Facilitating revenue generation from wholesale electricity markets

Abstract

The apparatus, systems and methods herein facilitate generation of energy-related revenue for an energy customer of an electricity supplier. The apparatuses and methods herein can be used to generate operating schedules for a controller of the energy assets. When implemented, the generated operating schedules facilitates derivation of the energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the energy assets according to the generated operating schedule. The energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market.

1 . An apparatus for determining an operating schedule for at least one energy asset operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy asset according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one communication interface;   at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and an objective function for the at least one energy asset, wherein the at least one energy asset comprises at least one energy consuming asset, wherein the objective function facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on an operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; and   at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:
 A) determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using the objective function and a customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for at least one energy consuming asset of the energy assets, over the time period T; 
 wherein the CBL energy profile is computed based on applying a business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one energy consuming asset to a mathematical model of the operation of the at least one energy consuming asset; and 
 B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for at least one energy asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mathematical model comprises at least one differential equation modeling at least one of a material composition of the at least one energy consuming asset, a thermal property of the at least one energy consuming asset, an occupancy of the at least one energy consuming asset, and an ambient temperature of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mathematical model models at least one of a thermal property, a mechanical property, and an electrical property of the at least one energy asset based on the BAU operating schedule. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mathematical model comprises at least one differential equation modeling the physical operation of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy asset is at least one building. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset is a load use schedule. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the load use schedule imposes a maximum allowable load drawn by the at least one energy consuming asset over a time interval that is less than time period T. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the load use schedule impose a different value of maximum allowable load at different intervals during time period T. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy consuming asset is an energy consumption profile as a function of time of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one energy consuming asset is a controllable energy consuming asset, and wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is a set point. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using the objective function in A) by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T,
 wherein the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:
 an electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset; and 
 the CBL energy profile; and 
   wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and a demand response revenue over the time period T. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset determined in (A) as at least one bias signal, and controls the at least one communication interface in (B) to transmit to the energy customer the at least one bias signal. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing unit controls the at least one communication interface in (B) to transmit to the energy customer the at least one bias signal at regular time intervals during the time period T. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for determining an operating schedule for at least one energy asset operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy asset according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one communication interface;   at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and an objective function for the at least one energy asset, wherein the at least one energy asset comprises at least one energy consuming asset, wherein the objective function facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on an operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; and   at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:
 A) determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using the objective function and a customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for at least one energy consuming asset of the energy assets, over the time period T; 
 wherein the CBL energy profile is computed based on applying a business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one energy consuming asset to a mathematical model of the operation of the at least one energy consuming asset, and 
 wherein the CBL energy profile is an energy consumption profile as a function of time for the at least one energy consuming asset; and 
 B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for at least one energy asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using the objective function in A) by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T,
 wherein the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:
 an electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset; and 
 the CBL energy profile; and 
   wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and a demand response revenue over the time period T. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the economic demand response revenue over the time period T is determined based on the forecast wholesale electricity price, an electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset, and the CBL energy profile for the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the at least one energy consuming asset includes at least one controllable energy consuming asset; and   in A), the at least one processing unit determines both the operating schedule for the at least one energy based at least in part on minimizing the net energy-related cost, over the time period T, associated with the electricity consumption by the at least one controllable energy consuming asset.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the economic demand response revenue over the time period T is determined based on the forecast wholesale electricity price and a difference between the electricity consumption by the at least one controllable energy consuming asset and the CBL energy profile for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the at least one controllable energy consuming asset includes at least one building having a variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;   the operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset specifies a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time; and   the BAU operating schedule for the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is specified by a business-as-usual (BAU) temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for determining an operating schedule for at least one energy asset operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy asset according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one communication interface;   at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and an objective function for the at least one energy asset, wherein the at least one energy asset comprises at least one energy consuming asset, wherein the objective function facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on an operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset, a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market, and an emissions cost associated with the operation of the at least one energy asset; and   at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:
 A) determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using the objective function and a customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for at least one energy consuming asset of the energy assets, over the time period T; and 
 B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for at least one energy asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule. 
