct-wired connections or wirelessly such as acoustic, RF or infrared through an antenna 897 in communication with the network antenna 812 and the network interface unit 896, which may include digital signal processing circuitry when necessary. The network interface unit 896 may provide for communications under various modes or protocols.
In one or more exemplary aspects, the instructions may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combinations thereof. A computer readable medium may provide volatile or non-volatile storage for one or more sets of instructions, such as operating systems, data structures, program modules, applications or other data embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The computer readable medium may include the memory 862, the processor 860, and/or the storage media 890 and may be a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed computer system) that store the one or more sets of instructions 900. Non-transitory computer readable media includes all computer readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal per se. The instructions 900 may further be transmitted or received over the network 810 via the network interface unit 896 as communication media, which may include a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any delivery media, including modulation across the power lines, modulated carrier signals along or across power lines, distribution or transmission subsystems, and combinations thereof. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics changed or set in a manner as to encode information in the signal.
Storage devices 890 and memory 862 include, but are not limited to, volatile and non-volatile media such as cache, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory or other solid state memory technology, disks or discs (e.g., digital versatile disks (DVD), HD-DVD, BLU-RAY, compact disc (CD), CD-ROM, floppy disc) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the computer readable instructions and which can be accessed by the computer system 800.
It is also contemplated that the computer system 800 may not include all of the components shown in
In one embodiment, the application (e.g., smartphone app) automatically provides information via the GUI associated with the app to indicate to the user (consumer) information about electric pricing plan alternatives, including but not limited to their location, the price for electric power supply on any per unit (data center, microgrid, building (commercial or residential), facility, device, grid element, and combinations thereof) for a duration and/or at a predetermined time, and combinations thereof Also, preferably the app GUI provides additional information including marketing and advertising information about any merchants, products, and/or services associated with or related to their profile(s), power usage, activities within the system, and combinations thereof. Also preferably, the app GUI provides an interactive interface allowing inputs to be received for generating at least one account and corresponding profile, advanced energy settlements selections, etc. In one embodiment of the present invention, the received inputs are associated with a consumer or user profile that is stored on the smartphone and/or in a database associated with a server computer and/or cloud-based computing system with at least one server computer and at least one database having remote inputs and outputs via the data and communications network, preferably via secure access and/or secure messaging for authorized users associated with the at least one account. Data centers are interconnected to form a secure SaaS, localized interdependently operated subsystems are connected for autonomous operations if disconnected from the SaaS or cloud-based system. Components must be virtualized through VMware, open source equivalent, etc. even if they are going into the same logical node and running through same EMS or microgrid EMS or microgrid power management solution (MPMS). If a microgrid is 100Watt or of regulated size, then it is subject to performance and liability regulations from FERC, NERC, ISO, governing entity, etc. Cloud-based system must be separated at or above that level.
In a virtualized or cloud-based computing system and methods of the present invention, the following components are provided as illustrated by way of example and not limitation to those described in
The EnergyNet data platform used with AES preferably provides and/or is operable for real time revenue grade data ingress; store and organize packet level information that can be used for forecasting, data mining, revenue extraction, event detection, sophisticated energy management and enterprise integration purposes; aggregate and store revenue data into revenue grade settlement blocks (or Power Trading Blocks (PTBs)); connect microgrid and spot market buyers and sellers; provide a fully automated and high latency industry leading settlement process underpinned by a distributed settlement rules engine capable of settling with both distributed and fixed generator market participants; provide an automated payment exchange which supports all advanced billing models (shared data plan, daily plan and predict & pay); payments should be managed as single energy bills for customers with EnergyNet responsible for settlement payments between multiple distributed energy generators and the customers' existing energy retailer; provide a real time energy purchasing solution that matches the customers' real energy consumption against energy currently available within the microgrid or spot market; capture and transform market data that can provide intelligent analytics by generators for trending, forecasting, planning and maximising revenue/investment opportunities; capture and transform energy data that can provide intelligent analytics for customers energy management, forecasting, procurement, profiling, bill optimization and recommendation purposes; and integrate with the existing distributed energy market exchange to allow EnergyNet buyers and sellers to connect and agree prices on distributed generation or curtailment, with revenue grade metrology or with a revenue grade metrology equivalent (RGME) that provides data within less than about 10% variation from revenue grade metrology as required by the utility or governing entity for the electric power grid management and settlement, wherein the RGME is provided by a lower accuracy device and/or derived by data from the lower accuracy device combined with historical data or other complex rules and billing determinants, to generate the RGME that is approved or accepted for financial settlement based upon contracts, digital contracts, or virtual contracts between and among at least two entities in connection with the financial settlement for those grid elements having RGME. For example RTU is a non-revenue grade device but is used for energy auditing, or as a starting point for disputing payments within prior art systems for financial settlement and energy settlement. In the systems and methods of the present invention, RGME mechanism provides data that the buyer and seller agree to accept for settlement, including financial and energy settlement for DER, load control, curtailment, and combinations, and including line losses. For interconnected devices, i.e., power supplying or power consuming devices that share the same interconnection for the electric power grid, the agreements between the parties provide for energy settlement and the corresponding market-based financial settlement for the electric power generated or consumed, including RGME instead of traditional revenue grade metrology as required by the utility or governing entity of the electric power grid.
As illustrated in
Buyers and sellers of electric power are connected within the microgrid or spot market associated with AES of the present invention. Buyers can expose their generated capacity to customers in near real time and customers can make intelligent purchasing decisions based upon actionable real time data. The Advanced Energy Settlement (AES) process performs all billing, payment and settlement activities with financial and clearing participants. A configurable market purchasing rules engine ranks and selects energy from the market based on customer preferences such as cost, payment preference, locality, how green the energy, market supply, consumption etc. and may recommend purchasing from one or more suppliers. The suitability of the offering also depends on additional factors such as any minimum and maximum usage constraints which requires decisions to be made based upon forecasts derived using historical data and profiling stored within EnergyNet.
