U.S. patent application number 09/838178 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-09 for system, method and computer program product for enhancing commercial value of electrical power produced from a renewable energy power production facility.
This patent application is currently assigned to ABB AB. Invention is credited to Andren, Lars Anders Tommy, Gertmar, Lars Gustaf Ingolf, Lof, Per-Anders Kristian.
Application Number | 20030006613 09/838178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25016102 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030006613 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lof, Per-Anders Kristian ;
et al. |
January 9, 2003 |
System, method and computer program product for enhancing
commercial value of electrical power produced from a renewable
energy power production facility
Abstract
A method, system and computer program product enhance the
commercial value of electrical power produced from a wind turbine
production facility. Features include the use of a premier power
conversion device that provides an alternative source of power for
supplementing an output power of the wind turbine generation
facility when lull periods for wind speed appear. The invention
includes a communications infrastructure and coordination mechanism
for establishing a relationship with another power production
facility such that when excess electrical power is produced by the
wind turbine facility, the excess may be provided to the power grid
while the other energy production facility cuts back on its output
production by a corresponding amount. A tracking mechanism keeps
track of the amount of potential energy that was not expended at
the other facility and places this amount in a virtual energy
storage account, for the benefit of the wind turbine facility.
When, the wind turbine power production facility experiences a
shortfall in its power production output it may make a request to
the other source of electric power, and request that an increase
its power output on behalf of the wind turbine facility. This
substitution of one power production facility for another is
referred to herein as a virtual energy storage mechanism.
Furthermore, another feature of the present invention is the use of
a renewal power exchange mechanism that creates a market for
trading renewable units of power, which have been converted into
"premier power" and/or "guaranteed" by secondary sources of power
source to provide a reliable source of power to the power grid as
required by contract.
Inventors: |
Lof, Per-Anders Kristian;
(Vallingby, SE) ; Gertmar, Lars Gustaf Ingolf;
(Vasteras, SE) ; Andren, Lars Anders Tommy;
(Orsundsbro, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON SPIVAK MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT PC
FOURTH FLOOR
1755 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
ABB AB
SE 721 78
Vasteras
SE
|
Family ID: |
25016102 |
Appl. No.: |
09/838178 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09838178 |
Apr 20, 2001 |
|
|
|
09749999 |
Dec 29, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
290/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F03D 7/0284 20130101;
F05B 2270/20 20130101; H02J 3/382 20130101; G06Q 40/04 20130101;
H02J 2300/24 20200101; H02J 2300/28 20200101; H02J 3/381 20130101;
H02J 3/46 20130101; G06Q 40/06 20130101; F03D 7/048 20130101; H02J
2300/20 20200101; H02J 2300/40 20200101; Y02E 10/56 20130101; F05B
2260/8211 20130101; Y02P 80/20 20151101; Y02P 90/90 20151101; H02J
3/008 20130101; H02J 3/386 20130101; Y02E 10/76 20130101; H02J
3/383 20130101; F03D 9/257 20170201; F05B 2210/16 20130101; Y02E
10/72 20130101; Y04S 10/50 20130101; Y04S 50/10 20130101; G06Q
50/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
290/44 |
International
Class: |
G06G 007/54 |
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the united states is:
1. A method for converting electrical power produced from a
renewable energy power production facility into premier power,
comprising the steps of: producing from the renewable energy power
production facility a time variable output power; determining
whether the time variable output power drops below a predetermined
level; and supplementing the time variable output power with power
from at least one converter that includes at least one of a
reactive power compensation mechanism and active power compensation
mechanism.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein: said renewable energy power
production facility being at least one of a wind turbine generator
facility, a solar power production facility, a wave energy-based
power production facility, an ocean current-based power production
facility, and a tidal power production facility; and at least one
of said at least one converter being a co-active converter.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of collecting
the time variable power output from a plurality of renewable energy
power production facilities.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said producing step comprises:
producing the time variable output power as high voltage DC; and
converting said high voltage DC into premier power at a standard
frequency.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said converting step includes
converting said high voltage DC into premier power using a rotating
electrical machine.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said co-active converter includes
a prime mover coupled to said rotating electric machine.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said supplementing step includes
controlling a reactive power flow into a power grid by changing a
tap-changer position on a power transformer.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an output
power having sufficient current to trip circuit breaker if a fault
condition is detected on a power grid.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of supplementing
includes further supplementing the output power with power produced
from a virtual energy storage facility.
10. A control processor for facilitating application of AC power
from a renewable energy power production facility to a power grid,
comprising: an I/O device configured to receive data from the
renewable energy power production facility regarding an amount of
power to be delivered by said renewable energy power production
facility to said power grid, said I/O device including a
communication port configured to transfer to a remote facility an
indication regarding said amount of power; a memory configured to
hold computer readable instructions therein; a processor configured
to execute said computer readable instructions so as to implement,
a power monitoring mechanism configured to monitor said amount of
power, a message forming mechanism configured to include said
indication in a coordination message that is sent through said I/O
device to said remote facility regarding the amount of AC power
applied by said renewable energy power production facility to said
power grid.
11. The control processor of claim 10, wherein the renewable energy
power production facility is a wind turbine power generation
facility and said I/O device is configured to receive said data
from the wind turbine power generation facility.
12. The control processor of claim 11, wherein said remote facility
is another AC power generation facility and said another AC power
generation facility is configured to adjust a power output thereof
at a time that coincides with when said amount of power is
delivered by said wind turbine power generation facility.
13. The control processor of claim 12, wherein said indication in
said coordination message corresponds with AC power that is
delivered contemporaneously to said power grid.
14. The control processor of claim 12, wherein: said indication in
said coordination message corresponds with AC power that is to be
delivered at a predetermined future time; and said message forming
mechanism is configured to include in said coordination message
said predetermined future time so that said another AC power
generation facility is informed as to when to adjust the power
output thereof so as to offset at least one of a surplus and a
shortfall from said renewable energy power production facility
relative to a predetermined amount.
15. The control processor of claim 12, wherein said I/O device is
configured to receive a reply message from said another AC power
generation facility confirming that the another AC power generation
facility will adjust a power output thereof so as to offset at
least one of a surplus and a shortfall of power applied to said
power grid by said wind turbine power generation facility relative
to a predetermined amount.
16. The control processor of claim 12, wherein said another AC
power generation facility is a hydroelectric AC power generation
facility.
17. The control processor of claim 11, wherein said remote facility
is a renewable exchange, in which units of power from renewable
power generation facilities are exchanged as fungible power
units.
18. The control processor of claim 10, wherein said renewable
exchange is a computer-based facility that is configured to receive
said coordination message as a digital message.
19. The control processor of claim 18, wherein said message forming
mechanism is configured to prepare said digital message as at least
one of an e-mail message, a dedicated control signal, a TCP/IP
formatted message, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) message, and
a simple network management protocol (SNMP) message.
20. The control processor of claim 18, wherein said message forming
mechanism is configured to prepare said digital message as a
portion of an Internet web page.
21. The control processor of claim 20, wherein said message is
downloaded in response to at least one of a Java and an ActiveX
program-initiated process implemented on at least one of said
processor and another processor at said remote facility.
22. The control processor of claim 11, wherein: said I/O device is
configured to receive meteorological data from a remote source;
said computer readable instructions when executed by the processor
implement a wind forecasting mechanism, said wind forecasting
mechanism configured to provide a statistical indication of an
amount of wind expected at a predetermined future time when said
power is to be delivered from the wind turbine facility to the
power grid; and said processor is configured to determine an
expected amount of power from said wind turbine power generation
facility at said predetermined future time.
23. The control processor of claim 22, wherein: said predetermined
future time is less than 2 minutes, and said message formatting
message is configured to include at least one of said statistical
indication and said expected amount of power in said coordination
message.
24. The processor of claim 23, wherein said remote facility is a
power exchange and said amount of power is made available for sale
on a Spot market.
25. The processor of claim 23, wherein: said remote facility is at
least one of a compressed gas-based storage facility, a fossil fuel
plant and a hydroelectric power generation facility; and said
coordination message is sent to said remote facility in preparation
for adjusting an output therefrom.
26. The control processor of claim 22, wherein: said predetermined
future time is less than 5 days and greater than 2 minutes, and
said message formatting mechanism is configured to include at least
one of said statistical indication and said expected amount of
power in said coordination message; and said remote facility is a
power exchange and said amount of power is made available for sale
on a competitively bid market.
27. The control processor of claim 22, wherein: said predetermined
future time is greater than 5 days, and said message formatting
mechanism is configured to include at least one of said statistical
indication and said expected amount of power in said coordination
message; and said remote facility is a power exchange and said
amount of power is made available for sale on a competitively bid
market.
28. The control processor of claim 27, wherein: said predetermined
future time is greater than 5 days, and said message formatting
mechanism is configured to include at least one of said statistical
indication and said expected amount of power in said coordination
message; and said processor being configured to coordinate with a
virtual energy storage facility to place the amount of power on an
account of the wind turbine wind production facility and prevent a
sale of said amount of power in said competitively bid market if a
price for said amount of power is below a predetermined
threshold.
29. The control processor of claim 11, wherein: said I/O device is
configured to receive meteorological data from a remote source;
said computer readable instructions when executed by the processor
implement a wind forecasting mechanism, said wind forecasting
mechanism being configured to provide a statistical indication of
an amount of wind expected at a predetermined future time when said
power is to be delivered from the wind turbine facility to the
power grid; and said remote facility includes a processor
configured to determine an expected amount of power from said wind
turbine power generation facility at said predetermined future
time.
30. The control processor of claim 29, wherein: said predetermined
future time is less than 2 minutes, and said message formatting
message is configured to include said statistical indication in
said coordination message.
31. The processor of claim 30, wherein said remote facility is a
power exchange and said amount of power is made available for sale
on a Spot market.
32. The processor of claim 30, wherein said remote facility is a
hydroelectric power generation facility and said coordination
message is sent to said hydroelectric power generation facility in
preparation for adjusting an output therefrom.
33. The control processor of claim 29, wherein: said predetermined
future time is less than 5 days and greater than 2 minutes, and
said message formatting mechanism is configured to include said
statistical indication in said coordination message; and said
remote facility is a power exchange and said amount of power is
made available for sale on a competitively bid market.
34. The control processor of claim 29, wherein: said predetermined
future time is greater than 5 days, and said message formatting
mechanism is configured to include said statistical indication in
said coordination message; and said remote facility is a power
exchange and said amount of power is made available for sale on a
competitively bid market.
35. The control processor of claim 34, wherein: said predetermined
future time is greater than 5 days, and said message formatting
mechanism is configured to include said statistical indication in
said coordination message; and said processor being configured to
coordinate with a virtual energy storage facility to place the
amount of power on an account of the wind turbine power production
facility and prevent a sale of said amount of power in said
competitively bid market if a price for said amount of power is
below a predetermined threshold.
36. The control processor of claim 10, wherein: the remote facility
has an agreement with the renewable energy power production
facility to adjust a power output from the remote facility by a
predetermined amount in response to the coordination message
indicating that the power amount from the renewable energy power
production facility is above or below a predetermined threshold by
the predetermined amount; and at least one of the processor and the
remote facility being configured to keep a virtual energy storage
account of energy held on account of the renewable energy power
production facility, and credit or debit the account by the
predetermined amount.
37. The control processor of claim 10, wherein: the renewable
energy power production facility is a wind turbine power generation
facility; and the another AC power generation facility includes at
least one of a hydroelectric power plant and a fossil fuel
plant.
38. The control processor of claim 37, wherein: the another AC
power generation plant is one of a predetermined group of power
production facilities that includes an energy-limited power
production facility and a power-limited power production
facility.
39. The control processor of claim 37, wherein after the another AC
power production facility is determined, said processor is
configured to determine whether transmission rights exist for
delivering power over a transmission grid that interconnects said
renewable energy power production facility and said another AC
power generation facility when providing the amount of power to the
power grid on behalf of the another AC power production
facility.
40. The control processor of claim 37, wherein the processor is
configured to prepare a reporting message to a system operator,
informing the system operator of the wind turbine power generation
facility having either produced another amount of power on behalf
of the another AC power production facility or had the another AC
power production facility provide the another amount of power to
the power grid on behalf of an obligation of the wind turbine power
generation facility.
41. The control processor of claim 40, wherein said processor is
configured to report to said system operator that the another AC
power production facility is entitled to a predetermined amount of
credit for having produced green power, when the wind turbine power
generation facility produces power in excess of the obligation and
the another AC power production facility thus limits a power output
therefrom by a corresponding amount.
42. The processor of claim 37, wherein said processor is configured
to implement an accounting mechanism that is configured to keep
track of deposits and withdrawals from the virtual energy storage
account.
43. The processor of claim 42, wherein said accounting mechanism is
configured to reflect a credit assigned to said wind turbine power
production facility for making a monetary purchase of energy stored
by the another AC power production facility.
44. The processor of claim 42, wherein said accounting mechanism is
configured to reflect a debit to said wind turbine power production
facility for accepting a monetary payment for an amount of energy
held by the another AC power production facility on behalf of the
wind turbine power production facility.
45. The processor of claim 42, wherein said accounting mechanism is
configured to keep track of virtual energy storage accounts for a
plurality of renewable energy power providers.
46. A computer program product containing computer readable
instructions that when executed on a processor facilitate
application of AC power from a renewable energy power production
facility to a power grid, comprising: a power monitoring mechanism
configured to monitor an amount of premier power produced by the
renewable power production facility, a message forming mechanism
configured to include an indication in a coordination message sent
to a remote facility regarding an amount of AC power applied by
said renewable energy power production facility to said power grid;
and a message communications mechanism configured to send said
coordination mechanism to said remote facility.
47. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the renewable
energy power production facility is a wind turbine power generation
facility
48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein said remote
facility is another AC power generation facility and said another
AC power generation facility is configured to adjust a power output
thereof at a time that coincides with when said amount of power is
delivered by said wind turbine power generation facility.
49. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein said
indication in said coordination message corresponds with AC power
that is delivered contemporaneously to said power grid.
50. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein: said
indication in said coordination message corresponds with AC power
that is to be delivered at a predetermined future time; and said
message forming mechanism is configured to include in said
coordination message said predetermined future time so said another
AC power generation facility is informed as to when to adjust the
power output thereof so as to compensate for either a surplus or
shortfall from said renewable energy power production facility
relative to a predetermined amount.
51. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein said message
communications mechanism is configured to receive a reply message
from said another AC power generation facility confirming that the
another AC power generation facility will adjust a power output
therefrom so as to offset at least one of a surplus and shortfall
of power applied to said power grid by said wind turbine power
generation facility relative to a predetermined amount.
52. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein said remote
facility includes a computer that is configured to receive said
coordination message as a digital message.
53. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein said message
forming mechanism is configured to prepare said digital message as
at least one of an e-mail message, a dedicated control signal, a
TCP/IP formatted message, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
message, and a simple network management protocol (SNMP)
message.
54. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein said message
forming mechanism is configured to prepare said digital message as
a portion of an Internet web page.
55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein said message
is downloaded in response to at least one of a Java and ActiveX
program initiated process implemented on at least one of said
processor and a processor at said remote facility.
56. The computer program product of claim 47, further comprising: a
wind forecasting mechanism configured to provide a statistical
indication of an amount of wind expected at a predetermined future
time when said power is to be delivered from the wind turbine
facility to the power grid; and a mechanism for determining an
expected amount of power from said wind turbine power generation
facility at said predetermined future time.
57. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein said wind
forecasting mechanism receives meteorological forecast data from a
remote source.
58. The computer program product of claim 46, further comprising: a
mechanism for keeping a virtual energy storage account of energy
held on account of the renewable energy power production facility,
and credit or debit the account by a predetermined amount, wherein
the remote facility has an agreement with the renewable energy
power production facility to adjust a power output from the remote
facility by the predetermined amount in response to the
coordination message indicating that the power amount from the
renewable energy power production facility is above or below a
predetermined threshold by the predetermined amount.
59. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein: the
renewable energy power production facility is a wind turbine power
generation facility; and the another AC power generation facility
includes at least one of a hydroelectric power plant and a fossil
fuel plant.
60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein: the another
AC power generation plant is one of a predetermined group of power
production facilities that includes an energy-limited power
production facility and a power-limited power production
facility.
61 The computer program product of claim 59, wherein after the
another AC power production facility is determined, said computer
program product is configured to determine whether transmission
rights exist between said renewable power production facility and
said another AC power generation facility over a transmission grid
when providing the amount of power to the power grid on behalf of
the another AC power production facility.