   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the emissions cost is computed based on a prorated amount of a penalty cost leveled due to an amount of emissions, over time period T, associated with the operation of the at least one energy asset. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the emissions cost is computed based on a trading price of a carbon credit based on an amount of carbon dioxide gas emission, over time period T, associated with the operation of the at least one energy asset. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the emissions cost is computed based on a base emissions cost for a minimal level of operation of the at least one energy asset, over time period T, and a marginal emissions cost per megawatt with each increase or decrease in megawatt of operation. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the marginal emissions cost is computed based on a change in amount of emissions generated by an energy generating asset, in communication with the at least one energy asset, associated with the increase or decrease in megawatt of operation. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the marginal emissions cost is computed based on a marginal supplier emissions cost associated with a change in electricity usage by the energy customer associated with the increase or decrease in megawatt of operation, and wherein the marginal supplier emissions cost is based on an amount of emissions from an electricity generating facility of the electricity supplier per megawatt-hour of electricity supplied. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the emissions cost is computed based on a change in the energy customer's behavior in reducing its electricity usage based on an operation of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the emissions cost is specified as a cost function based at least in part on at least one difference between the energy customer's behavior in reducing its usage of at least one energy consuming asset and the BAU operating schedule. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one energy asset includes at least one building having a variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and wherein the emissions cost is based at least in part on a difference between a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time and the BAU temperature set point. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the emissions cost is proportional to a magnitude of deviation a temperature of the building from a BAU temperature set point. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the CBL energy profile is computed based on applying a business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one energy consuming asset to a mathematical model of the operation of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the mathematical model comprises at least one differential equation modeling at least one of a material composition of the at least one energy consuming asset, a thermal property of the at least one energy consuming asset, an occupancy of the at least one energy consuming asset, and an ambient temperature of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the mathematical model models at least one of a thermal property, a mechanical property, and an electrical property of the at least one energy asset based on the BAU operating schedule. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the mathematical model comprises at least one differential equation modeling the physical operation of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one energy asset is at least one building. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset is a load use schedule of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy consuming asset is an energy consumption profile as a function of time of the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one energy consuming asset is a controllable energy consuming asset, and wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is a set point. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using the objective function in A) by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T,
 wherein the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:
 an electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset; 
 the emissions cost associated with the electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset; and 
 the CBL energy profile; and 
   wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and an economic demand response revenue over the time period T. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the CBL energy profile is an energy consumption profile as a function of time for the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the economic demand response revenue over the time period T is determined based on the forecast wholesale electricity price, an electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset, the emissions cost associated with the electricity consumption by the at least one energy consuming asset, and the CBL energy profile for the at least one energy consuming asset. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the at least one energy consuming asset includes at least one controllable energy consuming asset; and   in A), the at least one processing unit determines both the operating schedule for the at least one energy based at least in part on minimizing the net energy-related cost, over the time period T, associated with the electricity consumption by the at least one controllable energy consuming asset.   
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset determined in (A) as at least one bias signal, and controls the at least one communication interface in (B) to transmit to the energy customer the at least one bias signal. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one processing unit controls the at least one communication interface in (B) to transmit to the energy customer the at least one bias signal at regular time intervals during the time period T. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus for determining an operating schedule for at least one energy asset operated by an energy customer of an electricity supplier, so as to generate energy-related revenue, over a time period T, associated with operation of the at least one energy asset according to the operating schedule, wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T is based at least in part on a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one communication interface;   at least one memory to store:
 processor-executable instructions including an optimizer module; and 
 an objective function for the at least one energy asset, wherein the at least one energy asset comprises at least one energy consuming asset, wherein the objective function facilitates a determination of the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on an operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; and 
   at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one communication interface and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:
 A) applies the optimizer module to determine the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using the objective function and a comfort cost attributed to a change in the energy customer's behavior in adopting the operating schedule, over the time period T, for the at least one energy asset in lieu of the business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule; and 
 B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the operating schedule for at least one energy asset determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the determined operating schedule. 
   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the comfort cost is specified as a cost function based at least in part on at least one difference between the operating schedule and the BAU operating schedule. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein:
 the at least one energy asset includes at least one building having a variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;   the operating schedule includes a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time;   the BAU operating schedule includes a BAU temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time; and   the comfort cost is based at least in part on a difference between the candidate temperature set point and the BAU temperature set point.   
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one energy asset is at least one building. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the change in the energy customer's behavior is monitored based on a difference in a return-air-temperature of a section of the at least one energy asset as compared to a return-air-temperature with the BAU operating schedule. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein:
 the at least one building has a variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;   the operating schedule includes a candidate return-air-temperature for the HVAC system as a function of time;   the BAU operating schedule includes a BAU return-air-temperature for the HVAC system as a function of time; and   the comfort cost is based at least in part on a difference between the candidate return-air-temperature and the BAU return-air-temperature.   
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one energy asset comprises a controllable energy consuming asset, and wherein the comfort cost is proportional to a magnitude of deviation a temperature of the building from a BAU temperature set point. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one energy asset comprises a controllable energy consuming asset, and wherein the comfort cost is proportional to a magnitude of deviation a humidity of the building from a BAU humidity set point. 
     