Certain Apps are provided for different participants in the advanced energy settlement systems. These Apps are operable for command and control, advanced settlement, monitoring and alarming, etc. via real time communication.
EnergyNet is a one-stop or integrated platform and provides an automated payment exchange using advanced billing models which allow customers to pay in a variety of ways, for example a shared data plan coupled with a monthly payment plan, a daily payment plan, and/or pre-payment plan with a remote disconnect option enabled. Single payments simplify access to the distributed energy market and are automatically aggregated and settled between the distributed and fixed generators via energy retailers. Prompt payment reduces the cost of capital, bad debt and credit risk for market participants; it is a fundamental aspect of the AES. Payments are collected through integration with third party payment banking systems and can be managed by customers in the Energy Net Customer Portal GUI. A meter data aggregator allows entities to function as intermediary between load serving entity or to share data to the TDSP, and is provided with the platform. Also, payment to customers may be provided for their data to facilitate transactions through the Energy Net Customer Portal GUI.
The account, consumer, and/or user profile(s) preferably includes a unique user identifier or identification, such as, by way of example and not limitation, a username and password. Further information is preferably provided, including an account identifier, user financial account information, utility and/or market participant account information, geodetic information such as by way of example and not limitation a smartphone location identifier (such as GPS-based location information, RFID, and/or near-field communication identifier), which is preferably communicated wirelessly over network-based communication to the server computer and/or processor with memory associated with the account for advanced energy settlements, and/or communicated with user of optical bar code, QR code, Digital Radio, Radio Frequency Identification, Optical Pattern Matching, etc. Additional information may optionally be associated and/or stored with the consumer profile, and communicated via the network, including historical data relating to energy consumption, status, supply systems (by way of example and not limitation, back-up power supply, generator(s), battery, alternative energy such as solar, wind, etc., smartphone transactions relating to energy-affected activities, history of purchases made for products and/or services, history of offers and responses made for products and/or services, and combinations thereof. At least one message included with the GUI preferably includes information about electric power supply pricing and corresponding plan alternatives associated with advanced energy settlements; additional advertising and offers for products and/or services may be provided via the GUI based upon the corresponding profile for the user and/or account, opt-in/opt-out inputs, and combinations thereof. Preferably, market pricing conditions via a customer profile that can be loaded to a computer, smart phone, tablet, or any web-enabled appliance for accepting or modifying a profile or moreover a profile that automated controls based upon previously selected economic messages. In a further embodiment, energy consumption patterns within active grid elements profiles could be used to identify opportunities for up selling, down selling, or cross selling. These opportunities may be determined by the power utility or market participant, REP, and/or by affiliates, partners, or advertisers. Data from active grid elements profiles associated with the user and/or account (including historical data, real-time data, and/or projected or predicted future data) may be used to provide insights on inefficient devices, defective devices, or devices that require updating to meet current standards, and/or products and services corresponding or complementary to the active grid elements or the user/account. Active grid elements profiles data, individually or collectively (or selectively) in the aggregate, performance and/or participation, actions or activities, may also be used to identify related power grid participation opportunities. Data from consumer purchase and marketing activities may be used to provide insights on inefficient merchants or service providers.
By way of example and not limitation, the systems and methods of the advanced energy settlement platform are operable for the design, specification, construction, management, and advanced energy settlement with real-time or near-real-time market rates for electrical activities of a data center or a microgrid. GUI, icons, and/or visual representations or symbols of grid elements (Grid Element Icons—GEIs) are provided by the system and methods of the present invention, and associated with corresponding data for each of the grid elements stored in a grid element library or virtual or digital catalog. The grid element data may be provided by corresponding grid element suppliers, equipment manufacturers, distributors, historical data from user/account (including but not limited to grid element purchases, acquisitions, grid element activations for registration with the electric power grid, etc.), publicly available data from the internet, proprietary data, and/or custom-generated data. Preferably, the GUIs are selectable by a remote user on a computer having a display and interactive graphic user interface for making a digital design for a data center. The GUIs may be click-selected and/or by drag-and-drop selection from the grid element library to the design layout or schematic diagram, as illustrated on
In one embodiment, an EnergyNet Grid Element Photo Capture application is provided by the advanced EnergyNet Platform. Field technicians are responsible for capturing Microgrid and DER information as part of a site survey or energy assessment. EnergyNet streamlines this process by taking advantage of the geo location and camera capabilities of modern smartphones. All mobile field captured information is immediately available to the back office support team.
The active grid elements within an electric power grid (or off the grid in alternative embodiments) operate to receive information automatically through a plurality of methods utilizing IP-based communications methods and web based devices such as in car computers, smart phones, computers, text messages, paging messages, or even voice response units or live customer service agents. Under a real time scenario, active grid elements could dynamically “Opt In” to a pre-determined profile or “Opt Out” or more importantly change the profile dynamically through the Energy Net Customer Portal GUI to take advantage of real time market pricing of electricity being sold by the utility, market participant, REP or any entity authorized to buy, sell and trade electric commodity or demand response products on behalf of the owner. Control activity including messaging for changing account and/or grid element settings, profile, functionality, and combinations thereof is also provided; analytics are included as well. Event-based messaging is also provided. In one embodiment, electric power is supplied through non-islanded microgrid or cogeneration. The settlement is independent of utility. Transformers are functioning like diodes; current flowing through the branch is stopped. The advanced EnergyNet settlement platform matches load and supply as long as not exceeding limitations of the leg. The flow of power is stopped that is being measured by utility revenue grid meter by TDSP. In another embodiment, still with utility connected microgrid, but the advanced EnergyNet settlement platform can run bilateral transaction that is settled as described herein within. Add FERC Order No. 2003 and No. 2006 are incorporated by reference in entirety herein. The systems and methods of the present invention further provide for analyzing the control activity, responses to the controls (for example like Google adwords so that when a marketing message is provided, then there is compensation for the messaging like Google adwords), e.g., least cost provider for recharging mobile electric power storage and/or EVs; whoever plugs in also is preferably connected to the financial settlement network associated with the mobile app and/or charging terminal, which may further include a marketing database, so that as the consumer is reviewing possible opportunities. The system includes AES messaging and/or payment to clear the messages and/or data packet transmission, and for delivering the marketing message, and the analytics over the marketing message including but not limited to open rate, response rate, referral rate, purchase conversion rate.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the EV app and GUI provide for targeted mobile and in-car advertising to the user or consumer based upon the consumer profile, in particular where the consumer has authorized information to be shared or used for purposes other than for EV charging at any given time.