62. The computer program product of claim 59, further comprising a
mechanism for sending a reporting message to a system operator,
informing the system operator of the wind turbine power generation
facility having either produced another amount of power on behalf
of the another AC power production facility or having the another
AC power production facility provide the another amount of power to
the power grid on behalf of an obligation made by the wind turbine
power generation facility.
63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein said
processor is configured to report to said system operator that the
another AC power production facility is entitled to a predetermined
amount of credit for having produced green power, when the wind
turbine power generation facility produces power in excess of the
obligation made and the another AC power production facility thus
limits a power output therefrom by a corresponding amount.
64. The computer program product of claim 59, further comprising an
accounting mechanism that is configured to keep track of deposits
and withdrawals from the virtual energy storage account.
65. The computer program product of claim 64, wherein said
accounting mechanism is configured to reflect a credit assigned to
said wind turbine power generation facility for making a monetary
purchase of energy stored by the another AC power production
facility.
66. The computer program product of claim 64, wherein said
accounting mechanism is configured to reflect a debit to said wind
turbine power generation facility for accepting a monetary payment
for an amount of energy held by the another AC power production
facility on behalf of the wind turbine power production
facility.
67. The computer program product of claim 64, wherein said
accounting mechanism is configured to keep track of virtual energy
storage accounts for a plurality of renewable energy power
providers.
68. A system for facilitating application of AC power from a
renewable energy power production facility to a power grid,
comprising: the renewable energy power production facility
configured to produce an amount of electrical power at a time
variable frequency that is not compatible with a power grid; a
converter connected between said renewable energy power production
facility and the power grid and configured to convert said amount
of electrical power from the renewable energy power production
facility to premier power that is compatible with a frequency and
operational requirement of the power grid such that an output from
said converter may be applied directly to the power grid; a control
processor including, a communication port configured to transfer to
a remote facility an indication regarding an amount of premier
power produced by said converter, a memory configured to hold
computer readable instructions, a processor configured to execute
said computer readable instructions so as to implement, a power
monitoring mechanism configured to monitor said amount of premier
power, a message forming mechanism configured to include said
indication in a coordination message that is sent through a
communication link to said remote facility regarding the amount of
premier power available to apply to said power grid.
69. The system of claim 68, wherein said converter being a
co-active converter that includes a DC-to-AC converter configured
to receive the amount of electrical power from the renewable energy
power production facility, where said amount of electrical power is
at a direct current, and convert the amount of electrical power to
AC; a rotating converter; and a power transformer connected between
the rotating converter and the power grid.
70. The system of claim 69, wherein said rotating converter
includes at least one of a static converter and a rotating
converter configured to convert from DC to a frequency standard, a
frequency converter configured to convert from a variable
low-frequency AC to a frequency standard, a frequency converter
configured to convert from a constant low-frequency AC to a
frequency standard, a rotating converter configured to supply at
least one of reactive power and active power to a frequency
standard, and a power transformer configured to provide a voltage
adaptation for adjusting a short circuit output capacity of the
renewable energy power production facility.
71. The system of claim 70, wherein said rotating converter is
configured to provide at least one of a start-up operation of the
power grid after a major fault, a source of active power so as to
provide a priming operation for the amount of electrical power from
the renewable energy power production facility, a source of
reactive power to the power grid at a predetermined quantity, a
suppressor of low order harmonics from the DC-to-AC converter, a
source of active AC voltage support for the DC-to-AC converter, a
separation of active power control and reactive power control, and
a supply of short-circuit power during faults operations of the
power grid.
72. The system of claim 69, wherein said rotating converter is a
two-winding machine having two sets of AC three-phase windings
arranged in a stator of the rotating converter and being exposed to
AC and DC fields when in operation.
73. The system of claim 69, wherein said rotating converter is a
constant speed synchronous machine with a winding arranged in a
rotor.
74. The system of claim 73, wherein said winding of said rotating
converter is a DC winding.
75. The system of claim 69, wherein said rotating converter being
an adjustable speed asynchronous machine having at least one of
brush-less drives and brush-based drives.
76. The system of claim 75, wherein said brush-based drives being a
Static Scherbius drive.
77. The system of claim 69, wherein said rotating converter is
configured to withstand a large voltage sag in voltage provided by
said renewable energy power production facility without tripping a
breaker connected to the power grid.
78. The system of claim 69, wherein said rotating converter being
configured to provide a moment of inertia that is available as a
short term storage facility for wind energy used to produce said
renewable energy power production facility during a period of wind
lull.
79. The system of claim 69, wherein said co-active converter
further comprises a prime mover configured to provide an
alternative power source to said rotating converter.
80. The system of claim 79, wherein said prime mover being fed from
fossil fuel.
81. The system of claim 79, wherein said prime mover being fed by
at least one of vegetable oil and a compressed gas-based storage
facility.
82. The system of claim 69, wherein said power transformer being a
three-winding, three-phase transformer.
83. The system of claim 68, further comprising said communication
link configured to convey said coordination message to said remote
facility, wherein said remote facility being another AC power
generation facility configured to adjust a power output thereof at
a time that coincides with when said premier power is delivered to
said power grid by said converter.
84. The system of claim 83, wherein: said remote facility has an
agreement with the renewable energy power production facility to
adjust a power output from the remote facility by a predetermined
amount in response to the coordination message indicating that the
premier power from the converter has an energy measured over an
effective time period being above or below a predetermined
threshold by the predetermined amount; and at least one of the
processor and the remote facility being configured to keep a
virtual energy storage account of energy held on account of the
renewable energy power production facility and credit or debit the
account by the predetermined amount, said converter being a
co-active converter.
85. The system of claim 84, wherein said processor is configured to
implement an accounting mechanism that is configured to keep track
of deposits and withdrawals from said virtual energy storage
account made by said renewable energy power production
facility.
86. The system of claim 85, wherein said accounting mechanism is
configured to reflect a credit assigned to said renewable energy
power production facility for making a monetary purchase of energy
stored by the remote facility.
87. The system of claim 85, wherein said accounting mechanism is
configured to reflect a debit to said renewable energy power
production facility for accepting a monetary payment for an amount
of energy held by the remote facility on behalf of the renewable
energy power production facility.
88. The system of claim 85, wherein: said accounting mechanism is
configured to keep track of virtual energy storage accounts for a
plurality of renewable energy power production facilities; and said
system further comprising a collection and transmission grid
interconnecting the renewable energy power production facility, and
a plurality of other renewable energy power production facilities
to the co-active converter such that energy provided by the
renewable energy power production facility in the plurality of
renewable energy power production facilities provides a cumulative
power to said co-active converter.
89. The system of claim 88, wherein an output of said collection
and transmission grid being provided to a high voltage DC link.
90. The system of claim 68, further comprising a dedicated control
link configured to interconnect said control processor and said
remote facility, wherein said message forming mechanism is
configured to send said coordination message over said dedicated
control link, so as to control a power output by said remote
facility to correspond with amount of premier power delivered by
said converter.
91. The system of claim 90, wherein said coordination message is
configured to inform said remote facility of a future time at which
said power is to be delivered from said renewable energy power
production facility, so that said remote facility can reduce an
output thereof by a corresponding amount of power delivered by the
remote facility such that an aggregate amount of power delivered by
both the renewable energy power production facility and the remote
facility equates to an composite aggregate amount of power obliged
to be delivered by the renewable energy power production facility
and the remote facility.
92. The system of claim 90, wherein said remote facility is
configured to increase a power production output therefrom, so as
to compensate for a shortfall from said renewable energy power
production facility.
93. The system of claim 68, wherein said processor is configured to
provide said coordination message in a text based format so that an
operator may audibly inform another operator at the remote facility
regarding a request to adjust an output power from the remote
facility so as to offset at least one of a surplus and a shortfall
of power produced at the renewable energy power production
facility.
94. The system of claim 68, wherein said control processor further
includes an interface for hosting a web page by which coordination
between the renewable energy power production facility and the
remote facility is maintained so as to coordinate respective
amounts of power produced by the renewable energy power production
facility and the remote facility.
95. The system of claim 68, wherein said processor is configured to
implement a load shedding messaging mechanism that provides a load
shedding message to the remote facility such that the remote
facility can alter a load imparted by the remote facility to the
power grid in response to an amount of premier power delivered by
the converter.
96. The system of claim 68, wherein said processor is configured to
implement a renewable exchange that offers for sale said premier
power as a unit of power for purchase by a third party.
97. The system of claim 96, wherein said message forming mechanism
is configured to include a meteorological forecast message provided
to the renewable exchange in association with said unit of power so
said third party may be informed as to a likelihood of said
renewable energy power production facility actually being able to
deliver the premier power at a predetermined future time.
98. The system of claim 97, wherein said meteorological forecast
message includes an indication of the predetermined future time,
and a statistical indicator of the likelihood of the renewable
energy power production facility being able to deliver the premier
power as a unit of power.
99. The system of claim 96, wherein said renewable exchange is
configured to receive an offer for said unit of power and accept
said offer by said renewable energy power production facility when
said offer is above a predetermined price.
100. The system of claim 68, wherein said processor is configured
to implement a transmission rights recognition mechanism that
identifies whether said renewable energy power production facility
has obtained transmission rights from said converter to said remote
facility, and produce a warning message if the transmission rights
have not been established.
101. The system of claim 96, wherein said processor is configured
to include an accounting mechanism that keeps track of a price at
which said unit of power is sold, and an entity from which payment
for a purchaser of the unit of power may be accepted.
102. A computer-based facility for trading units of electrical
power, at least a portion of each unit being from a renewable
energy power production facility, comprising: a first I/O mechanism
configured to receive a bid message including an amount of power to
be delivered by said renewable energy power production facility to
said power grid at a predetermined future time; a second I/O
mechanism configured to receive an offer message including an offer
price for said amount of power; a memory configured to hold
computer readable instructions; and a processor configured to
execute said computer readable instructions so as to implement, an
offer acceptance mechanism configured to determine if said offer
price in said offer message meets or exceeds a predetermined price,
and an acceptance notification mechanism configured to send a
notification message to a sender of said bid message informing said
sender of an acceptance by a purchaser.
103. The facility of claim 102, wherein said offer acceptance
mechanism being configured to determine if the offer price has been
met if said offer price meets or exceeds other offers within a
predetermined period of time.
104. The facility of claim 102, wherein said offer acceptance
mechanism is configured to determine if said offer price is met
when said offer price meets or exceeds a predetermined price.
105. The facility of claim 102, wherein said at least a portion of
said unit of power being premier power.
106. The facility of claim 102, wherein said acceptance
notification mechanism is configured to include in said
notification message, at least one of an identity of a purchaser
and a location of where the power from the renewal energy source is
to be delivered on behalf of the purchaser.
107. The facility of claim 102, wherein said message includes an
indication that said amount of power being guaranteed by the power
generated from another electrical power generation facility.
108. The facility of claim 107, wherein the amount of power is
guaranteed by an options contract.
109. The facility of claim 107, wherein said amount of power is
guaranteed by a bilateral agreement between another electrical
power generation facility and an operator of a renewable energy
source such that a short fall from the renewable energy source is
compensated for by increased production by the other electrical
energy production facility.
110. The facility of claim 102, wherein said offer message includes
the offer price from pooled resources from multiple investors,
respective of the investors contributing predetermined portions of
said pooled resources to constitute said offer price.
111. The facility of claim 110, wherein said pooled resources are
aggregated in the form of a mutual fund.
112. The facility of claim 102, wherein said second I/O mechanism
is configured to receive the offer message from a remote computer
facility that aggregates the pooled resources from the multiple
investors at the remote computer facility and presents a portion of
the pooled resources as the offer price.
113. The facility of claim 103, wherein said acceptance
notification mechanism informs said remote computer facility of the
acceptance so that said remote computer facility can account for
the respective investment accrual attributable to respective of the
multiple investors when said unit of power is delivered to the
power grid.
114. The facility of claim 102, wherein said processor is
configured to provide an evaluation mechanism that receives
meteorological data from an external source so as to predict a
likelihood of delivery of the renewal energy source at said
predetermined future time.
115. The facility of claim 102, wherein said unit of power from the
renewable energy source being supplemented with power from a
virtual energy storage facility during a period of time when a load
on the power grid is high and said renewal energy source being
configured to provide power therefrom on behalf of the virtual
energy storage facility in time periods when the load is low.
116. A method for coordinating power output from a renewable power
production facility with another power production facility so as to
implement a virtual energy storage mechanism for the renewable
power production facility, comprising steps of: producing a
predetermined amount of electric power from the renewable power
production facility; determining that an amount of power produced
by the renewable power production facility deviates from a
threshold by a predetermined quantity; informing another power
production facility of said predetermined quantity; and adjusting a
power output at said other power production facilities by an amount
that corresponds with said predetermined quantity.
117. The method of claim 116, wherein said renewable power
production facility being a wind turbine electric power production
facility.
118. The method of claim 116, further comprising a step of keeping
an account of an amount of virtual energy storage held by the
virtual energy storage mechanism on behalf of the renewable power
production facility, said balance reflecting changes by said
predetermined quantity when said adjusting step is performed.
119. The method of claim 118, wherein said keeping step includes
allowing for a negative balance during peak production times, and
adding to said balance during off-peak times.
120. The method of claim 118, further comprising a step of selling
a unit of power output from said renewable power production
facility when a market sale price for said unit of power exceeds an
estimated future value of said unit of power produced at a later
time.
121. The method of claim 116, further comprising a step of offering
for sale a unit of power, said unit of power including an
undetermined amount of electric power from said renewable power
production facility at a predetermined future time and guaranteeing
delivery of said unit of power with an adjusted power output from
the another power production facility.
122. The method of claim 121, further comprising a step of offering
for sale said unit of power on a renewable exchange.
123. The method of claim 122, further comprising a step of setting
a price at which said power unit is offered for sale, said price
being greater than or equal to an estimated value of storing the
power unit in said virtual energy storage mechanism for use at a
later time.
124. The method of claim 122, further comprising a step of
notifying an operator of said renewable power production facility
when said power unit is sold.
125. The method of claim 121, further comprising a step of
obtaining transmission rights for transferring said power output
from the renewable power production facility to a transmission grid
that connects to the another power production facility when said
adjusting step adjusts the power output to a lower level than for
what the another power production facility is obligated to
provide.
126. The method of claim 122, further comprising the step of
offering meteorological data associated with when said power output
from said renewable power production facility is offered for
delivery, and estimating a likelihood of delivery using said
meteorological data.
127. The method of claim 126, further comprising a step of placing
a value on the power unit based on a future likelihood of
delivery.
128. The method of claim 118, further comprising a step of selling
a predetermined portion of an accumulated energy stored at said
virtual energy storage mechanism.
129. The method of claim 116, further comprising a step of
controlling directly said another power production facility to
implement said adjusting step through a ganged operation with said
renewable power production facility.
130. The method of claim 116, wherein said adjusting step includes
adjusting the power output by receiving a data message via an
electronic communication with said renewable power production
facility.
131. The method of claim 116, wherein said adjusting step includes
informing said another power production facility of said
predetermined quantity using at least one of non-electronic
communication and telephonic communication.
132. A method for enhancing a commercial value of a unit of
electric power produced by a renewable power production facility,
comprising steps of: identifying a predetermined amount of power
predicted to be produced from the renewable power production
facility at a predetermined future time; converting the
predetermined power from the renewable power production facility to
a unit of premier power for application to a power grid at a
standard frequency; selling said unit of premier power for delivery
at the predetermined future time; delivering to the power grid the
unit of power at the predetermined future time.
133. The method of claim 132, further comprising the step of
guaranteeing the unit of power with supplemental power produced at
a remote facility so as to supplement an amount of actual premier
power that is delivered by said renewable power production facility
so that a combination of the supplemental power and the actual
premier power substantially equals the unit of premier power.
134. The method of claim 133, wherein said guaranteeing step
includes obtaining a contractual obligation from the remote
facility to provide the supplemental power.
135. The method of claim 132, further comprising a step of
obtaining transmission rights to transfer the unit of premier power
from the renewable power production facility to a portion of the
power grid to which a purchaser of the premier power unit is
obligated to provide the premier power unit at the predetermined
future time.
136. The method of claim 132, wherein said converting step includes
converting the predetermined power using a co-active converter.
137. The method of claim 136, wherein said converting step includes
providing to said power grid a predetermined quantity of reactive
power.
138. The method of claim 136, further comprising a step of
providing a short circuit power to the power grid when a fault
occurs in the power grid.