     
         55 . An apparatus for determining a suggested operating schedule over a time period T for at least one energy asset operated by an energy customer of a retail electricity supplier, so as to reduce a net energy-related cost, over the time period T, associated with electricity consumption and/or electricity generation by the energy customer, wherein the net energy-related cost is based at least in part on an energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T from a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one input device;   at least one communication interface;   at least one memory to store processor-executable instructions and a mathematical model for the at least one energy asset, wherein the mathematical model specifies at least one function that calculates an energy profile for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on an operating schedule for the at least one energy asset applied to the mathematical model; and   at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one input device, the at least one communication interface, and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit:
 A) generates a first simulated customer baseline (CBL) energy profile for the at least one energy asset, over the time period T, based on a typical operation of the at least one energy asset by the energy customer, wherein A) comprises:
 A1) controlling the at least one input device and/or the at least one communication interface to provide or receive a business-as-usual (BAU) operating schedule for the at least one energy asset over the time period T; and 
 A2) applying the BAU operating schedule to the mathematical model so as to generate the first simulated CBL energy profile; 
 
   B) determines the suggested operating schedule for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on the first simulated CBL energy profile generated in A) and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; and   C) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the suggested operating schedule determined in B), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the suggested operating schedule.   
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the mathematical model comprises at least one differential equation modeling at least one of a material composition of the at least one energy asset, a thermal property of the at least one energy asset, an occupancy of the at least one energy asset, and an ambient temperature of the at least one energy asset. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the mathematical model models at least one of a thermal property, a mechanical property, and an electrical property of the at least one energy asset based on the BAU operating schedule. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the mathematical model comprises at least one differential equation modeling the physical operation of the at least one energy asset. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one energy asset is at least one building. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset is a load use schedule. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the load use schedule imposes a maximum allowable load drawn by the at least one energy asset over a time interval that is less than time period T. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the load use schedule impose a different value of maximum allowable load at different intervals during time period T. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one energy asset is an energy consumption profile as a function of time of the at least one energy asset. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one energy asset is a controllable energy consuming asset, and wherein the operation characteristic of the at least one controllable energy consuming asset is a set point. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein, upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit determines the suggested operating schedule for the at least one energy asset using an objective function by minimizing a net energy-related cost over the time period T,
 wherein the net-energy related cost is based at least in part on:
 the forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; 
 an electricity consumption by the at least one energy asset; and 
 the first simulated CBL energy profile; and 
   wherein the energy-related revenue available to the energy customer is based at least in part on the minimized net energy-related cost.   
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the net energy-related cost is specified as a difference between an electricity supply cost and a demand response revenue over the time period T. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one processing unit determines the operating schedule for the at least one energy asset determined in (A) as at least one bias signal, and controls the at least one communication interface in (B) to transmit to the energy customer the at least one bias signal. 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one processing unit controls the at least one communication interface in (B) to transmit to the energy customer the at least one bias signal at regular time intervals during the time period T. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein in B), the at least one processing unit:
 determines the suggested operating schedule for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on the CBL energy profile generated in A), the wholesale electricity price, and a comfort cost attributed to a change in the energy customer's behavior in adopting the suggested operating schedule in lieu of the BAU operating schedule.   
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the comfort cost is specified as a cost function based at least in part on at least one difference between the suggested operating schedule and the BAU operating schedule. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein:
 the at least one energy asset includes at least one building having a variable internal temperature controlled by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;   each of the candidate operating schedules selected in B1) includes a candidate temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time;   the BAU operating schedule includes a BAU temperature set point for the HVAC system as a function of time; and   the comfort cost is based at least in part on a difference between the candidate temperature set point and the BAU temperature set point.   
     
     
         72 . An apparatus for determining a suggested operating schedule over a time period T for at least one energy asset operated by an energy customer of a retail electricity supplier, so as to reduce a net energy-related cost, over the time period T, associated with electricity consumption and/or electricity generation by the energy customer, wherein the net energy-related cost is based at least in part on an energy-related revenue available to the energy customer over the time period T from a wholesale electricity market, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one input device;   at least one communication interface;   at least one memory to store:
 processor-executable instructions including an optimizer module; 
 a mathematical model for the at least one energy asset, wherein the mathematical model specifies at least one function that calculates an energy profile for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on an operating schedule for the at least one energy asset applied to the mathematical model; and 
 an objective cost function representing the net energy-related cost, the objective cost function specifying the energy-related revenue and at least one energy-related cost associated with operation of the at least one energy asset, the objective cost function calculating the net energy-related cost based at least in part on the energy profile calculated via the mathematical model and a forecast wholesale electricity price associated with the wholesale electricity market; and 
   at least one processing unit, communicatively coupled to the at least one input device, the at least one communication interface, and the at least one memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions including the optimizer module, the at least one processing unit:
 A) determines the suggested operating schedule for the at least one energy asset based at least in part on the objective cost function; and 
 B) controls the at least one communication interface to transmit to the energy customer the suggested operating schedule determined in A), and/or controls the at least one memory so as to store the suggested operating schedule.