While the foregoing description of preferred embodiments illustrates the applications for EVs as automobiles, the present invention further includes other EV applications, including but not limited to trucks, transport vehicles, boats and boat marinas, and the like, and mobile battery charging for portable storage of electric power. Also, the present invention for EV automobiles applies to private residence and private parking facilities, as well as fixed and temporary public EV charging including but not limited to hotels, public parking slips or spots, public parking in garage settings, corporate, event venues, temporary parking, overflow parking, etc.
The EnergyNet data platform provides distinct graphic user interfaces (GUIs) for various participants of advanced energy settlements. In one embodiment, the GUIs are web-based interfaces. In another embodiment, the GUIs are interfaces of mobile application programs (Apps) for various participants.
The GUI enables simulation and modeling for building demand response resources DERs, microgrids, etc., allowing for a drag and drop that automatically triggers generation of a power model and a pro forma model having at least one generator and/or at least one load device associated with it, and an engineering interconnection based upon location, equipment, grid identifier, geodetic information, attachment point information, etc. The model considers collected data provided by the customer, historical data, and the current environment of the distribution system; it allows any operable attachment point to be an energy settlement and market-based financial settlement point, and provides an interconnection to the attachment point. The model also indicates if devices are added, provides cost information for the devices, lists the attributes of the devices, etc., which are used as inputs to generate a cost curve that determines how much the customer will spend and funds receivable based upon participation in programs (e.g., encouraging sustainable or alternative energy).
The system includes a grid element catalog that includes attributes of the grid elements. Based upon customer inputs, the model indicates options that match or fit the customer's profile. The model also provides information about financing and energy capacity programs as provided by REP, TDSP, independent system operator (ISO), RTO, community, FERC, and/or the governing body of the power grid. Once the customer selects a grid element, the system provides digital contract elements and/or financing terms associated with that grid element and/or corresponding services. For example, installation, service, and maintenance contract terms for generator, solar, etc. The digital contract is a standard form document between suppliers and consumers at wholesale or retail level. Digital contract terms are coordinated through the platform for market participants (e.g., utilities, consumers, and all parties between the utility and consumer). Digital contract terms for a grid element device are presented as part of update messaging and/or programming, through a coordinator or distributed database, or combinations thereof. Contract terms and data, including but not limited to financial settlements for grid elements and their participation on or with any electric power grid, extend through the fields of the template and function as a complex rules engine to be administered vis-à-vis the grid elements and related or corresponding services, distributed architectures, networks, etc.
The GUI shows options for customers based on customer preferences, data generated by the customer, and the results of power modeling. End use customers (residential or commercial) are presented choices for grid elements, OEMs offering grid elements, energy plans, and service and maintenance plans.
The platform makes calculations based upon the reliability of microgrids and/or DERs. These calculations are used to provide recommendations and updated information to users in real time and/or near real time through the GUIs.
Electric vehicles or other mobile power storage devices on the microgrid are part of the platform. The present invention allows for receiving, delivering, and/or discharging power from a mobile power storage device, interrupting the charging of that device, and combinations thereof with a portable market participant platform and corresponding GUI. Grid elements may decouple or couple to any pre-approved attachment point; this provides for dynamic interconnection of the grid element having mobile power storage. The platform dynamically updates the model for the grid upon confirmation of location or geo-detection of that grid element. The platform also contains predictive analytics that show locations in need of power inputs. Required components associated with the mobile storage device or electric vehicle include at least a meter for revenue grade metrology sufficient for market-based financial settlement and at least one pre-approved attachment point for the interconnect; the mobile storage device or electric vehicle must also be registered with the platform. Pre-approved interconnection zones are thus provided for mobile grid elements; these zones and/or their aggregation further provide for logical nodes for controlling or inputting power or load, demand response, etc. The zones may further function as balancing areas.
Utility Operator Interface
A utility operator interface provides a utility view for control room staff to control DERs with transparency. Maps, tables, and charts are applied for illustration and view in regional or smaller areas. Regional control scenario algorithm and detail view control for specific premise or units are applied for real-time behavior or run-mode adjustments to support grid operations.
Interconnection Processing Interface
Vendor/Aggregator View Interface
Marketplace View Interface
Financial Settlement View Interface
Tiers or Levels within the EnergyNet Platform
One embodiment of the present invention is a system of an advanced energy network, comprising a platform communicatively connected to at least one distributed computing device operable for providing inputs from at least one energy user, wherein the platform is operable to: create a user profile for the at least one energy user; collect energy usage data for the at least one energy user; associate the energy usage data with the user profile corresponding to the at least one energy user; aggregate the energy usage data; estimate projected energy usage for the at least one energy user; predict energy consumption data based on the energy usage data and the projected energy usage data; and store the energy usage data, the projected energy usage data, and the predicted energy consumption data in a database. In Level 0 (L0) of the present invention, the user or consumer is engaged in the platform by providing verified information on actual energy usage to the platform. In Level 1 (L1) of the present invention, the user may provide additional information to the system and/or additional information may be gathered from public sources. In Level 2 (L2) of the present invention, the user may add grid elements to their user profile. In Level 3 (L3) of present invention, the utility, grid element vendors, meter data aggregators, etc. may identify sales opportunities based on data in the database and provide marketing for products and/or service offerings to consumers (consumer users) or commercial users with profiles within the EnergyNet platform. In Level 4 (L4) of the present invention grid elements operable for providing electric power supply (by way of example and not limitation, solar power generation, fuel cell or battery power storage devices, wind generation, back-up power generators, etc.) that are properly constructed and configured, modeled, and connected with revenue grade metrology acceptable for energy settlement and market-based financial settlement within the energy market, are introduced after being registered and profile created within the EnergyNet platform.