139. The method of claim 136, wherein said converting step includes
suppressing harmonics in the unit of premier power.
140. The method of claim 136, wherein said converting step includes
providing supplemental power from a prime mover to the
predetermined power from the renewable power production
facility.
141. The method of claim 132, further comprising a step of
collecting electrical power from multiple renewable power
production facilities prior to performing said converting step.
142. A method for managing an investment portfolio of premier power
units, comprising steps of: receiving contributions in various
amounts from respective investors; assigning shares to said
investors based on respective contributions made by the respective
investors; purchasing a portfolio of premier power units with the
contributions; and receiving payment for delivery of respective of
said premier power units, wherein said contributions being at least
one of money and potential energy.
143. The method of claim 142, further comprising a step of
allocating fund assets in increments after respective of said
premier power units are sold.
144. The method of claim 142, further comprising a step of
receiving meteorological data to assist in determining which
premier power units to purchase as part of said portfolio.
145. A system for converting electrical power produced from a
renewable energy power production facility into premier power,
comprising: means for producing a time variable electrical output
power from the renewable energy power production facility; means
for determining whether the time variable electrical output power
is below a predetermined level; and means for supplementing the
output power with power from a converter mechanism having at least
one of means for providing a source of reactive power, and means
for providing active power.
146. A system for coordinating power output from a renewable power
production facility with another power production facility so as to
implement a virtual energy storage mechanism for the renewable
power production facility, comprising: means for producing a
predetermined amount of electric power from the renewable power
production facility; means for determining that an amount of power
produced by the renewable power production facility deviates from a
threshold by a predetermined quantity; means for informing another
power production facility of said predetermined quantity; and means
for adjusting a power output at said other power production
facility by an amount that corresponds with said predetermined
quantity.
147. A system for enhancing a commercial value of a unit of
electric power produced by a renewable power production facility,
comprising: means for identifying a predetermined amount of power
expected to be produced from the renewable power production
facility at a predetermined future time; means for converting the
predetermined power from the renewable power production facility to
a unit of premier power for application to a power grid at a
standard frequency; means for selling said unit of premier power
for delivery at a predetermined future time; and means for
delivering to the power grid the unit of power at the predetermined
future time.
148. A system for managing an investment portfolio of premier power
units, comprising: means for receiving contributions in various
amounts from respective investors; means for assigning shares to
said investors based on respective contributions made by the
respective investors; means for purchasing a portfolio of premier
power units with the contributions; and means for receiving payment
for delivery of respective of said premier power units, wherein
respective of said contributions having a monetary value.
149. A system for prognosticating an electric power output from a
renewable power production facility comprising: means for receiving
at least one of meteorological and oceanographic data from a
forecasting and data analysis system; means for receiving other
data from at least one sensor positioned locally relative to the
renewable power production facility; and means for predicting an
electrical power output from the renewable power production
facility from the at least one of meteorological and oceanographic
data and the other data.
150. The system of claim 149, wherein said at least one of the
meteorological and oceanographic data being from at least one of a
regional, a national and an international forecasting and data
analysis system.
151. The system of claim 149, wherein said at least one sensor is
positioned within one mile of said renewable power production
facility.
152. The system of claim 149, wherein said at least one sensor is
positioned at said renewable power production facility.
153. The system of claim 149, wherein said means for predicting
includes means for refining and calibrating the electric power
output prediction using at least one of Multivariate data analysis,
a neural network and a Fuzzy Control-based mechanism.
154. The system of claim 153, wherein said means for predicting
includes a processor.
155. The system of claim 149, wherein said at least one sensor
being configured to provide at least one of meteorological and
oceanographic data from a vicinity local to said renewable power
production facility.
156. The system of claim 149, further comprising: means for
forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output from the means
for predicting to a renewable energy exchange.
157. The system of claim 149, further comprising: means for
forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output from the means
for predicting to an operator of a renewable energy production
facility.
158. The system of claim 149, further comprising: means for
forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output from the means
for predicting to an operator of another power production
facility.
159. The system of claim 158, wherein said another power production
facility being one of an energy-limited power production facility
and a power-limited power production facility.
160. The system of claim 149, wherein said means for predicting
electrical power output from the renewable power production
facility includes means for predicting the electrical power output
within 5 days in advance of an actual production date.
161. The system of claim 149, wherein said means for predicting
electrical power output from the renewable power production
facility includes means for predicting a prognosticated electrical
power output more than 5 days in advance of an actual production
date.
162. A method for prognosticating an electric power output from a
renewable power production facility comprising steps of: receiving
at least one of meteorological and oceanographic data from a
forecasting and data analysis system; receiving other data from at
least one sensor positioned locally to the renewable power
production facility; and predicting an electrical power output from
the renewable power production facility from the at least one of
meteorological and oceanographic data and the other data.
163. The method of claim 162, wherein said at least one of the
meteorological and oceanographic data being from at least one of a
regional, a national and an international forecasting and data
analysis system.
164. The method of claim 162, wherein said at least one sensor is
positioned within one mile of said renewable power production
facility.
165. The method of claim 162, wherein said at least one sensor is
positioned at said renewable power production facility.
166. The method of claim 162, wherein said step of predicting
includes refining and calibrating the electric power output
prediction using at least one of Multivariate data analysis, a
neural network and a Fuzzy Control-based mechanism.
167. The method of claim 162, wherein said at least one sensor
being configured to provide at least one of meteorological and
oceanographic data from a vicinity local to said renewable power
production facility.
168. The method of claim 162, further comprising a step of:
forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output to a renewable
energy exchange.
169. The method of claim 162, further comprising a step of:
forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output to an operator
of a renewable energy production facility.
170. The method of claim 162, further comprising a step of:
forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output to an operator
of another power production facility.
171. The method of claim 162, wherein said step of predicting
electrical power output from the renewable power production
facility includes predicting the electrical power output within 5
days in advance of an actual production date.
172. The method of claim 162, wherein said step of predicting
electrical power output from the renewable power production
facility includes predicting a prognosticated electrical power
output more than 5 days in advance of an actual production
date.
173. A computer program product for prognosticating an electric
power output from a renewable power production facility, comprising
computer readable instructions that when executed on a processor
perform steps of: receiving at least one of meteorological and
oceanographic data from a forecasting and data analysis system;
receiving other data from at least one sensor positioned locally to
the renewable power production facility; and predicting an
electrical power output from the renewable power production
facility from the at least one of meteorological and oceanographic
data and the other data.
174. The computer program product of claim 173, wherein said at
least one of the meteorological and oceanographic data being from
at least one of a regional, a national and an international
forecasting and data analysis system.
175. The computer program product of claim 173, wherein said at
least one sensor is positioned within one mile of said renewable
power production facility.
176. The computer program product of claim 173, wherein said at
least one sensor is positioned at said renewable power production
facility.
177. The computer program product of claim 173, wherein said step
of predicting includes refining and calibrating the electric power
output prediction using at least one of Multivariate data analysis,
a neural network and a Fuzzy Control-based mechanism.
178. The computer program product of claim 173, wherein said at
least one sensor being configured to provide at least one of
meteorological and oceanographic data from a vicinity local to said
renewable power production facility.
179. The computer program product of claim 173, further comprising
a step of: forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output to a
renewable energy exchange.
180. The computer program product of claim 173, further comprising
a step of: forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output to
an operator of a renewable energy production facility.
181. The computer program product of claim 173, further comprising
a step of: forwarding a prognosticated electrical power output to
an operator of another power production facility.
182. The computer program product of claim 173, wherein said step
of predicting electrical power output from the renewable power
production facility includes predicting the electrical power output
within 5 days in advance of an actual production date.
183. The computer program product of claim 173, wherein said step
of predicting electrical power output from the renewable power
production facility includes predicting a prognosticated electrical
power output more than 5 days in advance of an actual production
date.
184. A computer-based method for managing an investment portfolio
of renewable power production facilities, comprising steps of:
receiving contributions in various amounts from respective
investors; assigning shares to said investors based on respective
contributions made by the respective investors; financing a
purchase of a predetermined number of renewable power production
facilities with said contributions; receiving a plurality of
payments for delivery of premier power units from said
predetermined number of renewable power production facilities; and
apportioning said plurality of payments among said shares, wherein
said contribution having a monetary value.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed to a system, method and
computer program product that relates to a renewable power
production facility, such as a wind turbine generated power
production facility that produces electrical power that is applied
to a power grid. More specifically, the present invention is
directed to systems, methods and computer program product for
enhancing the commercial value of electric power produced by wind
turbine facilities so as to make that electric power as
commercially valuable and fungible as electric power produced by
other plants such as fossil fuel power plants, hydroelectric
plants, nuclear plants and the like.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Background
[0004] Wind power is a "natural" power production source that
instinctively should be regarded as an optimum source of energy for
producing electric power. Wind power does not require the burning
of fossil fuels, does not result in nuclear waste by-products, does
not require the channeling of water sources, and does not otherwise
disturb the environment. On the other hand, wind power is a
variable (stochastic) power generation source, thus not offering
power production facilities the type of control that the power
production and grid facility would like to have in producing
commercially reliable power. To address this variability issue,
even the early pioneers of wind power attempted to identify ways to
"store" wind generated electric power in times of excess, so as to
later compensate for times when there are lulls in the wind. For
example, Poul La Cour (1846-1908) from Denmark, was one of the
early pioneers in wind generated electricity. Poul La Cour built
the world's first electricity generating wind turbine in 1891. This
design included DC generators and stored energy as hydrogen. Poul
La Cour was concerned with the storage of energy because he used
the electricity from his wind turbines for electrolysis in order to
produce hydrogen for the gas lights in his school. This concept of
energy storage has not been abandoned and even modem inventors of
wind turbine electric generation facilities are still trying to
identify ways to use physical media to store the energy produced by
windmills (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,712, which uses fuel
cells, batteries, and the like as physical media to store
electrical power). In the early days, wind energy plants were
generally isolated from one another and provided small scale
generation facilities. Through a variety of experiments wind energy
plants have generally evolved and now a common theme is to group a
number of wind turbines together so as to form farms that can
generate up to tens of megawatts via the aggregation of smaller
plants that produce slightly above only one megawatt each. Most
modem rotor blades on large wind turbines are made of glass fiber
reinforced plastics (GRP). These wind power plants are today
planned to grow slightly above three megawatts per unit, limited by
a reliable size of the wind turbine, (the "propeller").
[0005] A perplexing task that has somewhat stifled the use of wind
power plants is that there has been no commercially viable way, in
light of the price of fuel generated by other power plants, to
effectively store electricity generated by windmills during periods
of peak production, so as to make up for periods when the wind
slows. As a consequence, the capital cost, lack of production
control, size, and reliability problems limited the proliferation
of such wind plants between the periods of 1890 and 1970. As a
consequence, the use of wind power declined sharply both with the
spread of steam-engines and with the increase in scale of
electrical power utilization. Thus, windmills generally were only
limited for small scale processes and were unable to compete with
large scale steam powered electrical power facilities. Furthermore,
the commercial cost of such wind-generated power was much greater
compared to those with generating systems based on coal, oil, gas
and hydro.
[0006] Nevertheless, being strong advocate for windmills, Denmark
pioneered the effort between the era of 1970 and 1985 to bring back
windmill technology in an attempt to make windmill generated
electricity a mainstay of modem electric generation plants. To this
end, Denmark established some rules regarding grid connections from
the windmills, (e.g., Specifications for Connecting Wind Farms to
the Transmission Network", ELTRA I/S ELT 1999-411a., as well as
Swedish documents TAMP-1122400 and DAMP-1101300, Sv.
Elverksforeningen, the entire contents of which being incorporated
herein by reference).
[0007] As recognized by the present inventors, there are several
drawbacks associated with using wind power systems. First, it
should be recognized that there is a strict frequency control on
the AC power that is provided to the grid. For example, in the
power grid in Europe, the AC frequency is held generally constant
at 50 hertz, with an attempt to maintain a maximum frequency
variation between plus or minus 0.1 hertz. This means that there
must be a continuous balance between the input of energy and the
output of electrical power in such an AC system. If consumption is
greater than production, the grid frequency drops. If production is
greater than consumption, the grid frequency rises. Thus, power
companies that provide power to the electric grid must be
coordinated so that those adding power are doing so at a time when
the demand for that power exists, and also is done in coordination
with other providers. While there is a system that is employed to
coordinate the activities of different power producers as will be
discussed with respect to FIGS. 2-4, the present discussion will
now focus on conventional wind turbine electrical power production
facilities so as to further explain conventional practice for how
to design such facilities.
[0008] A number of different options have been attempted to make
wind turbine generated power facilities more reliable and
predictable, thus "more mainstream" as compared to other power
production facilities. In a first typical windmill power generation
facility, an asynchronous machine is used that acts as a generator
but also inherently consumes reactive power from the AC grid.
Consequently, the facility employs a fixed capacitor bank so as to
compensate the amount of reactive power that is consumed, thus
providing for a more reasonable power factor (cosine of the angle
between current and voltage). However, as recognized by the present
inventors, there is a risk with such systems, namely where the
capacitor bank causes the system to become self-magnetized thus
causing the frequency to differ by as much as tens of hertz from
the standard oscillation frequency after a fault occurs.
[0009] Many wind power plants are erected with a speed adaptation
mechanism (usually a gearbox) between the wind turbine and the
electric generator so that an AC frequency produced by the wind
turbine generator matches that of the power grid. These systems use
a mechanical gearbox to increase the speed of the generator shaft.
However, the use of this mechanical gearbox increases the cost by
three to five times the cost of the generator, also having dramatic
increases in the mean time between failure, and mean time to repair
of the device, thus not making these designs commercially
competitive with the more reliable and less costly fossil fuel
power production facilities.
[0010] Some windmill-based systems attempt to address power quality
aspects at the grid connection, which often manifest themselves as
a tower shadow that provides a low-frequency periodic disturbance.
This low-frequency periodic disturbance is referred to as "flicker"
(e.g. about a 1 hertz variation) that provides for an inconsistent
wavering light or power production. These facilities provide
static-VAR compensators (SVC) or local energy storage units to
provide compensation power.
[0011] More elaborate schemes have been developed to make
wind-power more competitive with other types of power in the
market. Once again the systems are based on the use of energy
storage. FIG. 1 is an example of such a system. As seen in FIG. 1,
a turbine blade 12 turns at a rate related to wind speed. Some
control may be asserted by adjusting the pitch of the blades, as
well as by providing an amount of torque adjustment to control the
generator by way of generator controllers and active rectifiers.
Notably, the system in FIG. 1 can be divided into three components.
The first component is between the turbine and the output of the
active rectifiers (Rectifier A and Rectifier B). The second
component is the DC link between the output of the active
rectifiers and the inverters. The last part of the link is between
the inverters and the utility grid. The function of the first part
of the system (i.e. between the blade 12 and the active rectifier)
is to convert the wind into variable speed electrical power, and
then rectify that variable frequency AC into a DC voltage. Thus,
the output of the first part is a DC voltage that is coupled onto a
DC line (see e.g. the line disposed between the active rectifier
and the inverter). This DC line then passes this frequency
independent electrical power to a location in which an inverter is
maintained. At the inverter, an inverter controller 50, 52 is used
to produce pulse width modulation (PWM) signals so as to actuate
switches within respective inverters thus generating output signals
at any particular AC frequency, namely the grid's frequency. A
power factor controller may be used to control how the waveform is
generated so that the output waveform has a power factor that is
consistent with requirements placed on that particular
windmill.
[0012] Reactive power is important to the operation of an AC power
grid. As discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,079, the contents of
which being incorporated herein by reference, some of the
advantages are explained. In all AC generator stations of the power
utilities, such control is typically achieved through a speed
governor and a field excitation regulator. The PWM converter is not
encumbered by the long time constants associated with the speed
governors and with the generator field inductance. For this reason,
the PWM converter is expected to surpass the performance of the AC
generator station in providing dynamic enhancement in the utility
system. Thus, the general state of the art suggests that the use of
power electronics, such as pulse width modulation-based (PWM)
converters, provides reactive power control separate from active
power control. However, as recognized by the present inventors,
rotating electric machines, like generators and compensators,
possess not only an ability to control reactive power, but also an
overload capability which is superior to all types of power
electronics systems, especially PWM IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar
Transistor), with very limited overload capability. Furthermore,
rotating electric machines are able to control the amount of
reactive or active power seen from a power source connected to the
machine. The primary control of the reactive power is achieved by
an automatic voltage regulator (AVR), which controls the magnitude
of the output voltage waveform and thereby can control the
magnitude of the terminal voltage at the machine. The corresponding
control of the active power is achieved by the automatic
load-frequency control (ALFC) loop, which uses the frequency as an
indirect measure of the active power balance in the grid.