In one embodiment, for level 0 (L0) the actual energy usage data documented within a utility bill is uploaded to the platform by an energy user having a profile or creating a profile on the EnergyNet platform. The actual energy usage data is uploaded and communicated over at least one network to at least one computer or server associated with the platform, which automatically recognizes the format of the utility bill based upon prior utility bill(s) uploaded by at least one user. For example, if a first user uploads a utility bill to the platform and selects the relevant information from the utility bill, the platform may automatically recognize the format of utility bills for subsequent users who have the same service provider. Also or alternatively, the energy user inputs indication of which data to capture from the utility bill for automatic association with that user's profile. The system also provides options for the energy user to selectively redact information on the utility bill, such as customer name, account number, and PIN number. The platform may automatically populate the database based on the data on actual energy usage in the utility bill. The platform is further operable to collect at least one of real-time or near real-time data from grid elements and data from smart meters associated with the at least one user.
The embodiments disclosed make use of the “user profiles” concept. The user profile includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) energy user name; (2) service address; (3) electric provider; (4) building type; (5) historical and current bill dates; and (6) historical and current charges for electrical service. The user profile may further include information regarding geodetic location; meter ID; customer programs (possibly including program history); device information, including device type and manufacturer/brand; user energy consumption patterns; and connection and disconnection profile. The connection/disconnection profile can include service priority (i.e., elderly, police, etc.) and disconnection instructions.
In other embodiments, additional data called “variability factors” may be captured by the system as part of the user profile, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) outside temperature, (2) sunlight, (3) humidity, (4) wind speed and direction, (5) elevation above sea level, (6) orientation of the service point structure, (7) duty duration and percentage, (8) set point difference, (9) current and historic room temperature, (10) size of structure, (11) number of floors, (12) type of construction (brick, wood, siding etc.) (13) color of structure, (14) type of roofing material and color, (15) construction surface of structure (built on turf, clay, cement, asphalt etc.), (16) land use (urban, suburban, rural), (17) latitude/longitude, (18) relative position to jet stream, (19) quality of power to devices, (20) number of people living in and/or using structure, (21) age of structure, (22) type of heating, (23) lot description, (24) type of water, (25) other square footage, and (26) other environmental factors. Additional data that may be stored by the system include vacancy times, sleep times, and times in which control events are permitted. User profiles may also include whether a swimming pool is located at the service address.
In level 1 (L1) of the present invention, the user may provide additional information to the system and/or additional information may be gathered from public sources to further populate the user profile. Information regarding the plurality of variability factors may obtained from public sources. For example, information regarding weather (e.g., outside temperature, sunlight, humidity, wind speed and direction) may be obtained from publicly available weather services. Additionally, information regarding size of structure (e.g., square footage), number of floors or stories, type of roofing material, type of construction, age of structure, type of heat, etc. may be found on publicly available web sites (e.g., county or state records, Zillow, and Trulia). Users may be given incentives to provide additional information for their user profile.
The user profile may further contain information regarding user preferences, wherein the user preferences comprise at least one of automatic uploading of utility bills, contact preferences, payment preferences, privacy preferences, renewability of energy sources, grid element preferences, rate plans, consumption, cost, locality, and market supply.
The platform uses information in the user profile to generate more accurate predictive consumption data. For example, if one energy user uploads a utility bill, that utility bill may be used to generate predictive consumption data for similar structures or similar geographic locations (e.g., houses in the same neighborhood). If additional energy users upload utility bills, the aggregated data from the utility bills may be used to generate more accurate predictive consumption data. With additional information, such as variability factors, the platform is able to increase the accuracy of the prediction. For example, a house with a pool and an electric vehicle would be expected to use more electricity than a house in the same neighborhood without a pool or electric vehicle. Additionally, a larger house or multi-story house would have a larger predictive energy consumption than a smaller house or single-story house in the same neighborhood. Also, typically older houses have lower energy efficiency, due to factors affecting energy consumption, e.g., older HVAC equipment that is less efficient than modern equipment, and/or factors affecting the leakage of conditioned air, e.g., less insulation, older windows and doors, etc. Variability factors may be added to the system by users or obtained from public sources of data.
The platform is further operable to display a map of the predicted energy consumption as shown in
In Level 2 (L2) of the present invention, the system receives user inputs that associate at least one grid element with their corresponding user profile. The grid elements include but are not limited to power transfer switches, wind meters, utility meters, battery discharge controllers, tenant sub-meters, solar meters, power distribution units (PDUs), appliance switches, electric vehicle charging stations, distributed energy resources (DERs), transfer switches, electric vehicle batteries, inverters, controllable loads, weather stations, and/or HVAC environments. For example, the system may receive an indication or selection inputs from a user regarding a present or future interest in, or action for installing and operating of, solar panels to their roof for the location associated with their corresponding user profile; this change and the user's preferences or profile regarding the solar panels is saved in the database.
In Level 3 (L3) of present invention, the at least one utility or market participant and its partners (e.g., vendors) utilize the EnergyNet platform to identify sales opportunities based on data in the database. Data that is anonymized or permission-based access to data from user profiles may be used to provide insights on inefficient devices, defective devices, or devices that require updating to meet current standards. User profile data may also be used to identify related sales opportunities. For example, if energy consumption patterns suggest that the user may be very interested in personal energy conservation, then sales efforts could be directed toward that individual concerning products related to that lifestyle. This information can be used by the utility or its partners to provide incentives to users to buy newer, updated devices, or obtain maintenance for existing devices. The user is given the option to opt out of having his user profile used for sales and marketing efforts, or for regulating energy conservation. The user profile makes use of open standards (such as the CPExchange standard) that specify a privacy model with the user profile. The use of consumption patterns in this manner is governed by national, state, or local privacy laws and regulations.
A further embodiment of using user profiles to identify sales opportunities involves the use of device information to create incentives for users to replace inefficient devices. By identifying the known characteristics and/or behavior of devices within a service point, the invention identifies those users who may benefit from replacement of those devices. The invention estimates a payback period for replacement. This information is used by the utility or its partners to create redemptions, discounts, and campaigns to persuade users to replace their devices.
Users may be grouped by geography or some other common characteristics. For example, groups might include “light consumers” (because they consume little energy), “daytime consumers” (because they work at night), “swimmers” (for those who have a pool and use it), or other categories. Categorizing users into groups allows the utility or its partners or market participants to target sales and marketing efforts to relevant users.
EnergyNet Graphs
Financial Model Visualization Interface
A financial model visualization interface allows at least one utility or market participant, to run Monte Carlo simulations for adding new meters to the market, energy usage distribution, and/or energy generation distribution. Adjusting the simulation parameters (e.g., mean, standard deviation, skewness) provides for minimizing or managing risk for decision-making and investment related to the electric power grid, and to better predict outcomes.
The following are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: the NY REV order, CAL ISO rules and proposed rules and subsequent order for DER marketplace, ERCOT presentation stakeholder concerns, and terms and their definitions: telemetry light, telemetry medium, etc.
The blockchain technology is based on existing communication protocols (e.g., HTTP, RPC), cryptography (grown from Public key cryptography in 1976), distributed peer-to-peer sharing mechanisms (e.g., Napster, bitTorrent), and a distributed set of databases kept in synchronization based on time. The blockchain technology is a technology that permanently records events or transactions on a network in a transparent, auditable, and irrefutable way. A blockchain ledger is stored on each blockchain node participating in or comprising a network. Blockchain nodes include, but are not limited to grid elements, coordinators, network appliances, servers, mobile devices, work stations or any networked client that can interface with an IP-based network and can operate an operating system capable of processing blocks. Blockchain is a loose specification rather than a specific implementation, which is capable of unlocking monopoly power over information in infrastructure systems for telecommunications, healthcare, finance, energy, and government. In an introduction to blockchain applications in The Business of Blockchain by William Mougayar (2016), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, it is established that just as the Web could not exist without the Internet, blockchains could not exist without the Internet, and thus, the use of blockchains within the systems and methods of the present invention provide that it is not merely an abstract idea, since it is inextricably tied to Internet technology.
There are many public blockchain networks (e.g. Internet facing), but the real growth is coming with private blockchain networks (e.g., Intranet) for specific uses like healthcare record processing. There are also hybrid networks that allow movement of information between networks. For example, there are many competing public networks that have their own currency to exchange goods and services, and there are hybrid networks that allow payment with currency from a different network.
The EnergyNet platform operable within the systems and methods of the present invention is based on three core pillars: measurement and verification of grid elements and their activity within an electric power grid or microgrid, smart digital contracts, i.e., self-executing digital contracts governed by rules engine(s) and terms, and advanced settlements, including energy settlements and corresponding financial settlements for active grid elements. In one embodiment of the present invention, the EnergyNet platform is built based on the blockchain technology. Each grid element is operable to function as a node on a power grid network or microgrid network. Each grid element is associated with at least one computing component. The at least one computing component is selected from the group consisting of PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and any processor coupled with memory connected with a grid element. The at least one computing component for the grid elements are constructed and configured in network communication with the EnergyNet platform. Thus, the power control of grid elements on the power grid network and the business transaction or advanced energy settlement associated with the power control and active grid element activity on the EnergyNet platform are separate functions, but are related or coordinated based upon measurement and verification of data of the grid element(s) performance or function on the grid or microgrid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, data packets from grid elements are recorded and the information contained in the data packets are encrypted, stored and coded into blocks on a blockchain on a node. Each block includes a timestamp and a geodetic reference or a grid attachment point for each data packet denoting when and where the data packet is generated. The data packets include energy related data associated with corresponding grid elements and their intended active functioning within the electric power grid. For example, but not for limitation, each data packet includes a data content (raw data, transformed data, status, change in state, revenue grade metrology, unique grid element identifier, and combinations thereof), a priority, a security, and a transport route for communication over a network. Raw data includes information generated by, sensed by, measured by, or stored by a grid element. For example, raw data includes metrology, location, grid element identifier, C.12.19 tables, meter data, software version, firmware version, LSE priority, and combinations thereof. The data content is based on measurement and verification, so that the data content in each data packet is measurable and verifiable. The priority is based upon factors associated with the electric power grid following a hierarchy of priority including grid reliability factors, grid stability factors, energy market-based factors, billing determinants, energy settlement factors, financial settlement factors, transmission factors, and revenue grade metrology.
In one embodiment, block payloads are used to transfer data across multiple distributed EnergyNet platforms. For example, meter read data is visible to the supplier of the power, and to whoever buys the power based on a smart digital contract. This enables customers (market participants) to know exactly what information is used for their transactions. The blockchain implementation of the smart contracts have a security via cryptography including but not limited to hashing, keys, and/or digital signatures. A hash is a unique fingerprint that is used to verify that information within the blockchain has not been altered, without the need to actually see the information itself. Public-private keys are used. Together, these security elements of the blockchain used for the present invention systems and methods provide for public visibility but private inspection of the information itself. Thus, with the inclusion of blockchain and cryptocurrency for financial settlement of grid element transactions within the electric power grid or microgrid, the EnergyNet platform of the present invention simultaneously provide for a computing infrastructure, transaction platform, decentralized database, distributed account ledger, development platform, advanced energy financial settlement and marketplace, peer-to-peer network of grid elements, and a trust services layer. Advantageously, the EnergyNet platform is further operable for enabling and handling microtransactions or microsettlements and large value transactions, including but not limited to aggregated transactions or settlements from at least one Power Trade Block (PTB) unit.