[0013] In an improvement to the system shown in FIG. 1, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,225,712 describes the use of energy storage devices, based on
hydrogen and fuel cells, electrochemical accumulator batteries or
the like as a substitute to the capacitors placed on the DC line
between the active rectifiers and the inverters shown in FIG. 1.
However, as recognized by the present inventors, such devices have
a very high cost per kWh compared to the sales price and are
sometimes used at the DC voltage link so as to balance power
fluctuations as a result of wind gusts and wind lulls.
[0014] Recently there have been a number of wind power plants that
have been erected at wind farms with constant-speed and/or
variable-speed units connected to the same point in the electric
power distribution grid. These systems, simplify the power quality
issues like the remedial use of static-VAR compensators, discussed
above, as well as simplifying maintenance and operation. The
present inventors recognize that such connections have not
simplified the power grid starting procedures, maintenance, fault
handling based on large-short-circuit power, etc. With regard to
fault handling, it is noted that grid operators require, desirably,
the ability of a power plant to produce high short-circuit power
conditions so that there is sufficient electrical current available
to trip circuit breakers on the transmission grid, should a fault
be detected. One of the problems with conventional wind power
plants is that they do not possess this capability, thereby
creating a potential hazard for devices that are connected to the
grid.
[0015] The discussion up to this point has been focused on
different techniques that have been attempted in wind power plant
facilities to adapt the electricity generated from wind power to
make the power suitable for application onto transnational,
national, or regional power grids. However, as recognized by the
present inventors, there is yet another shortcoming besides simply
the application of the power to the power grids, namely the
commercial viability and scalability of the electricity generated
from wind power as an economic competitor with other types of
electric power. In order to appreciate the limitations with wind
generated electric power, a discussion of how other types of power
is handled is in order. The present discussion will be directed
primarily to that in Scandinavian countries, although it is equally
applicable in other countries and regions where electric power
deregulation has been instituted. Many of these topics are
addressed in "The Swedish Electricity Market and the Role of
Svenska Kraftnat", published by Svenska Kraftnat, the National
Swedish Grid Company, 1999, available at www.svk.se.
[0016] As seen in FIG. 2, electricity producers generate power and
feed it into a network, either a national grid, regional network or
local network. Network owners are responsible for transmitting the
electrical power from the producer to the consumer. Consumers,
which include everything from industries to households, take
electricity from the electricity networks and consume it. Each
consumer must have an agreement with an electricity trader to be
able to buy electricity. The power trading company is in contact
with its consumers and sells electricity to them. The power trader
can have the role of electricity supplier and/or balance provider,
both roles can exist within the same or different companies. The
electricity supplier has the supply agreement with the consumer.
The balance provider is financially responsible for the electricity
that the trader sells always being in a state of balance with the
electricity purchased so as to cover consumption. The balance
providers provide "fine tuning" needed so as to make sure that the
amount of power provided to the network matches the particular load
at any given time, otherwise the grid frequency will vary. There
are organized marketplaces, such as for example, power exchange
Nord Pool, as well as brokers, that make standard agreements that
make it easier for the participants in the power market to do their
business with one another. The bulk of the trade in electricity on
the market takes place via bilateral agreements between electricity
producers and electricity traders.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows the contract network and daily flow of
information between participants in the electricity market, which
in the present example is Sweden. Grid customers (about 30) include
electricity producers and regional network operators. Balance
providers (about 50) are electricity suppliers that provide
information regarding their operations to the balance authority and
system operator. Included in this information is market information
provided by the Nord Pool trading center, which is also exchanged
between the balance providers and Nord Pool itself. The system
operator also has balance obligation agreement settlement
information which is exchanged between the balance provider and
system operators. Based on system operator instruction, the balance
providers provide up-to-date control over the amount of electrical
energy (characterized in a short fall or surplus), that is applied
to the grid based on load variations and other contracts that have
been executed for power delivery to the grid. Furthermore, network
owners total-up the measured production and consumption values each
hour on their networks as well as for the balance providers that
exist on the networks. The totals are then reported to the system
operator as a balance settlement and to the balance providers.
[0018] As is clear from the detailed communications that exist
between the different entities in FIG. 3, the operation of the grid
must be planned. As a consequence, the system operator requires
that balance providers submit under a balance obligation agreement,
different required information. Among other things, this
information includes production plans and load forecasts every
evening prior to the coming delivery day, and when required update
this information on a continuing basis. Using this data then, the
system operator can estimate the load and assess whether
bottlenecks may arise on the network. The system operator is also
in regular contact with the control centers of electricity
producers, regional and local network owners and system operators
of the other Nordic countries. In order to coordinate information,
the different system operators have agreed to distribute important
information about the grid and balance services via Nord Pool's
website, www.nordpool.com. This information includes historical
information regarding the total reported production per country per
hour, the total calculated consumption per country per hour,
measured power exchanges between countries' systems per hour,
available transmission capacity per hour, price and volume of trade
and regulating power per country and per hour, as well as plans and
information in real time, which includes network disruptions that
have occurred which are of significance to the market, and other
types of faults.
[0019] With regard to most of the power delivery, electricity power
options are traded as part of a Nordic power exchange futures
market. The combined use of electric power options and forward and
future power contracts offers greater opportunity for spreading and
handling of risk in power trading. A notable feature in how trading
is performed, is that Nord Pool's electric power options are
standardized and thus carry a number of fixed terms and conditions.
For example, the forward contracts are based on two seasonal
contracts and two year contracts. A new series is listed on the
first trading day of the exercise day of the previous contract
series. The exercise day is the third Thursday of the month before
the first delivery month of the underlying instrument. Details of
how the power exchange is performed is described in the document
"Eloption", May 1, 1999, available from www.nordpool.com, the
entire contents of which being incorporated herein by
reference.
[0020] What is notable however, as recognized by the present
inventors, is that electricity from wind power, and the limitation
within a wind-variable system, is not well suited with the current
state-of-the-art systems for providing power to the power grid. For
example, the risk is high to a wind turbine provider for entering
into a forward contract, given the stochastic nature of wind power,
and thus the stochastic nature of a wind turbine as a power
generation source, that could be expected to be generated by that
provider at the time of delivery. While wind powered systems that
employ physical assets as part of the system for providing actual
energy storage present one potential solution. The inherent expense
of such systems makes the opportunity to offer power during periods
of low wind speed very expensive since the wind power operator
needs to purchase the physical assets for storing the electrical
power.
[0021] Aside from providing long term planning, there is also
short-term balance requirements that may be placed on system
operators for filling gaps or short falls in expected power demands
or load variations. A time table for trading imbalance is shown in
FIG. 4 which describes the dynamic nature of how balance regulation
is performed. Balance providers and other participants can trade in
electricity in order to plan their physical balances right up until
just before delivery hour. By physical balance, it is meant that
the production and purchasing are in balance with consumption and
sale. Trading can take place on the spot market of the power
exchange Nord Pool, which closes at noon the day before delivery.
Alternatively, trading in electricity can take place on the
adjustment market of the EL-EX power exchange from 3:00 on the day
before up until two hours prior to delivery, or bilaterally. The
system operator and balance regulator, regularly accepts bids
(volume in power in MW) from producers who are willing to quickly
(within 10 minutes at the outside) increase or decrease their level
of production. Consumers, too, can submit bids for increasing or
decreasing their level of consumption (known as load shedding).
Balance settlement is performed at noon the day after delivery.
[0022] As recognized by the present inventors, a limitation with
conventional wind power systems is that unless there is some
physical media for storing the electrical power at the local
generation facility, conventional systems cannot reliably perform
in either the balance regulation or the longer term Nord Pool
exchange, due to variability of the wind power. This concept is
reflected in the article by Lennart Soder "The Operation Value of
Wind Power in the Deregulated Swedish Market", Royal Institute of
Technology, Sweden, Nordic Wind Power Conference 13-14, March 2000,
page 5, paragraph 4.1.3, where it is explained that for wind power
the construction of the exchange makes it difficult to put bids.
The bids on Nord Pool have to be put 12 to 36 hours in advance of
real delivery. Lennart Soder states that this makes it in reality
nearly impossible to trade wind power bids since the forecasts
normally are too bad for this time. Thus, wind power is generally
recognized as a environmentally friendly type of power, however not
as commercially valuable or fungible as other types of electricity
such as that generated by fossil fuels.
[0023] To further emphasize this point, an article by Ackermann,
T., et al. "Wind Energy Technology and Current Status: A Review",
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Paragammon Press, April
2000, pages 317-366, the entire contents of which being
incorporated herein by reference, shows in FIG. 8 thereof (page
347) the probability of a change in power output as a percent of
installed capacity. This analysis shows that with a probability of
30% the hourly mean wind power output from one hour to the next
would be plus or minus 1% of the installed capacity, plus or minus
4% from one four hourly mean to the next and plus or minus 12%
between the 12 hourly means. The largest change in power output to
be expected between hourly mean power output values is about 40% of
installed capacity. Long-term variations in wind speed, between one
year and the next are usually quite low, as observed in this study.
Thus, while short-term variations (within the 12-hour period) may
be substantial, over the long haul (a year or more), the data
appears to indicate that relatively small annual variations will
occur. This is recognized by the present inventors as an issue of
predictability, which would make wind power a viable asset in the
Nord Pool exchanges provided there is a cost effective mechanism
for storing energy that may later be released on demand to generate
electrical power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present description of the invention is not intended to
be limited to the discussion in the following few paragraphs in
this section, but rather is a synopsis of selected facets of the
present invention. For a more complete understanding of the present
invention should be construed in light of this entire document.
Nevertheless, an object of the present invention is to address the
above-identified and other shortcomings of conventional systems and
apparatuses using wind turbine technology.
[0025] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
system, method, and computer program product that convert
electrical power generated from wind into premier power. In one
embodiment, the premier power is ensured by a virtual energy
storage mechanism. In another embodiment, or as a supplement to the
first embodiment, an xM machine is employed as part of a co-active
converter to ensure steady, fixed frequency power is reliably
applied to the power grid.
[0026] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
system, method and computer program product for controlling
communications between a wind power based electricity production
facility and a virtual energy storage facility, so that excess
electrical power produced by the wind power facility may be
captured at the virtual energy storage facility by way of
time-effective communication between the two facilities. The
virtual energy storage facility may be used to generate electricity
to compensate for periods when wind speed decreases.
[0027] Another feature of the present invention is to convert wind
power into premier power so that wind power-based units of
electrical power may be available for forward contracts as part of
a "renewable exchange" that enables the transfer of wind power
units (i.e., a predetermined amount of power), perhaps coupled or
guaranteed power produced by other energy production facilities, so
that electricity generated from wind power may also become a
"fungible" source of electric power.
[0028] Another feature of the present invention is to incorporate a
meteorological sensing and prediction mechanism so as to facilitate
communications with a virtual energy storage facility so that the
wind power may be reliably supplemented with energy either stored
or released from a virtual energy storage facility.
[0029] A further feature of the present invention is the
incorporation of a "co-active converter" that is able to provide
substation short circuit power so as to have sufficient fault
current to blow fuses or to operate circuit breakers as necessary
to protect components connected to the grid when installation
faults occur in the network.
[0030] A further feature of the present invention is the use of a
co-active converter in connection with a number of different wind
farms instead of just one co-active converter per wind production
facility.
[0031] A further feature of the present invention is the use of a
co-active converter as a mechanism for providing reactive power
without relying solely on power electronics for providing reactive
power.
[0032] Another feature of the present invention, in at least one
embodiment, is to include a co-active converter at a wind power
production facility where the co-active converter includes at least
a static converter and a rotating converter, both device being able
to withstand DC voltage stress.
[0033] Another object of the present invention is to include a
prime mover that may be driven by vegetable oil, diesel, gas or the
like to the shaft of the rotating converter in a coactive converter
so as to carry out startup procedures if the power grid is
completely down, i.e. black-grid start, thus enabling a capability
to recover a dead grid as well as to assist in power priming
procedures.
[0034] These and other objects and advantages made available by the
present invention are accomplished with a wind-turbine-based
facility that includes one or more wind-turbine generators that
produce variable AC from a generator, converts the variable AC to
DC, and then collects the DC in a collection and transmission grid.
The output of the collection and transmission grid then is
converted from DC-to-AC in a co-active converter. The co-active
converter may take several forms, but in one embodiment includes a
separately powered rotating machine with a compensator to provide
reactive power control for the system regardless if the wind
turbine devices are actually producing power. The combination of
the wind turbine production facility with the co-active converter
is coupled with a communication mechanism that coordinates
communication between the wind production facility and a virtual
energy storage device that produces electric power by releasing a
predetermined amount of stored resources (e.g., water, if a
hydro-plant) to compensate for commitments by the wind turbine
facility. Likewise, excess power production at the wind turbine
power production facility may be captured at the virtual energy
storage facility in the form of potential energy (e.g., hydro
reserve in the case of hydroelectric plant). This potential energy
is fungible, in that it may be bought, sold or used to generate
power at a later time. Thus, the potential energy has a real market
value, the expected price for which varies based on load demands
and availability of other energy sources, which may vary daily and
seasonally, for example.
[0035] By creating "premier" power that is both reliable in terms
of short term variation long term reliability as well as during
fault conditions, the electrical power produced by a wind turbine
generation facility according to the present invention is able to
be coupled via "guaranteed" contracts with a virtual energy storage
facility, thus making the electricity generated from wind power as
fungible as other types of power sources. As a consequence, by
creating the premier power, the opportunity exists for creating a
renewable exchange to permit the transfer and obligation of wind
generated electrical power in units that can be freely sold on the
power market. Furthermore, creating "premier" power and providing a
virtual energy storage mechanism for essentially preserving a
potential energy associated with that "premier" power greatly
enhances the commercial value of that power since that power is now
made fungible (i.e., may be bought, sold or released on demand).
Thus, unlike AC power produced from conventional renewable energy
power production facilities, premier power is fungible, and thus
may be traded for power (or reserve energy) associated with another
power producer, such as a hydroelectric plant. Accordingly,
creating a virtual energy storage facility, enables operators of
renewable energy power production facilities to collect energy,
which has an inherent market value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional wind turbine
facility that includes an active rectifier, DC link, and active
inverter;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing how power units are traded
on an exchange between electricity producers and power trading
companies;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing how information is
exchanged between a balance authority and system operator and
different entities as part of an orchestrated electrical power
system process;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a timing diagram showing how balance regulation is
performed on an exchange;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system according to the
present invention that includes a renewable energy control center
processor;
[0042] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing how coordination between
different components of distributed generation and distribution
system using a renewable energy control center processor is
performed according to the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 7 shows an overlap between cooperative cogeneration of
renewable energy and less costly power-limited operations so as to
provide optimized guaranteed power production;
[0044] FIG. 8 is a graph showing how present use of wind power
creates more substantial variations in balancing loads as viewed by
system operators than according to the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 9 is a graph showing how electricity generated from
wind power, if made into premier wind power, can reduce load
variation demands;
[0046] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing how a cogeneration
facility employed by the present invention coordinates with priming
sources as well as provides premier power to a transnational grid
according to the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing components of a processor
employed by the present invention to coordinate activities at the
wind turbine facility for producing premier power;
[0048] FIGS. 12-18 are data structures for showing different
components of messages to be distributed to different entities to
coordinate operations between wind power production facilities and
other facilities according to the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 19 is a block diagram related to FIG. 6, although
showing how the system according to the present invention may be
scaled to accommodate other distributed generation facilities;
[0050] FIG. 20 is a flow chart of a method for how to convert
electricity generated from wind power into "premier power"
according to the present invention;
[0051] FIG. 21 is a flow chart of a method for showing how to
virtually store electrical power generated from a wind production
facility according to the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 22 is a flow chart of an Internet-based secure forum
for providing virtual energy storage coordination and provide a
mechanism for "contracting" to combine different types of energy
sources so as to provide a hybrid unit of electrical power;
[0053] FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing how premier power is applied
to a power grid after first securing a contract on a renewable
exchange;
[0054] FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing how coordination is
performed between a wind power production facility and a virtual
energy storage facility according to the present invention;
[0055] FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing how messages are exchanged
from a processor to a rotating machine compensator as part of a
cogenerative facility according to the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 26 is a flow chart of a method for guaranteeing a
"power unit" that includes at least a portion of wind power
generated electrical power according to the present invention;
[0057] FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing steps employed for
initiating and maintaining a renewable exchange according to the
present invention;
[0058] FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing how to pool assets together
to create a fungible "energy currency" that employs virtual energy
storage according to the present invention;
[0059] FIG. 29 is a flow chart showing steps for creating and
determining whether access rights are provided for providing
electrical power between a virtual energy storage location and a
wind power production facility;
[0060] FIG. 30 is a flow chart for showing how a renewable exchange
according to the present invention provides guarantees that there
are sufficient resources available for providing guaranteed
renewable energy contracts;
[0061] FIG. 31 is a method for showing how costs are tracked
according to the present invention;
[0062] FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing how a method for investing
is performed according to the present invention;
[0063] FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing how meteorological data is
employed so as to assist in coordinating activities between a wind
power production facility and a virtual energy storage
facility;
[0064] FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing how forecasting
technology is used to improve coordination between a wind power
generation facility and a virtual energy storage facility according
to the present invention; and
[0065] FIGS. 35-36 are block diagrams showing how wind forecasting
techniques is used to enhance the commercial value of electric
power produced by a wind power facility according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0066] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference
numerals refer to corresponding structures in the several views,
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control and communication
infrastructure according to the present invention. A renewable
energy control center processor 500 is shown, and a more detailed
description of components of the processor is shown in FIG. 11 as
will be discussed below. The control center processor 500 includes
input/output (I/O) interfaces that connect to communication
facilities at a renewable power exchange 507, the power exchange
509 (such as Nord Pool), alternative renewable energy sources such
as a hydroelectric plant 511, meteorological data source
information as well as service information 513, thermoelectric
plants 515 (or other type of electrical generation power plants),
third party wind farms 517 as well as a wind farm (which may be a
single wind turbine) 503, which includes premier power facilities
505, shown in a form of a co-active converter embodiment. The
control center processor 500 may also be included in the premier
power facilities 505, in an alternative embodiment. A description
of the wind farm 503 including the premier power facilities 505 is
discussed further in reference to FIG. 10 as will be discussed
below.