In one embodiment, the data packets from different grid elements also include energy settlement information and financial settlement information associated with corresponding grid elements and transactions between the corresponding grid elements. The energy and financial settlement information is cryptographically secured on the blockchain. By way of example but not limitation, financial settlement information includes identification of payor, payee, transaction amount, transaction time, transaction method, contract term, rate, capacity, etc. Yield management can be applied to power transactions on the EnergyNet platform; then the price rate is based on a scarcity level of power in a power grid network.
Smart contracts are implemented on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. Smart digital contracts are self-executed between different market participants on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. In one embodiment, the smart digital contracts in EnergyNet are similar to traditional paper-based power purchase agreements, but their terms are in a standardized form which allows them to be more easily understood and transferable to other parties (i.e., participants can buy and sell contracts). Blockchain used within the EnergyNet platform allows both parties in a smart digital contract to access and visualize how transactional data (e.g., meter reads) impacts them on a real-time financial basis when automatically processed through EnergyNet's rules engines that enable the function of smart digital contracts within the systems and methods of the present invention. Smart digital contracts are constructed and established within the platform by related market participants on the EnergyNet platform. Contract terms are added, removed, and/or modified based on agreements between different parties in the smart digital contract. In another embodiment, smart contract as an application on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform is created as an open contract by a first market participant. An open smart contract automatically executes itself when a second market participant meets all the contract terms, and a transaction between the first and second market participants are completed and recorded on the blockchain.
With advanced energy settlements, blockchain is used as a payment point (to or from) in public/hybrid networks, or as an indication to commit payment using another method (e.g., credit card, ACH) in private networks. In one embodiment, the “wallet” capability in private networks is used to hold energy credits that get translated into real currency outside of the blockchain private network. In another embodiment, as a point of payment, public blockchain networks have currency capabilities, which can be used for payment. The smart digital contracts in the present invention provide the transactional amount, party, and timing for payments, for which EnergyNet participants can use the built-in blockchain currency to pay for those goods. Smart contracts are enforced on the blockchain.
In one embodiment, cryptocurrency tokens are issued by the EnergyNet platform to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions between different grid elements. The cryptocurrency tokens on the EnergyNet platform are called Network of Power (NOP) tokens. In the present invention, NOP tokens can be used to make settlements for consuming, supplying, and/or curtailing power with micropayments at a grid element level in real time or near real time. In one embodiment, the NOP tokens are based on Ethereum technology, which is an open source, blockchain-based distributed computing platform with smart contracts.
NOP tokens are rewarded to end use customers or market participants who share energy related information on the EnergyNet platform. Energy related information includes load types (residential, commercial, industrial, mission critical, etc.), consumption amount, consumption reduced, consumption to be reduced, supply types (solar panels, wind turbines, power storage, etc.), power types (real power and/or reactive power), supply amount, supply available currently, supply to be available, capacity, etc. Energy related information is important to maintain grid stability and reliability in an efficient way within a microgrid, a distribution grid, and a power grid overall, as well as necessary to enable peer-to-peer power transactions.
NOP tokens are circulated on the EnergyNet platforms for fulfilling transactions between different market participants or for sharing of energy information between end users or counterparties such as market participants. Other cryptocurrencies (e.g., bitcoins, ethers, etc.) are acceptable on the EnergyNet platform based on requirements of the market participants. In one embodiment, payment methods are specified in smart contracts. In one embodiment, there is an exchange ratio for converting fiat currencies and other cryptocurrencies to NOP tokens on the EnergyNet platform. In one embodiment, NOP tokens are used as an instrument for hedging.
In general, hedging is used to offset the risk of price movements. With energy, cyptocurrentcy, etc., the value of a good or service on one day may not be equivalent to the value at a future date. For example, the price of a kilowatt hour (kWh) on August 1st is 120 NOP tokens and on August 2nd the same kilowatt hour is worth 260 NOP tokens even though the same resource requirements (i.e., the cost) on both days to produce the energy is the same. To enable hedging, there must be two transactions that have negative correlation with each other (i.e., as the value of one transaction rises the value of the other transactions falls). In this embodiment, a person who is selling an item in the future (e.g., generate 10 MW of power on Oct. 31, 2018) enters into a contract to sell (short) 10 MW of power on that future date (or as soon thereafter). A person who is planning to purchase an item in the future enters into a contract to buy (long) the item in the future. If the kWh price was 1,000 NOP tokens on Aug. 1, 2018 and the generator was planning to sell 10 MW on Oct. 31, 2018, the generator would enter a digital contract to sell 10 MW of power on Nov. 1, 2018 for 1,300 NOP tokens (the market perceives the price of power will be higher in the future). That is, on Aug. 1, 2018 the market price is 1,000 NOP tokens per kWh for 10 MW of power and there is someone willing to pay 1,300 NOP tokens per kWh on Nov. 1, 2018 for the same quantity of power. If the market price rose to 1,100 NOP tokens per kWh on Oct. 31, 2018 and the future contract (Nov. 1, 2018) was 1,105 NOP tokens, the generator would sell their power on the market and receive 1,100 NOP tokens and would “sell” their contract at a gain of 195 NOP tokens with an overall result of 1,295 NOP tokens for the generation. If the price were to fall to 600 NOP tokens for both the market and future contract, the generator would sell his generation for 600 NOP tokens on the market and sell his contract for 700 NOP tokens with an overall result of 1,300 NOP tokens for his generation. The amount of change in the market price versus the future contract price (referred to as the basis) determines how well the hedge works to remove price fluctuation risk. In this example above, the basis is favorable, and the generator does better than the market price on Aug. 1, 2018 to sell electricity on Oct. 31, 2018. For simplicity, the transactional cost of EnergyNet to provide this market capability is not included, but that also has to be considered in determining the success of the hedge. Thus, in this embodiment, the EnergyNet platform provides digital contracts to buy and sell goods or services with NOP tokens in the future at a price determined by market participants which enables them to hedge to offset price fluctuations.