[0067] The control center processor 500 cooperates with the premier
power facilities 505 and hydroelectric plant 511 (or alternatively
thermoelectric plant 515 and/or third party wind farm 517) so as to
make the electrical output from wind farm 503 a reliable source of
electric power. The premier power facilities 505, in cooperation
with the process 500 includes a capability to ensure that the form
of electric power (stability of output waveform, ability to produce
or sink reactive power, and provide short circuit power), when
coupled with a "virtual energy storage" (VES) facility
(hydroelectric plant 511 in this embodiment, although other plants
may be used as discussed herein also as virtual energy storage
sources as well) is producible in fungible energy units. More
particularly, while the premier power facilities 505 places the
output waveform from the wind farm 503 in a suitable form for
connection to the power grid, it also includes an adequate short
circuit current capability which is used when there is a fault in
the grid and significant amount of current is required to trip
circuit breakers in this fault mode of operation). The premier
power facilities 505 also had an ability to provide reactive power
to the grid at a position that is near the wind farm 503. As
recognized by the present inventors, the longer term output power
from the wind farm 503 may be made sufficiently predictable and
reliable, in a business setting, such that units of the electrical
power produced by the wind farm may be "guaranteed" by contractual
relationships or other agreements with hydroelectric plant 511, in
this example. These agreements are helpful in the event of a wind
lull for the wind farm 503, where a control message is dispatched
to the hydroelectric plant 511 to provide a compensating amount of
electric power to offset the short fall from the wind farm. Using
the cooperative arrangement the energy output obligation from the
wind farm is achieved by asking the hydroelectric plant 511 to
output sufficient power to compensate for the temporary short fall
from the wind farm.
[0068] While the above discussion illustrates the case where the
wind farm requires supplemental power to be produced at the virtual
energy storage facility, the reciprocal relationship is equally
important. When the wind farm produces more power than planned, the
surplus power may be saved in the form of virtual energy at the
virtual energy storage facility. Once stored, the stored energy is
completely fungible and may be withdrawn upon request, or possibly
even sold to a third party, for use under the control of that third
party. Moreover, by having preserved a predetermined amount of
energy in the virtual energy storage facility, the stored energy is
available as a resource to be converted to electric power at the
demand of the wind farm operator, or simply preserved for a longer
period of time or sold to a third party. In this way, the virtual
energy storage facility offers the equivalent of a bank account,
where the "currency" is chemical or potential energy.
[0069] As will be appreciated throughout this discussion, by having
recognized that the availability of rapid and real time
communication between the control center processor and the
hydroelectric plant 511, the water reserve held at the
hydroelectric plant, may be used as a virtual energy storage
facility for the wind farm 503. More particularly, in the event of
over capacity production by the wind farm 503, the premier power
facilities 505 communicates this condition to the control center
processor 500, which sends a message to the hydroelectric plant
511, requesting that the hydroelectric plant 511 produce a
corresponding lesser amount of electric power during this period of
overproduction. The total output power from both the wind farm 503
and the hydroelectric plant 511 is thus held to be consistent with
the aggregate delivery requirement for both the hydroelectric plant
511 and wind farm 503. Moreover, at any given time, the wind farm
503 and the hydroelectric plant have certain contractual
obligations to produce predetermined amounts of power. This
predetermined amount of power in the aggregate will equal a certain
level of power. However, recognizing that for maximizing power
output, the wind farm 503 does not have precise control over the
amount of power it produces at any given instant in time, by
communicating from the wind farm 503 to the hydroelectric plant the
amount of overproduction, the hydroelectric plant 511 can adjust
its output level so as to compensate for the surplus. Likewise, for
a shortfall, the wind farm 503 may communicate to the hydroelectric
plant the amount of extra power that the hydroelectric plant will
need to generate in order to compensate for the shortfall by the
wind farm 503. The hydroelectric plant 511 will thus be able to
save a predetermined amount of its water reserve for use at a later
time. This amount of water (or electrical equivalent) is held on
account for the wind farm 503 for use at a later time. While not
shown on this figure, any adjustment made in output power from the
wind farm 503 and the hydroelectric plant 511 is communicated to a
system operator so that the system operator may also dispatch
commands regarding adjustments that may need to be made to reactive
power control at the different facilities so as to balance the
reactive power loads placed on the grid. If there is a large
electric distance between the wind power mills and the virtual
energy storage facility, these facilities are able to provide
voltage support at least at two sites, independent of one another.
In the preferred embodiment, the wind power park is able to provide
the voltage support via the xM at the wind power park site, and at
the hydroelectric plant voltage support is provided by synchronous
generators, independent of whether the wind power turbines actually
produce active power at the time of delivery. Thus, the present
embodiment is able to provide adequate voltage control, which is
able to kept to within a predetermined voltage limit at the point
of common connection.
[0070] The connection between the premier power facilities 505, the
renewable energy control center processor 500 and the hydroelectric
plant 511 (as well as the other communication links shown in FIG.
5) may be made by way of an Internet connection, which may use a
combination of land-lines, submarine cables, or wireless links such
as point to point radio frequency links (e.g., microwave,
satellite, MMDS or the like), or a combination thereof Proprietary
or leased wired or wireless links may be used as a substitute or to
complement the Internet connection. In this case, the
communications link between the renewable energy control center
processor 500 and the hydroelectric plant 511 includes at least a
portion of an Internet connection. The control center processor 500
includes a URL that is available for access by the respective wind
farm operators and other electric power plant operators so that a
Web based graphical interface (e.g., Web browser, such as
"EXPLORER" offered by MICROSOFT) is presented to the operators of
the different plants. These operations interface can thus monitor
and control a "ganged" control operation of the wind farm 503 and
the hydroelectric plant 511 for example. Thus, a change in power
production (e.g., above or below planned amounts) at the wind farm
503, is immediately (preferably within a second, although in some
cases with a lag time of a 10 seconds, or in some rare cases a
minute or more) compensated for at the hydroelectric plant 511. A
principal factor in determining the actual delay time is the
response time of the hydroelectric plant 511 to a command from the
wind farm 503 requesting that the gates at the hydroelectric plant
511 be opened or closed by some predetermined amount. When "ganged"
control operation is used, and the response time of the
hydroelectric plant 511 is routinely more than a few seconds, the
processor 500 may use the data from the meteorological data
source/service to predict the amount of surplus/shortfall that will
need to be addressed at some predetermined period of time in the
future (e.g., 10 seconds or more). In this way, the wind farm 503
(or alternatively the hydroelectric plant 511 itself) may dispatch
an "anticipatory" control command to the hydroelectric plant 511,
causing the hydroelectric plant 511 to begin to make the necessary
adjustments for increasing/decreasing the power production based on
the forecasted surplus/shortfall in power production from the wind
farm 503 as a result of predicted wind speed increase or
decrease.
[0071] The communication link is a secure link, provided with
encryption such as by way of a virtual private network (VPN).
Alternatively, instead of a Web interface using the Internet,
digital communication links including proprietary links may also be
used for interfacing the control processors at the hydroelectric
plant 511 and the premier power facilities 505 by way of the
control center processor 500 for example. In this way, when
requests are made by the wind farm 503 to either increase or
decrease the power production level at the hydroelectric plant 511,
the processor (not shown in FIG. 5) at the hydroelectric plant 511
can verify that the premier power facilities 505 associated with
the wind farm 503 has, in fact, saved up enough excess power by way
of its virtual energy storage contract (or other obligation created
with the hydroelectric plant 511) so as to contractually obligate
the hydroelectric plant 511 to produce the requested power.
Furthermore, the hydroelectric plant may simply serve as a "stand
by" energy source, so as to guarantee the output power from a given
wind farm. In this way, if the wind farm 503 would need a certain
amount of power to compensate for a lull in the wind, the wind farm
operator 503 may request that the hydroelectric plant 511 increase
its power output level in the hydroelectric plant 511. Then on a
request-by-request basis, may debit an account held by the wind
farm operator 503 and report the debiting to the billing and
tracking mechanism in the control processor 500 so that after a
predetermined period of time the account may be reconciled and
funds exchanged with the hydroelectric plant 511. This independent
contractual linkage avoids the necessity and expense of having to
purchase power on the spot market, which does not provide the kind
of rapid response time that is most desirable so as to "guarantee"
that the units of power provided by the wind farm (whether produced
from the wind farm itself, or supplemented from output from the
hydroelectric plant 511) are delivered as requested.
[0072] By providing, in a reliable fashion, units of electrical
power that are at least partially derived from the wind farm 503,
enables the wind generated electrical power to be on par with other
types of power in a commercial setting. The present inventors have
recognized that by making this power reliable both in terms of the
quality of the power provided to the grid, and also in terms of the
contractual reliability with which the wind power may be provided
to the grid, perhaps by relationships with virtual energy storage
facilities, wind power units may also be traded on a power market.
As previously discussed, the power exchange 500 includes long term
contracts for providing predetermined amounts of power to the grid.
Thus, by being able to have guaranteed certain output levels of
power from the wind farm, the wind farm operator may also
participate in this power exchange by entering into forward
contracts. It should be stated that while the present invention
discusses wind power as a preferred embodiment it is also
applicable for solar power for example or other time varying power
production facilities.
[0073] Another feature made available by the present invention is
the creation of a renewable power exchange 507, which includes
units of power that may be traded from power production facilities
that use renewable sources of power (solar, wind, hydro, for
example). The renewable exchange is based on the principle that if
certain power production facilities can reliably predict the amount
of power they can produce at any given instant in time, then
contractual relationships may be formed and units of power, that
are perhaps guaranteed, or even made available by way of options
contracts, may be traded in a virtual forum such as in a power
exchange for renewable energy sources. The renewable power exchange
will be based on the principle that units of power for some given
period of time produced by the wind farm, may be predicted with a
certain degree of accuracy, based on meteorological data source and
prediction tool 513.
[0074] This meteorological prediction tool provides a statistical
probability indicating the likelihood of the wind farm actually
producing the amount of power contracted for a given period of
time. Based on this statistical prediction, it is the availability
of that information that is reviewable by different market
participants at the renewable power exchange bidding on the unit of
wind power energy produced by the wind farm at some given period of
time.
[0075] Due to wind power being "green", this type of power is
highly desirable and financial incentives are sometimes offered by
different governments to provide this type of power, or even quotas
placed on power providers for providing a certain amount of green
power as part of their energy portfolio. By providing units of
power that are available for sale, including the statistical
likelihood of the reliability of providing that power, market
participants in a renewable power exchange 507 may purchase the
units of power from wind farm as a forward option. Market
participants may include other wind farm operators such as the
third party wind farm 517 who seek to increase the likelihood of
delivering power for their respective contractual obligations by
accumulating more power product resources. Other operators such as
thermoelectric plant 515 or hydroelectric plant 511 operators may
also purchase the units of wind power and use the control center
processor 500 as a mechanism for guaranteeing that the
hydroelectric plant 511 or thermoelectric plant 515 can increase
its production in the cases when the wind farm in fact has a lull
in wind and cannot produce the required amount of wind generated
electric power. Likewise, the other operators may purchase from a
wind farm operator a surplus of potential energy saved in the wind
farm operator's virtual energy storage account. The potential
energy assets will tend to accumulate in the wind farm operator's
account if the wind turbines experience a greater than predicted
amount of wind.
[0076] The price that a hydroelectric plant operator (or other type
of operator) would be willing to pay would be a function of the
level of renewable energy resources they presently have collected,
or as a result of their optimization process, predict to have in
the future. For example, the price a hydroelectric plant operator
would be willing to pay for wind energy would be relatively high if
the water reserve at the hydroelectric plant is relatively low or
below expectation levels for that particular time during the
season. On the other hand, if the hydroelectric plant operator has
a larger than expected surplus of water reserve, and may even have
to spill some of the water, it is unlikely that that hydroelectric
plant operator would be willing to pay much for the power produced
at the wind form operations. On the other hand, a thermoelectric
plant operator would, on a unit by unit basis, be willing to pay
for the green units of wind power in order to meet their
governmental regulations. Purchasing units of power from a wind
farm operator also saves on fuel, provided that the output levels
and cost from the wind farm are sufficient to offset their reserve
of fossil fuels.
[0077] FIG. 6 is a block diagram that shows the interrelationship
between different components of an overall system that uses
renewable power generation in cooperation with a virtual energy
storage facility so as to provide more efficient and commercially
valuable services for providing wind generated electric power. The
renewable energy control center processor 500 is shown to cooperate
with both the virtual energy storage mechanism, meteorological
service, that includes sensors, weather forecasting, wind to
electric power conversion calculations and the like in order to
provide input to the processor 500 for identifying the likelihood
with which a particular renewable energy producer will be able to
provide a predetermined amount of power. The control center
processor 500 also cooperates with a similar processor in a power
system operation management mechanism 602. The power system
operation management mechanism 602 coordinates both the purchase
requirements for the power exchange as well as the balance
operation, and directing different energy producers to provide
certain amounts of power, including reactive power, in certain time
frames so as to maintain a stable frequency operation and also
avoid reactive power anomalies at certain locations on the
grid.
[0078] The distribution generation 1, includes one or a plurality
of different types of renewable energy sources. These renewable
energy sources include wind, solar and possibly even hydroelectric
sources. Since a plurality of different generators are used, the
generators connect to a collection in transmission grid that
collects the power (which in this embodiment is an HVDC link, which
in turn connects to a substation that includes a co-active
converter). The co-active converter handles the fluctuating power
from the renewable energy sources and primes the power so as to
make the output power substantially conform with that required on
the power grid. Preferably, there is only one connection between
the co-active converter from a single wind farm or multiple wind
farms or a hybrid combination of wind farms with other types of
renewable energy sources. It should be noted that this collection
and transmission grid does not include complicated and expensive
energy storage units located at the wind mills' DC voltage
link.
[0079] The substation may also include an optional prime mover that
can operate off of an external source of fuel such as vegetable
oil, gas, diesel, or compressed air for example. This prime mover
is able to fill the gap between the power that is actually sold,
and the power that is available from the wind. The output of the
power substation is provided to the power grid, which in the
present context includes a transmission and distribution grid. The
transmission and distribution grid interconnects both a large scale
generation facility that connects with the virtual energy storage
device, as well as other large scale generation facilities
substations, distribution operations, as well as the loads that
receive energy from the different electric power generation
facilities.