In one embodiment, peer-to-peer transactions are performed at a grid element level within a microgrid, and production and consumption can be balanced out within the microgrid. Transactions are recorded on a blockchain for each microgrid. Each grid element has a copy of the transaction records. In another embodiment, peer-to-peer transactions are performed between microgrids in a network of microgrids. Blocks in one microgrid blockchain are aggregated to one block for microgrid-to-microgrid transaction. This way, a federated blockchain is provided on the network of microgrids or the macro-grid level based on blockchains for individual microgrids.
In one embodiment, a coordinator or a series of interconnected coordinators serve as blockchain nodes. The blockchain nodes serve the blockchain function of error checking and “mining.” The blockchain nodes are also points of transmission of blocks. Coordinators also provide services including but not limited to currency conversion, financial settlements, data formatting, protocol arbitration, device discovery wherein the device includes but not limited to grid elements.
In one embodiment, three types of individuals and entities, i.e., power purchasers, power merchants, and power brokers, will exchange value on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform by proposing, executing on, and settling energy contracts. A power purchaser is an entity or individual that needs to purchase power for their own consumption or on behalf of others to maintain operations and comfort. A power merchant is an entity or individual that is producing power available for use by power purchasers. Power merchants can produce power via a variety of technologies. A power broker is an entity or individual responsible for facilitating new power contract creation, forecasting demand and supply futures, and performing market research to develop new offers and services. All individuals or entities interacting over the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform maintain a public identity and associated private credentials retained in a blockchain wallet. Values for the individuals or entities are expressed in NOP tokens and accrued to their public identities. Accrued values are publicly visible to all parities via analysis of immutable settlement events recorded on the blockchain. In one embodiment, a single public identity opts for a simple wallet strategy and publishes a type of transaction event by a type of individuals or entities. In another embodiment, a sophisticated organization implement a complex wallet strategy that uses many public identities to maintain privacy and organize values.
In one embodiment, three types of events, i.e., measurement events, contract events, and settlement events, are recorded on the blockchain. During a measurement event, A set of revenue grade power measurements and metadata are recorded over an interval of time including observed power supply and/or power demand. Measurement events are produced by individuals or entities in combination with a revenue grade measurement device. Measurement data is encrypted on the blockchain and is visible to individuals and entities with a public identity, for example, an owner of physical client devices on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform, or an owner of a contract event. During a contract event, a commitment of value is transferred by a public participant in exchange for performance under certain terms and conditions on measurement from other public participants. Contract events express the terms and conditions using a protocol that the software and computational wallet process on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform can understand and process. Contract events can be for long-term or short-term service delivery. Contract events can result in demand control or supply control changes during performance. During a settlement Event, a statement of value is transferred from a public participant who made the commitment via contract to one or more other public participants who have delivered measurement services and are verified to have performed within the terms of the contract.
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform includes physical client devices with Internet Protocol connectivity, memory, software, and wallet capabilities that interface with revenue grade power measurement devices such as consumption meters, supply meters, transformer meters, or inverter meters. The blockchain-based EnergyNet platform also includes a software and computational wallet process as a settlement authority, responsible for connecting measurement events to contract events, running all the data against a set of rules that determine performance and delivery, and producing settlement events that reassigns value from the contract to the public identities involved. The software and computational wallet process also provides connectivity to legacy payment network or other value exchange networks. The blockchain-based EnergyNet platform also includes a software wallet application or wallet portal, as a deal desk, that enables participants to manage, search, and create new contract events. The software wallet application or wallet portal also enables extraction, summarization, and visualization of measurement events associated with those contract events and settlement events associated with those Contract events.
As stated earlier, EnergyNet is a distributed platform, which can be white-labeled or genericized to operate under the brand of or by many different customers. EnergyNet is functional with most of the existing blockchain implementations, as EnergyNet is be viewed as an “application” from a blockchain perspective. Thus, two EnergyNet customers using different blockchain implementations can easily share cryptography protected information. Thus, the present invention systems and methods are focused on the functionality provided by the platform, and is not restricted or limited by the various blockchain implementations.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network. A multiplicity of active grid elements are constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform. Each of the multiplicity of active grid elements comprises a computing component operatively coupled with a memory. The multiplicity of active grid elements are registered to actively participate within the electric power grid network. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to generate messages autonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements are based on measurement and verification. The energy related data and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference. The multiplicity of active grid elements are selected from the group consisting of: smart appliances, smart meters, building control systems, sensors, storage devices, electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, controllers, distribution elements, transmission elements necessary for grid operations and stability, and any other power consumption and/or generation devices. In one embodiment, the predetermined time interval is less than 15 minutes.
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in the present invention is operable for crowdsourcing renewables. As an example, but not for limitation, participants buy and sell solar panels directly over the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform. Smart contracts are constructed and executed for crowdsourcing related transactions, and NOP tokens are be used in these crowdsourcing related transactions. Additionally, during the life of the renewable assets, participants can buy or sell their positions which creates liquidity for participants and opportunity for new participants after the initial renewable is installed.
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in the present invention is operable for marketing. Energy related information recorded on the blockchain is retraceable, and is used for targeted advertisement. For example, HVAC product providers/contractors on the EnergyNet platform are able to identify low efficient HVAC units and send advertisement messages to the owners of the low efficient HVAC units, thereby having a better target. Meanwhile, advertisement messages including content information, sender information, and receiver information are recorded on the blockchain, which is auditable and verifiable, thereby eliminating frauds. For example, digital contracts can execute payments to brokers or recipients by advertisers based on the recipient receiving the information. Additional payments can be made based on recipient's action on that information (e.g., requesting more information, or purchasing a good or service).
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in the present invention is operable to provide a rating system, where the ratings are verifiable and cannot be faked. For example, smart appliance owners provide ratings for their appliances based on appliance performance data, which is recorded on the blockchain. These ratings are trustable as the performance data are retrievable and verifiable. These ratings provide valuable reference for potential buyers.