[0080] The system operation management mechanism 602 coordinates
with the different power production facilities to place regulations
on the amount of power that is provided to the grid. Communications
with the power system operation management may also be provided to
the renewable energy control center processor 500 for restricting
the amount of power that is provided from the renewable energy
sources if appropriate. Furthermore, the renewable energy control
center processor 500, as well as the power system operation
management mechanism 602 that controls an optional feature for
performing load shedding, cooperate to manage and balance the power
that is actually produced versus the actual demand. Load shedding
is achieved by contractual relationships (preferably) with certain
customers who have agreed to have their power cut back at times of
peak need. A feature of the present invention is that the renewable
energy control center processor 500 may also contract, through
private contracts, with separate optional load shedding customers
who have agreed to have their power level demands fluctuate and
diminished purposely when lulls in the wind power are observed. For
example, while the virtual energy storage facility is one mechanism
for converting the excess power produced by renewable power sources
into tangible assets that may be turned into power at a later time
(perhaps by increasing the water volume in a hydroelectric plant's
reservoir), the load shedding operation in connection with the
renewable energy control center processor provides a mechanism for
reducing the demand obligations from selected customers who have
agreed to have their power cut back in times of lowered output
capacity from the wind turbines. Thus, a feature of the present
invention is to coordinate periods of oversupply from a renewable
energy source by storing power production resources at a virtual
energy storage device, and also compensating for output power
deficiencies by either requesting that a release from the reserve
stored at the virtual energy storage facility produce power to
offset the short fall, and/or institute power shedding operations
at predetermined customers who have agreed to have their power cut
back at times of lowered production capacity.
[0081] FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing how the use of
different types of renewable energy sources (such as wind, solar,
wave, tidal, oceanic, based on ocean currents and/or wave action,
or even geothermal), may be combined in a linked fashion with other
types of conventional and controllable power production facilities
such as fossil fuels or hydroelectric power generation. As noted in
FIG. 7, the renewable energy sources are different from fossil
fuels in that fossil fuels have power-limited operation (meaning
that reserves for fuel sources may be stored and compiled without
limit, but the output power by those facilities is limited). Such
operations provide units of power of about 50 cents per watt. On
the other hand, renewable energy sources operate in an energy
limited operation where there is not an ability to store the source
of power without limit.
[0082] Hydroelectric generation is somewhat different in that by
using reservoirs and dams it is possible to control the amount of
preserved fuel source (amount of water) which can be released at a
controlled rate. Thus hydroelectric power can be considered to have
some components of being both energy limited operation as well as
power limited operation, which as identified by the present
inventors is actually an opportunity for a shared relationship with
other types of renewable energy sources. For example, hydroelectric
operators cannot store an infinite amount of water volume, and thus
must spill some of the water in the reserve if the supply becomes
too great. Accordingly, hydroelectric operators must manage the
reserves in a controlled fashion. Since renewable power from wind
turbines provides a time-varying amount of power, the present
inventors have recognized that cooperation between a hydroelectric
operations plant and renewable energy source such as wind turbine
farm has significant synergy in that by linking the two facilities
one with a relatively short time constant (wind-power) with one
having a much longer and predictable time constant (hydroelectric
generation), the aggregate enables the optimization of green power
use. Furthermore, the combination of electricity from wind power
with hydroelectric power provides for a reliable cooperative
generation system that enhances the commercial value of the more
volatile energy source such as wind power or solar power.
[0083] FIG. 8 is a graph that shows the relative amount of electric
power produced from different types of power facilities versus time
(scale does not reflect actual systems necessarily). FIG. 8 shows
generally that hydroelectric power which is a controllable resource
to some extent (as indicated by the variable range with a limited
dynamic range) provides a predetermined amount of power, albeit
under a controlled operation. Nuclear power, which is also
controllable, typically operates in a fixed fashion. Fossil fuel
plants and hydroelectric power plants have a controlled amount of
power output that can be operated from a full production capacity
down to no production at all. Wind generated electric power
however, because it is not considered to be main-stream type of
power, is simply applied to the grid on an as produced basis, and
responsibility falls on the balance provider to reduce the demand
on the spot market to compensate for the amount of power that is
applied to the grid by the wind operators.
[0084] By providing electricity from wind power in this fashion
that is not in any way premier power (meaning that the wind power
is not of the same quality as other sources of electrical power)
places an increased burden on system operators. Moreover, the way
wind power is conventionally handled, without an ability to plan in
advance for the use of a predetermined amount of wind power, causes
the wind power to be another stochastic variable that must be
addressed by the system operator at the same time that varying
loads are addressed. Thus, the burden on system planners is not
only to match the amount of contracted power to meet an
instantaneous load, but also to handle a varying amount of power
that is applied to the power grid by wind turbine operators. Thus
the concern over properly matching, without planned optimization
for the amount of power that is produced is suboptimal. As seen in
FIG. 8, the instantaneous power produced may be below maximum
production capacity, and below a predetermined instantaneous load.
When this occurs, then stored power may be needed to compensate for
the lower than needed maximum power capacity. The other alternative
is to perform load shedding so that the amount of load is
reduced.
[0085] FIG. 9 is a graph like that shown in FIG. 8. However, in
this case the wind power produced (or other type of renewable power
source) is produced as premier power. Furthermore, a feature of the
premier power is that the wind turbine facility has a coupling
relationship with a virtual energy storage facility such as a
hydroelectric power plant, such that the premier power is able to
be handled just as conventional hydroelectric power, nuclear power
or fossil fuel power "units" that are equally fungible and
exchangeable in a market setting. This coupling relationship may be
made with other energy sources, the suitability of which is
determined by different market participants like those acting as
traders dealing with at least one of the energy kinds from the
following list: renewables including hydroelectric power,
thermoelectric power like e.g. fossil or nuclear, combined heat and
power (CHP), for example. By making premier power from wind it is
possible to do forward production planning and optimization by the
system operators. As a consequence, the number of random variables
is reduced and as a consequence, the level of difficulty of balance
control is reduced since the random variable primarily becomes the
amount of load that is experienced by the grid operator from the
consumers. In this way, market efficiencies are also improved as
the burden on significant swings on the spot market to provide
instantaneous power demands (to offset significant variations
between predicted power levels) is reduced, thereby enabling power
producers to more effectively manage and lower the cost for
producing power that is applied to the grid. Furthermore, by making
power from wind turbines into a fungible form of power units,
enables wind power operators to sell the electric output therefrom
in a longer term, such as in options and forward contracts.
[0086] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a wind turbine electrical
power production facility according to the present invention. The
wind turbine electrical power production facility includes one or
more converters, some of which may be embodied as co-active
converters. Wind turbines 503.sub.1-503.sub.N are connected to
respective generators and then to an AC-to-DC converter. In the
wind turbine 503.sub.N, a transformer may be used between the
generator and the AC-to-DC converter(s). A large number of wind
turbine based generators may be used according to the present
invention, as described in Swedish Patent Application 9904753-2,
filed in the Swedish Patent Office on Dec. 23, 1999, or Swedish
Patent Application 9904740-9, filed on the same day in the Swedish
Patent Office, the entire contents of each of which being
incorporated herein by reference. As seen in the wind turbine
503.sub.1, no transformer is used, as described in PCT/SE97/00878,
filed on May 27, 1997, the entire contents of which being
incorporated herein by reference.
[0087] The output of each AC-to-DC converters is a DC electricity
source that is applied to a collection and transmission grid
(C&T grid) 1001. A detailed description of how the collection
transmission grid is established may be found in the above
identified Swedish Patent Application 9904740-9 and thus will not
be further discussed herein. With the DC power aggregated and
distributed over a HVDC link, the positive and negative lines from
this HVDC link are output from the collection and transmission grid
1001 and applied to a premier power facilities 505.
[0088] In the premier power facility 505 a processor 500 is used to
control operations and to control communications between the wind
farm facility and premier power facilities 505 and other systems
such as priming source No. 1 511.sub.1 or priming source No. 2
511.sub.N. Likewise communication links (physical or wireless
links) may connect to other systems and devices as shown previously
in FIG. 5. Positive and negatives legs of the DC source from the
collection and transmission grid 1001 are applied to first and
second DC-to-AC inverters that produce output waveforms that match
to the frequency and reactive power requirements of the
transnational grid as shown. The DC-to-AC inverters (may be power
electronics inverters that uses insulated gate bipolar transistors
as switches to actively control switching operations by way of PWM
control signals. Positioned across the output lines from the
DC-to-AC inverters are a prime mover and a rotating electric
machine referred to here as "xM". The prime mover may be any one of
a gas engine, diesel engine, steam turbine, expander turbine,
hydroelectric water wheel, water turbine or the like, perhaps even
being supplied with compressed air storage facility. Mechanical
energy imparted by the prime mover may be applied to the xM in
order to operate the xM as a generator, one type of rotating
electric machine. By employing the combination of the prime mover
with the xM (or optionally just the xM by itself), the co-active
converter provides a power "priming" operation that converts
low-quality energy into premier electric powers discussed
herein.
[0089] The co-active converter performs a frequency conversion
function (e.g., converting from non-stable AC to a fixed, standard
AC output, or more preferably converting an output from a high
voltage DC link to a fixed, standard AC. However, the co-active
converter also provides a controllable amount of active and
reactive (independently controllable) the power grid. Thus, by
incorporating a co-active converter, the present invention can
adapt power from a renewable energy power production facility,
which may have an unstable output and make the power suitable for
meeting the specifications (e.g., reactive power control,
short-circuit power, suppressed harmonics and the like) placed by
grid operators on other power producers. As seen in FIG. 10, the
coactive converter portion of the premier power facilities 505 is
disposed between two sets of terminals (i.e., one set provided from
the HVDC link from the C&T grid 1001 and the other being the
connection to the Large scale transmission grid. Preferably, the
co-active converter includes a DC-to-AC converter (shown), a
rotating converter (shown), and a power transformer (shown),
although other configurations are possible as well. The co-active
converter includes at least one static or rotating converter from
the following:
[0090] 1. A frequency converter that operates to convert from
between DC to a frequency standard (e.g., 50 Hz or 60 Hz) AC
(shown);
[0091] 2. A frequency converter that operates to convert from
between variable low-frequency (e.g., 3 Hz to 10 Hz) AC to a
frequency standard AC;
[0092] 3. A frequency converter that operates to convert from
constant low-frequency AC to a frequency standard AC;
[0093] 4. A rotating converter that supplies reactive and/or active
power to frequency standard AC; and
[0094] 5. A power transformer that adapts a voltage level and
provides for short circuit level operation, and is preferably a
static device (as opposed to a rotating device).
[0095] The rotating converters are preferably a rotating electric
machine that may act as a reactive compensator and optionally act
as an electrical generator driven by a prime mover. By having the
prime mover, the rotating converter is able to offer the following
advantages:
[0096] a. start-up the power grid after a major fault;
[0097] b. partly or wholly add active power (for helping to "prime"
the power generated by the wind turbine);
[0098] c. partly or wholly supplying reactive power to the power
grid and optionally to the frequency converter so as to prime the
electrical power generated by the wind turbine;
[0099] d. reduce the low order harmonic pollution caused by the
frequency converter;
[0100] e. support the active AC for the operation of the frequency
converter;
[0101] f. release a dependency of the frequency converter's active
and reactive control from one another (e.g., stationary, when
implemented with thyristors valves, or during fault, based on
transistor valves);
[0102] g. symmetrizing the power grid at the AC terminals of the
co-active converter;
[0103] h. supply short-circuit power during fault operations.
[0104] With regard to the short-circuit power discussed above, the
present inventors have recognized that having a sufficient reactive
power capability during a time of short circuit fault and/or faults
to ground, the co-active converter should have sufficient current
capacity to trip a circuit protection device, such as a circuit
breaker. Furthermore, with regard to the use of a prime mover, the
present inventors have recognized that an additional energy supply
capability from a rotating electric machine, driven by a prime
mover does two things. First, it enables the supply of a failing
energy--compared to prognosticated and sold energy--during normal
operations. Second, it supplies energy for, normally rare, state-up
procedures, such as a black-grid start. Furthermore, by having a xM
(i.e., a rotating converter that is a rotating electric machine, a
compensator, connected as a shunt element near a point on common
connection to the power grid), as part of the co-active converter,
the xM provides an energy storage capability that is useful during
faults where the voltage sags and the transferable power capability
from wind to grid is temporarily reduced to as low as 5 to 10% of
nominal value during a fault time that may last 0.2 seconds (a
power grid operator's specified conditions). Finally, the energy
storage capability helps to eliminate voltage flicker due to tower
shadow and wind gusts during normal operation.
[0105] The reactive power in the co-active converter is created in
a combination of units: the DC-to-AC converters and the rotating
electric machine (i.e. xM). The reactive power may then be
transmitted to the AC power grid or held at zero if the utility
demand is zero. Net-commutated converters will consume some
reactive power provided by the xM, while self-commutated converters
can consume or produce some reactive power. The present inventors
have observed that, from a dynamics point of view, the
self-commutated converter (which uses IGBTs as semiconductor
valves) consumes reactive power provided by the xM. On the other
hand, net-commutated converters (which use SCRs, thyristors, as
power semiconductor valves) have an advantage in that their power
semiconductor valves are fewer by a factor of 3 to 30, as compared
with self-commutated converters.
[0106] Preferably, the xM is a two-winding machine with two sets of
AC three-phase windings arranged in the stator and exposed to both
AC and DC fields when in operation. While the xM may be a
synchronous machine that operates at constant speed, it is
preferable to use an adjustable speed machine that may uses
brush-less drives or brush-based drives, such as Static Scherbius
drives.
[0107] A feature of the premier power is that it allows the
renewable energy source such as wind power to be afforded the
advantages of other types of electrical power generation sources
such as hydroelectric power without however the expensive bulk cost
for energy storage such as with hydrogen or fuel cells or electric
chemical actuator batteries or the like.
[0108] The processor 500 serves as a controller to control a mode
of operation for the xM. The xM may also operate as a motor for
example so as to serve as a sink of reactive power as well, thus
the terminology "xM", referring to either a generator of a motor
for example. Whether the output power is partially supplied from
the xM or from only the DC to AC inverters, the output power is
coupled onto transmission lines as part of the transnational grid.
Of course, the connection may also be to feeder lines that connect
to the transnational grid. The transmission lines of the
transnational grid also include various loads, industrial loads
1005, commercial loads 1007, and sheddable loads 1009, previously
discussed.
[0109] Due to the physical location of the connection between the
premier power facilities 505 and other places on the transnational
grid, it may be that the system operator requires that the premier
power facilities 505 impart a certain amount of reactive power onto
the grid so as to manage the reactive power balance in the grid.
Reactive power is closely connected to voltage control, which is
applied to ensure satisfactory operation and distribution of
electrical power across the grid. FIG. 10 is helpful to illustrate
this point in that if the premier power facilities 505 has a
cooperative arrangement with one of the priming sources 511.sub.1,
511.sub.N, the premier power facilities 505 may input its source of
electricity onto the transmission lines at one point of the grid,
which in turn may be sinked at one of the commercial loads for
example. Thus, although the electrons placed on the grid at the
location of the premier power facilities 505 occurs at a specific
location, there are certain access rights that may be need to be
required (as will be discussed below) in order for the premier
power facilities 505 to work cooperatively with the priming source
511.sub.1 because the priming source 511.sub.1 will have different
access rights than the premier power facilities 505.
[0110] While the DC-to-AC inverters as part of the premier power
facilities are shown, it should also be recognized that the
inverters may take the form of variable low-frequency AC or
constant low-frequency AC output from the collection and
transmission grid 101. The frequency with which the inverters
operate may be controlled to either operate at 50 Hz or 60 Hz AC,
for example.
[0111] The components of the co-active converter located between
the collection transmission grid 1001 and the AC link to the power
grid may include several variations. The various embodiments that
form the co-active converter includes at least one static or
rotating converter from the following items:
[0112] 1. A frequency converter that converts from DC to a standard
frequency such as fixed 50 Hz or 60 Hz AC,
[0113] 2. variable low-frequency AC to frequency standard AC,
[0114] 3. frequency converter from constant low-frequency AC to
frequency standard AC,
[0115] 4. rotating converter supplying reactive and/or active power
to frequency standard AC, or
[0116] 5. a power transformer for voltage adaptation and for
adjusting short circuit level where the frequency converter is
preferably a static converter while a rotating converter is
preferably a rotating electric machine that acts as a reactive
compensator and optionally acts as an electric generator driven by
a prime mover. The rotating electric machine may be either an AC
shunt machine alone or the combination of an AC shunt machine and a
series (e.g., connected as a series link in one of the power grid
lines connected to the actual substation) AC machine as described
in Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication PCT/EP 98/007744, the
entire contents of which being incorporated herein by
reference.
[0117] The rotating electric machine is able to perform the
functions of
[0118] providing start-up power for the power grid after major
faults;
[0119] partly or wholly add active electric power that "primes" the
wind power;
[0120] partly or wholly supplying reactive power to the power grid
and optionally to the frequency converter which assists in priming
the power and reducing the harmonic pollution from the frequency
converter itself.
[0121] In one mode of operation the processor 500 controls the xM
to produce priming energy that is added to the composite output
from the various wind turbine devices that feed the collection and
transmission grid 101. The co-active converter provides
supplementary power to that provided from the wind turbine facility
when the processor 500 determines that output from the wind turbine
facility is insufficient to maintain the required output voltage or
frequency. Visually, this priming energy may be considered to be
the equivalent of the cooperation between the hydroelectric power
and the premier wind power shown in FIG. 9. Moreover, the power
provided by the xM will supplement the output from the wind power
resources so as to provide a guaranteed level of service that
permits the operators of wind turbine facilities to enter into
forward contracts. Alternatively, the combination of wind generated
electric power that is supplemented with the priming power from the
xM, may be used in combination with a hydroelectric power so as to
be able to offer for sale "hybrid" power units, at least a portion
of which include electrical power generated from wind farm, having
a premier power facility.
[0122] Functional features of the co-active converter aside from
providing supplemental power also include providing a source of
reactive power, suppressing harmonics (perhaps by way of a PWM
control for an actively switched inverter), provisions for
providing short circuit power in the event of a fault in the
transmission grid, steady state symmetry, and optionally providing
short term or continuous active power from the prime mover which is
preferably adjusted using a power transformer. Other features
describing the reactive power control by using a constant frequency
machine as a motor or a generator is described in PCT Application
PCT/SE 00/00724, filed Apr. 17, 2000, and a rotating system for
providing power stabilization is described in PCT/SE 00/00781,
filed Apr. 30, 1999, the entire of contents of each of which being
incorporated herein by reference.
[0123] With regard to providing supplemental grid protection
systems, one technique is to provide a system that is able to make
use of time stamped quantities, as well as quantities derived
therefrom as a base for protection decisions. This may be
accomplished with a protection system that uses at least three
system protection terminals that are introduced as suitable
locations in the electric power system. The system protection
terminals are interconnected by a communication system, using
substantially dedicated communications resources. At least two of
the system protection terminals are equipped to collect measurement
signals associated with characteristics of the power system at that
particular location. The measurements preferably include complex AC
quantities and stability indicators. The signals are processed and
data related to the measurements are spread on the dedicated
communication resource to the other system protection terminals. At
least two of the terminals are equipped to evaluate the condition
of the local part of the power network and if necessary provide
control signals to the power system units. The evaluation is based
on selected parts of the data available on the communication
resource, locally available data and/or externally entered data.
The system protection terminals include memory for storing data and
so the data provides a near history of system information as well
as the older measurements. Each system protection terminal has
access to at least two communication links of the communications
system. Each system protection terminal includes a processor and
communication mechanism, as well as a local database. This
technique is described more fully in commonly owned, co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled "System
Protection Scheme", filed in the US on Aug. 31, 2000, and also
filed in Sweden on May 31, 2000 as application No. 0002050-3, each
application having inventors Lof and Gertmar in common with the
present document (with the addition of Karlsson in the US
application and Swedish application), the entire contents of which
being incorporated herein by reference.
[0124] Power system analysis and protection have always developed
interactively. Since the beginning of the electrification era,
equipment protection has been very important, in order not to
destroy the components in the power system in case of faults. Today
the electric supply is so important to the entire society and the
cost of interruptions so high that large efforts have to be made in
order to keep up the electric power supply and mitigate wide area
disturbances. Protective actions might therefore have to be taken,
even in situations where no power system equipment is subject to be
immediately damaged. One therefore often distinguishes between unit
or equipment protection on one side and system protection on the
other side. System Protection Scheme (SPS) is the common name used
when the focus for the protection is on the power system supply
capability rather than on a specific equipment. SPS was earlier the
acronym for Special Protection Scheme, also known as Remedial
Action Scheme (RAS), with basically the same meaning as System
Protection Scheme is today. The word special is nowadays replaced
by system, since it is more relevant to describe this type of
protection.
[0125] A System Protection Scheme (SPS) or Remedial Action Scheme
(RAS) is designed to detect abnormal system conditions and take
predetermined, corrective action (other than the isolation of
faulted elements) to preserve system integrity and provide
acceptable system performance. SPS actions, include among others,
changes in load (e.g. load shedding), generation, or system
configuration to maintain system stability, acceptable voltages or
power flows. SPS are preferably local equipment coordinated by
overall system studies. Many SPS, however, rely on system-wide
communication.
[0126] Transmission devices designed to provide dynamic control of
electric system behaviour, which typically involve feedback control
mechanisms using power electronics to achieve the desired electric
system dynamic response, during normal operation conditions, must
not be considered as SPS but instead as transmission control
devices. Examples of such equipment and devices include: static var
compensators, power system stabilisers, active or reactive power
flow controllers and reactive power compensation. The word control
means continuous action during normal conditions on the controlled
equipment. Emergency control involves other control actions,
(usually included in the main controller, but out of operation
under normal situations), that handle the operation in abnormal
situations. Shift of control mode from normal operation to
emergency control can be classified as an SPS, e.g. normal HVDC
control to Emergency Power Control for fast power change.
[0127] The processor of FIG. 11 may be used to perform a
communications transport function for interfacing with different
applications as part of a stacked protocol architecture. In such a
configuration, the processor 500 performs signal creation,
transmission and reception functions as a communications service to
control applications that send data to the processor and receive
data from the processor. Moreover, the processor 500 may be used to
provide a wireless or wired communications function to any one of a
variety of devices such as wind turbine facility 350, meteorlogic
source/service 351, and control facility 353. Thus, the processor
of FIG. 11 may be used as part of a local area network (LAN)
connecting fixed structures or as part of a wireless personal area
network (WPAN) connecting mobile devices, for example. In any such
implementation, all or a portion of the present invention may be
conveniently implemented in a microprocessor system using
conventional general purpose microprocessors programmed according
to the teachings of the present invention, as will be apparent to
those skilled in the microprocessor systems art. Appropriate
software can be readily prepared by programmers of ordinary skill
based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will be
apparent to those skilled in the software art.
[0128] FIG. 11 illustrates a processor system 500 upon which an
embodiment according to the present invention may be implemented.
Of course the processor system 500 may also be implemented as a
separate processor-based controller, different from the processor
500 (FIG. 5, or as a subcomponent of the processor in FIG. 5). The
system 500 includes a bus 303 or other communication mechanism for
communicating information, and a circuit-board based processor 305
coupled with the bus 303 for processing the information. The
processor system 301 also includes a main memory 307, such as a
random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device (e.g.,
dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM),
flash RAM), coupled to the bus 303 for storing information and
instructions to be executed by the processor 305. In addition, a
main memory 307 may be used for storing temporary variables or
other intermediate information during execution of instructions to
be executed by the processor 305. The system 301 further includes a
read only memory (ROM) 309 or other static storage device (e.g.,
programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), and electrically
erasable PROM (EEPROM)) coupled to the bus 303 for storing static
information and instructions for the processor 305. A storage
device 311, such as a magnetic disk or optical disc, is provided
and coupled to the bus 303 for storing information and
instructions.
[0129] The processor system 301 may also include special purpose
logic devices (e.g., application specific integrated circuits
(ASICs)) or configurable logic devices (e.g, simple programmable
logic devices (SPLDs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs),
or re-programmable field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)). Other
removable media devices (e.g., a compact disc, a tape, and a
removable magneto-optical media) or fixed, high density media
drives, may be added to the system 301 using an appropriate device
bus (e.g., a small system interface (SCSI) bus, an enhanced
integrated device electronics (IDE) bus, or an ultra-direct memory
access (DMA) bus). The system 301 may additionally include a
compact disc reader, a compact disc reader-writer unit, or a
compact disc juke box, each of which may be connected to the same
device bus or another device bus.
[0130] The processor system 500 may be coupled via the bus 303 to a
display 313, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal
display (LCD) or the like, for displaying information to a system
user. The display 313 may be controlled by a display or graphics
card. The processor system 301 includes input devices, such as a
keyboard or keypad 315 and a cursor control 317, for communicating
information and command selections to the processor 305. The cursor
control 317, for example, is a mouse, a trackball, or cursor
direction keys for communicating direction information and command
selections to the processor 305 and for controlling cursor movement
on the display 313. In addition, a printer may provide printed
listings of the data structures or any other data stored and/or
generated by the processor 500.
[0131] The processor 500 performs a portion or all of the
processing steps of the invention in response to the processor 305
executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions
contained in a memory, such as the main memory 307. Such
instructions may be read into the main memory 307 from another
computer-readable medium, such as a storage device 311. One or more
processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed
to execute the sequences of instructions contained in the main
memory 307. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be
used in place of or in combination with software instructions.
Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of
hardware circuitry and software.
[0132] As stated above, the processor 500 includes at least one
computer readable medium or memory programmed according to the
teachings of the invention and for containing data structures,
tables, records, or other data described herein. Stored on any one
or on a combination of computer readable media, the present
invention includes software for controlling the processor 500, for
driving a device or devices for implementing the invention, and for
enabling the processor 500 to interact with a human user. Such
software may include, but is not limited to, device drivers,
operating systems, development tools, and applications software.
Such computer readable media further includes the computer program
product of the present invention for performing all or a portion
(if processing is distributed) of the processing performed in
implementing the invention.
[0133] The processor 500 is also configured to perform an
investment management function. In one instance, the processor 500
serves as a mutual fund portfolio management mechanism that keeps
track of contributions (money or potential energy assets) from
different investors, that have a monetary value. The processor 500
then assigns shares to the respective investors based on the amount
of their contributions. With the pooled contributions, the
processor 500 then purchases a portfolio of power units, for
delivery at different times. Power units purchased on behalf of the
mutual fund may be offered for sale on the renewable exchange, or
via bilateral contracts with other purchasers. Whether purchased
prior to a delivery date, or delivered to the power grid at the
appropriate delivery date, the processor 500 keeps track of
remuneration received in return for relinquishing ownership of the
power unit or delivering the power unit to the power grid.
Subsequently, the processor 500 distributes the remuneration among
the outstanding shares, such that each share has a market value
thereof adjusted based on the revenue received from the sale or
delivery of the power unit. Calculation of factors such as profits,
losses, and tax liability from a portfolio or group of funds is
known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,056, the content of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0134] The processor 500 may also be used as a mechanism for
helping to manage an investment portfolio of renewable power
production facilities. As in the case above, where power units are
bought and sold/delivered, investors also provide contributions and
are assigned shares. However, the assets that are purchased are not
power units, but rather the renewable power production facilities
themselves. The capital acquired from the contributions is used to
purchase a predetermined number of renewable power production
facilities, and to operate the facilities. Power units produced
from the renewable power production units are sold, stored in a
virtual energy storage facility, or delivered as part of a delivery
contract. Remuneration received for the power units is distributed
(apportioned) amongst the outstanding shares.
[0135] The computer code devices of the present invention may be
any interpreted or executable code mechanism, including but not
limited to scripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries,
Java or other object oriented classes, and complete executable
programs. Moreover, parts of the processing of the present
invention may be distributed for better performance, reliability,
and/or cost.
[0136] The term "computer readable medium" as used herein refers to
any medium that participates in providing instructions to the
processor 305 for execution. A computer readable medium may take
many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media,
volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media
includes, for example, optical, magnetic disks, and magneto-optical
disks, such as the storage device 311. Volatile media includes
dynamic memory, such as the main memory 307. Transmission media
includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including
the wires that comprise the bus 303. Transmission media may also
take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated
during radio wave and infrared data communications.
[0137] Common forms of computer readable media include, for
example, hard disks, floppy disks, tape, magneto-optical disks,
PROMs (EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EPROM), DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, or any other
magnetic medium, compact disks (e.g., CD-ROM), or any other optical
medium, punch cards, paper tape, or other physical medium with
patterns of holes, a carrier wave, carrierless transmissions, or
any other medium from which a system can read.
[0138] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in
providing one or more sequences of one or more instructions to the
processor 305 for execution. For example, the instructions may
initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The
remote computer can load the instructions for implementing all or a
portion of the present invention remotely into a dynamic memory and
send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem
local to system 301 may receive the data on the telephone line and
use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared
signal. An infrared detector coupled to the bus 303 can receive the
data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on the bus
303. The bus 303 carries the data to the main memory 307, from
which the processor 305 retrieves and executes the instructions.
The instructions received by the main memory 307 may optionally be
stored on a storage device 311 either before or after execution by
the processor 305.
[0139] The processor 500 also includes a communication interface
319 coupled to the bus 303. The communications interface 319
provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link
321 that is connected to a communications network 323 such as a
local network (LAN) or personal area network (PAN) 323. For
example, the communication interface 319 may be a network interface
card to attach to any packet switched enabled personal area network
(PAN) 323. As another example, the communication interface 319 may
be an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) card, an
integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, or a modem to
provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of
communications line. The communications interface 319 may also
include the hardware to provide a two-way wireless communications
coupling other than a wireless coupling, or a hardwired coupling to
the network link 321.
[0140] The network link 321 typically provides data communication
through one or more networks to other data devices. For example,
the network link 321 may provide a connection through a LAN to a
host computer 325 or to data equipment operated by a service
provider, which provides data communication services through an IP
(Internet Protocol) network 327. Moreover, the network link 321 may
provide a connection through a PAN 323 to a control device 353
facility that communicates with an electrical energy production
facility 352 that provides power to the grid 357. The LAN/PAN
communications network 323 and IP network 327 both use electrical,
electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams.
The signals through the various networks and the signals on the
network link 321 and through the communication interface 319, which
carry the digital data to and from the processor 500, are exemplary
forms of carrier waves transporting the information. The processor
500 can transmit notifications and receive data, including program
code, through the network(s), the network link 321 and the
communication interface 319.
[0141] The processor 500 in the premier power facilities 505 thus
controls the priming energy source, which is the prime mover and
the xM in the example shown in FIG. 10 and/or external sources so
as to supplement the output power from the wind turbines when a
lull in wind activity prevents the wind turbines from generating a
sufficient amount of output power. The processor 500 also controls
start-up procedures where the prime mover may be used to excite the
xM to produce sufficient power, thus reducing the possibility that
a harmonic-rich transient is applied to the transnational grid. The
output power from the premier power facilities 505 is monitored by
the processor 500 which can coordinate activities between locally
generated power and virtual energy storage facilities that may be
used to supplement power output from the premier power facilities
505. Furthermore, the processor 505 also handles fault procedures
so as to be considered by system operators as being on equal
footing with power that is provided from these other sources. One
such fault procedure is to be able to provide a sufficient amount
of current to trip circuit breakers used for protecting the
transnational grid. In one embodiment in order to provide a high
short circuit power level, the active power from the prime mover
may be adjusted by charging a top setting on a power
transformer.
[0142] FIGS. 12-18 show different data structures for messages used
in various methods described in flowcharts of FIGS. 20-33.
[0143] FIG. 12 is a data structure for a message format for a
signal that is sent from a wind turbine operator from the processor
in the premier power facilities 505 when offering a predetermined
amount of power as a power unit at a predetermined period of time.
The offer is made, in reference to FIG. 5, on a renewable exchange
507. As previously discussed with regard to Nord Pool, forward
contract bids are provided for units of power at some time in the
future, for predetermined levels and for predetermined periods of
time. The present message indicates the predetermined period of
time and produces a power quantity in the single message as shown
in FIG. 12, along with a statistical indicator, derived from
meteorological data and past performance data so as to indicate a
likelihood of actually providing that quantity of power. As
previously discussed, with renewable energy sources such as wind
power it is a stochastic process with regard to the actual amount
of power that is produced, depending on the wind speed from time to
time. The statistical indicator is provided by the meteorological
data source/service 513, which either is in the form of data and
then interpreted by the processor 500 so as to provide a
statistical indicator, or alternatively, the data is provided on a
wind farm-by-wind farm basis as a meteorological data service. In
the present embodiment, the message is sent in the form of an
Internet protocol message to the renewable power exchange 507.