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in the present invention is operable for multi-level marketing and distribution. Traditional intermediaries, such as Homeowner's Association (HOAs), brokers, Retail Energy Providers (REPs), become market participants on the EnergyNet platform providing services to different customers. For example, a digital contract is constructed when a homeowner adds renewable energy generation to their home (e.g., photovoltaic array), the HOA gets a percentage (e.g., 2%) of the sale of excess power back to the grid.
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in the present invention is operable for secure peer-to-peer messaging. A user is able to create his own rules for message reception, for example, what types of messages the user wants or does not want to receive; and rules for sending messages, for example, if the messages are cryptographically secured or public. This capability enables users to manage their sharing of information from a single message to the entirety of their communication.
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in the present invention includes Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. For example, but not for limitation, trading bots (i.e., digital robots) are created on the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform to facilitate automatic peer-to-peer trading.
In one embodiment, the blockchain-based EnergyNet platform in the present invention is also operable to host third-party applications, such as data warehousing, renewable energy credits, bill payments, shopping carts for energy parts, forecasting (e.g., prices, supply and demand), etc.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, communications alternatives will be understood to be covered under the present invention. As an example but not limitation, 5G communication may be used for messaging in the systems and methods of advanced energy settlements in an electric power grid in the present invention. The above-mentioned examples are provided to serve the purpose of clarifying the aspects of the invention and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that they do not serve to limit the scope of the invention. All modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A system for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network, comprising:
- a multiplicity of active grid elements constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform, and at least one distributed computing device in network communication with the multiplicity of active grid elements;
- at least one server communicatively connected to the electric power grid network configured to control the participation of the multiplicity of active grid elements in the electric power grid network based on predictive energy consumption data for the multiplicity of active grid elements;
- wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements are registered to actively participate within the electric power grid network;
- wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by executing a digital contract;
- wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to generate messages that comprise energy related data based on measurement and verification;
- wherein the measurement and verification comply with standards defined by an operator;
- wherein the data packets are stored and coded into blocks on a blockchain on a node, each block including a timestamp and a geodetic reference for each data packet denoting when and where the data packet is generated;
- wherein the data packet includes energy related data associated with corresponding grid elements and their intended active functioning within the electric power grid;
- wherein a smart contract is generated between market participants; and
- wherein the smart contract automatically executes when market participants meet all the contract terms. and a transaction between a first and second market participant are completed and recorded on the blockchain.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the messages further comprise a priority, a security, and a transport route for the network-based communication.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the priority is based upon factors associated with the electric power grid following a hierarchy of priority including grid reliability factors, grid stability factors, energy market-based factors, billing determinants, energy settlement factors, financial settlement factors, and transmission factors.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy related data comprises raw data, transformed data, status, change in state, and a unique grid element identifier.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the raw data corresponds to active participation of the multiplicity of active grid elements in the electric power grid network.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy related data comprises payor, payee, transaction amount, transaction time, transaction method, contract term, rate, and capacity.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements are further operable to modify the digital contract.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to maintain the distributed ledger, and wherein each of the multiplicity of active grid elements stores a copy of the distributed ledger.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the measurement and verification is provided by a smart meter or sub-meter.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the participation comprises consuming electric power, producing electric power, and curtailing power consumption.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of: smart appliances, smart meters, building control systems, sensors, storage devices, electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, controllers, distribution elements, transmission elements necessary for grid operations and stability, and any other power consumption and/or generation devices.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the messages further comprise attachment point information of the multiplicity of active grid elements to the electric power grid network.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the blockchain-based platform is operable to issue proprietary cryptocurrency tokens.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the multiplicity of active grid elements are rewarded with the proprietary cryptocurrency tokens by sharing energy related data, wherein the proprietary cryptocurrency tokens are operable to be used to make settlements for consuming, supplying, and curtailing power with micropayments at the grid level in real time or near real time.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy related data are cryptographically secured.
16. A method for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network, comprising:
- providing a multiplicity of active grid elements constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform, and at least one distributed computing device in network communication with the multiplicity of active grid elements;
- providing at least one server communicatively connected to the electric power grid network configured to control the participation of the multiplicity of active grid elements in the electric power grid network based on predictive energy consumption data for the multiplicity of active grid elements;
- the multiplicity of active grid elements registering with the electric power grid network for actively participating within the electric power grid network;
- at least one active grid element generating and executing a digital contract for at least one transaction with at least one peer active grid element;
- the at least one active grid element and the at least one peer active grid element generating messages that comprise energy related data, and wherein the energy related data are based on measurement and verification; and
- validating and recording the energy related data on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference;
- wherein the data packets are stored and coded into blocks on a blockchain on a node, each block including a timestamp and a geodetic reference for each data packet denoting when and where the data packet is generated;
- the data packet includes energy related data associated with corresponding grid elements and their intended active functioning within the electric power grid;
- wherein a smart contract is generated between market participants; and
- wherein the smart contract automatically executes itself when market participants meet all the contract terms. and a transaction between a first and second market participant are completed and recorded on the blockchain.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the energy related data comprises raw data, transformed data, status, change in state, and a unique grid element identifier.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the energy related data comprises payor, payee, transaction amount, transaction time, transaction method, contract term, rate, and capacity.
19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the blockchain-based platform issuing proprietary cryptocurrency tokens.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the at least one active grid element and the at least one peer active grid element earning the proprietary cryptocurrency tokens by sharing the energy related data, wherein the proprietary cryptocurrency tokens are operable to be used to make settlements for consuming, supplying, and curtailing power with micropayments at the grid level in real time or near real time.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 10, 2022
Publication Date: Mar 2, 2023
Applicant: Causam Enterprises, Inc. (Raleigh, NC)
Inventors: Joseph W. Forbes, JR. (Raleigh, NC), Nathaniel Taylor Brockman (Mt. Pleasant, SC), Thomas Marshall Gordon, III (Raleigh, NC), JiNan Glasgow George (Durham, NC)
Application Number: 17/984,835