[0144] The renewable power exchange is hosted on a secure Internet
link, where a web interface is provided by the processor 500
addressing a URL over the Internet to the renewable power exchange
web connection. The connection between the processor 500 and
renewable power exchange 507, is known, as is described on pages
1-40, and 122-166 of Gralla, P., "How the Internet Works", Que,
August 1999, ISBN 0-7897-2132-5, the entire contents of which being
incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, the link may be a
secure link such as by way of a virtual private network and also
may use encryption schemes so as to verify and authenticate
different users who are authorized to use the system. Various
safeguarding techniques including the use of fire walls,
cryptography such as RSA cryptography and the like is found in
pages 270-304 of Gralla. An operator of the processor 500 may
receive continual bid streams from the renewable power exchange
507, by the renewable power exchange website downloading Java, Java
Script or ActiveX files to the processor, so as to provide active
content to the operator when considering bid and offer prices for
particular renewable power units that are for sale. Furthermore, in
one embodiment the processor 500 updates its message as shown in
FIG. 12, to indicate that the meteorological data source/service
513 has updated the statistical indicator, thus increasing or
decreasing the likelihood that the particular wind turbine would be
able to produce a predetermined quantity of produced power.
[0145] FIG. 13 is another data structure for a message that is sent
from the processor 500 or another market participant in the
renewable power exchange 507, where a particular hybrid power unit
is offered for sale for a particular power quantity (denomination),
time period and offer price. The power unit may provide an
indication that the type of power unit includes a "green"
component, thus offering a premium over other types of power. The
fields in the message shown in FIG. 13 include a power unit ID,
quantity of power produced, time period and offer price. The type
of power included in the power unit may include a primary component
of wind power generated electricity, although supplemented or
"guaranteed" by a virtual energy storage device in which the
offerer of the power unit has a contractual agreement so as to be
able to reliably provide the power if requested to do so or are
contractually obligated to do so.
[0146] FIG. 14 is a data structure with fields of a message that is
used by market participants in the renewable power exchange 507.
The data fields include a power unit ID, quantity of produced
power, time period and price. If the price equals the offer price,
an agreement is made at the renewable power exchange 507 and both
market participants (the offerer, as well as the seller of the
power unit) are notified by way of E-mail (or other communication
mechanism such as by the postal service or telephone) informing the
parties that the agreement has been made. Once made, the purchaser
is provided with the data regarding the sale and the offerer
identifies the time period in which the offerer is required to
deliver the power to the grid. After the offerer indicates that the
power has been delivered according to the contract, the wind power
provider provides a reporting message to the original purchaser of
the wind power unit so that the purchaser is made aware of the fact
that the contractual obligation has been met.
[0147] The data structure shown in FIG. 15 is like that shown in
FIGS. 13 and 14, although it includes the actual sale price of the
power unit that has been guaranteed by way of a virtual energy
storage facility. One would expect that the price offered for a
guaranteed power unit is greater than that for a power unit
including a green power component that is not guaranteed.
[0148] FIG. 16 is a data structure corresponding with a message
indicating that the guaranteed power unit was in fact delivered and
includes data fields including the quantity of delivered power as
well as confirmation of delivery.
[0149] FIG. 17 is a data structure of a digital message provided by
the processor 500 which identifies an amount by which a voltage is
below a predetermined threshold to be output by a wind farm
operator (such as in the case of FIG. 10). In association with that
amount of voltage threshold a corresponding tap setting or voltage
control mechanism for the xM or transformer mechanism is stored in
association therewith. Accordingly, when the processor 500
indicates that the output voltage has dropped below a predetermined
threshold, a corresponding control signal may be formed by
identifying the corresponding tap setting that may be needed to
increase the voltage compensation by way of the xM or transformer,
or other corrective action such as by exciting the xM so as to
supplement the power to continue to make the power premium power in
the event of a wind lull.
[0150] FIG. 18 is a data structure for a message sent between the
processor 500 and one or more of the priming sources 511.sub.1 or
511.sub.N as shown in FIG. 10. The purpose of this message is to
indicate to the priming sources 511.sub.1, 511.sub.N that the wind
turbines have in fact produced a predetermined amount of power and
identify the time period over which the power was provided. In this
way, the priming sources 511.sub.1 and 511.sub.N may for planning
purposes be able to determine the level of output power that they
need to produce in order to comply with budgeting optimization
purposes.
[0151] FIG. 19 is a block diagram like that shown in FIG. 6
although it includes additional features to show that the system
according to the present invention is scalable to incorporate
control operations for a number of different generation facilities.
For example, in FIG. 19 a scalable processor 1905 performs similar
functions to that provided by control center processor 500 and in
fact may be parallel processor, or a redundant processor so as to
support the operations performed by the control center processor
500. Like with the control center processor 500, the scalable
processor 1905 receives meteorological source and service
information from a mechanism 1903 and uses the same to coordinate
with renewable energy control center processor 500 controlling the
distribution and coordination of distributed assets from multiple
generation facilities, which in turn feed power to substations,
distribution grids and specific industrial commercial loads as
shown. The power system operation management mechanism 1901
provides communications to the scalable processor 1905 by way of
proprietary and/or virtual private network, and secure
communications by way of the renewable energy control center
processor 500. A local bus interconnects the scalable processor
1905 with the control center processor 500 as shown.
[0152] FIG. 20 is a flowchart describing a method for creating
premier power from a wind turbine facility according to the present
invention. The process begins in step S2001 where a wind turbine
electric power production facility produces a time-varying output
power. The process then proceeds to step S2001 where the output
voltage (or alternatively the reactive power) can be determined to
be above or below a predetermined level. This voltage determination
may be made over a predetermined period of time such as one second,
one minute, 10 minutes or greater. If the response to the inquiry
in step S2003 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2005
where the control center processor provides a control signal to the
voltage compensation mechanism that is connected between the
inverter output of the wind turbine facility and the power grid.
The process then proceeds to step S2007 where the change in a tap
setting of the voltage compensation mechanism is actuated, or
additional power is generated perhaps from the xM device in an
alternative embodiment. A further alternative embodiment is to use
energy that has been stored at a virtual energy storage mechanism
such as a hydroplant that has relationship with the wind power
provider. In this way, the composite power produced from the wind
power facility and the virtual energy storage facility is made to
provide the voltage necessary to support contractual
requirements.
[0153] The process proceeds to step S2009 which provides power to
the voltage compensation mechanism from the power release device
which includes either the xM, compressed air system (CAES),
battery, fuel cell, hydro or some other combustible fuel source.
The process then proceeds to step S2011 where a determination is
made regarding whether auxiliary power is still required. If the
response to the inquiry in step S2011 is affirmative, the process
returns to step S2009 where additional power is released. If the
response to the inquiry in step S2011 is negative, the process
proceeds to step S2013 where the process implemented in step S2007
or S2009 is removed so that all the power is provided by the wind
turbine generation unit. Subsequently the process ends.
[0154] If the response to the inquiry in step S2003 is negative,
the process proceeds to step S2015 where a determination is made
regarding whether a fault is detected in the power grid. If the
response to the inquiry in step S2015 is negative, the process
returns to step S2003. However, if the response to the inquiry in
step S2015 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2017 where
the premier power facility produces a sufficient short circuit
power to the grid connection so as to provide sufficient current to
trip a circuit breaker, thus disconnecting the structure from the
power grid and preventing any damage. After step S2017, the process
returns to step S2003.
[0155] FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a method for virtually
storing electric power generated from wind turbines. The process
begins in step S2101 where the electric energy is generated from a
wind turbine facility (such as a single wind turbine facility or a
farm of wind turbines). The process then proceeds to step S2103
where premier power is produced from the generated electric energy.
The process then proceeds to step S2015 where an inquiry is made
regarding whether the wind operator opts to sell power for
immediate use on the grid. If the response to the inquiry in step
S2105 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2107 where the
operator delivers the power and receives money from the system
operator for providing that power. The process then returns to step
S2101. However, if the response to the inquiry in step S2105 is
affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2109. In step S2109 the
operator of the wind turbine facility contacts an existing power
provider with an offer to substitute wind generated electric power
for power that would otherwise be provided to the existing power
provider.
[0156] After the wind turbine operator has contacted the existing
power provider, the process proceeds to step S2111 where the
existing power provider proposed restrictions and conditions on
when the provider of the wind generated power can demand a release
of "virtually stored" energy. The reason why the existing power
provider would pose restrictions on the release of this energy is
that the existing power provider has made its own optimization plan
for reserved energy sources for release at predetermined times
during the year. For example, an existing power provider would in
all likelihood not be willing to allow a wind turbine operator to
withdraw the last 10% of the hydro reserve if the existing power
provider had unforeseen unforecasted and unplanned water reserves
at that particular time during the year.
[0157] After step S2111 the process then proceeds to step S2113
where an inquiry is made regarding whether the existing power
provider and the operator of the wind turbine facility reach
agreement. If the response to the inquiry in step S2113 is
negative, the process proceeds to step S2115 where the wind turbine
operator finds an alternative power provider to serve as a virtual
energy storage facility. Once agreement is reached, the process
ends.
[0158] If the response to the inquiry in step S2113 is affirmative,
the process proceeds to step S2117 where the wind turbine generated
power is applied to the grid and a corresponding amount of power
from existing power provider is not generated at that particular
time. Rather, the potential or chemical energy stored in a virtual
energy storage plant for generating power at a later time is
preserved, which in the case of the hydroelectric plant, would mean
that the water that would otherwise be used to generate a
predetermined amount of power would not be used to turn a hydro
turbine. After step S2117, the process proceeds to step S2119 where
the wind generated power provider directs an existing power
provider to convert the virtual energy stored on behalf of the
provider of the wind power into electrical energy. The process then
proceeds to step S2121 where the existing power provider releases
the virtual energy so as to produce requisite power for meeting the
wind turbine operator's energy requirements, and then the process
ends.
[0159] FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a method employed in an
Internet-based secure form for providing virtual energy storage
trading of renewable energy resources. The process begins in step
S2001 where an administrator, or owner, of a participant in a
renewable trading market identifies an address such as a URL or IP
address of one or a group of candidate existing providers.
Alternatively, the address identified may be that of a URL of a
website hosted by a renewable power exchange website that may be
hosted by the control center processor 500 (FIG. 5). The process
then proceeds to step S2203 where the operator of the renewable
power exchange (automatically or manually) determines whether the
wind provider or agent is approved for offering for sale or even
trading on the renewable power exchange. Only predetermined
entities who are licensed or otherwise agreed upon as being viable
trading entities are authorized to trade on the renewable power
exchange 507. The process then proceeds after authentication to
step S2205 where a message is formed, either digitally, analog or a
hybrid message (digital and analog or some hybrid combination) so
as to indicate the amount of power, amount of time and user code of
the wind generated power system that requests "virtual energy"
storage. The process then proceeds to step S2207 where an inquiry
is made regarding whether there is an acceptance of the virtual
storage from existing providers or approved brokers. If the
response to the inquiry in step S2207 is negative, the process
proceeds to step S2213 where the wind generated power provider can
lower the asking price in step S2213 and the process returns to
step S2207. After acceptance the process proceeds to step S2209
where the transaction is assigned by the renewable power exchange
mechanism a transaction ID to the agreed upon power substitution.
Once again, this power substitution is an agreement between the
wind power provider and the virtual energy storage provider for the
wind power provider to provide a predetermined amount of energy to
the power grid in agreement at a certain time, in substitution for
an obligation provided by the existing provider, who has a present
obligation to provide a predetermined amount of power to the power
grid. After assigning the transaction ID, the process proceeds to
step S2211 where a record is recorded manually on a computer
readable medium that indicates an amount of "energy" that is held
on account of the wind power provider. Subsequently the process
proceeds to step S2215 where the wind power provider requests to
"withdraw" a certain amount of the virtual energy that is stored on
the account of the wind power provider. If the response to the
inquiry in step S2215 is negative, the process ends. On the other
hand, if this response to the inquiry in step S2215 is affirmative,
the process proceeds to step S2217 where the existing power
provider or agent actually delivers the power to the grid and then
in step S2219 debits the wind generated power provider's account
held in memory and subsequently the process ends.
[0160] FIG. 23 is a flowchart describing a process for priming
power before delivery to the power grid. The process begins in step
S2301 where the electrical power is generated from a wind turbine
energy generation facility. The process then proceeds to step 2303
where an operator of the wind turbine facility executes a contract
on a renewables exchange for delivering a unit of premier power,
which is handled on an exchange basis and on delivery basis just as
if it were from another type of electrical power generation
facility. The process then proceeds to step S2305 where the wind
turbine provider obtains or secures rights of transfer access for
delivering electric power to the grid in the region that is
required by the purchaser of the premier power unit. It should be
noted that the unit of premier power may include a unit of power
that at least includes a portion is generated from a wind turbine
facility, and may include additional power from a local xM device,
or a virtual energy storage device. The process then proceeds to
step S2307 where the seller of the premier power unit executes a
contract on a power exchange with a purchaser of the unit of
premier power.
[0161] Subsequently the process proceeds to step S2309 where the
wind turbine operator, by way of the processor, controls an
actuation of supplementing the power generated by the wind turbine
device by using short-term energy from a compressed air storage
device and/or with a xM device having a prime mover so as to
provide short-term stability. The process then proceeds to step
S2311, where for a longer term usage the power from the wind
turbine operation is supplemented in a longer duration using
virtual energy storage that has been accumulated on behalf of the
wind turbine operator. Alternatively, the wind turbine operator may
contract for purchasing power from a virtual energy storage
facility without having included an existing account with that
service provider, but rather just purchases the power so as to
supplement the wind turbine generated power. The process then
proceeds to step S2113 where the power provided from the premier
power provider is supplied to the grid, and perhaps as supplemented
by the virtual energy storage facility. Subsequently in step S2315
the amount of power that is provided to the grid from the wind
storage generation facility is measured and reported so that an
accurate accounting may be made of the energy. Subsequently, the
process ends.
[0162] FIG. 24 is a flowchart describing a process for linking a
wind turbine electrical power production facility with an
alternative energy production facility so that shortfalls or
surpluses provided by the wind turbine may be compensated for
directly in real time with the alternative energy production
facility. A description of such an operation may exist like that
shown in FIG. 5 where the premier power facility 505 uses the
control processor 500 to coordinate with hydroelectric plant 511 or
even thermoelectric plant 515. The process begins in step S2401
where the electric power is generated from the wind turbine based
production facility. The process then proceeds to step S2403 where
the power is converted to premier power, and then the process
proceeds to step S2405 where an amount of electrical power provided
to the grid is monitored.
[0163] In step S2407 an inquiry is made regarding whether the
electrical power as monitored is greater than, less than, or equal
to a predicted amount of electrical power. If the response to the
inquiry in step S2407 is equal the process returns to step S2405 as
part of a control loop. However, if the response to the inquiry in
step S2407 indicates that the electrical power is above or below a
predetermined electric power level, the process continues to step
S2409 where a control message is sent to the alternative energy
production facility. An inquiry is made in step S2411 so as to
identify whether the shortfall or surplus is within the production
dynamic range of the alternative energy production facility. For
example, it may be that the requested amount of power from the wind
turbine production facility is greater than that which can be
produced by the alternative energy production facility. If the
shortfall or surplus is not within the production range, then the
process proceeds to step S2413 where a second control signal is
sent to yet another facility so as to offset the residual surplus,
or shortfall, that was outside the production range of the
alternative energy production facility. Subsequently, the process
proceeds to step S2415, which is also the next process step if the
inquiry in step S2411 is determined to be affirmative. In step
S2415 the amount of energy production is adjusted so as to offset
the shortfall/surplus from the wind turbine energy production
facility and then the process for the control loop is repeated in
step S2417.
[0164] In order to implement the control loop in the process of
FIG. 24, the control center processor 500 coordinates activities by
way of a dedicated link between the premier power facilities 505
and the hydroelectric plant 511 would include a similar processor.
For example the hydroelectric plant 511 would include a control
processor, that upon indication from the premier power facilities
that the output power production level is below a certain level,
the message from the control center processor 500 is sent to the
hydroelectric plant 511 so that the processor contained therein can
adjust the flow gates in the hydroelectric plant. This control is
done in real time so that the an accurate balance is made between
the hydroelectric plant 511 and the premier power facilities 505.
Thus, the aggregate output power production between the two
facilities equals the contractually obligated power production
requirements for the two facilities, albeit perhaps not in the same
proportions that the two facilities had originally contracted to
provide. In this way, the hydroelectric plant 511 will receive some
leeway to use its reserved hydro assets. Current optimization
programs are based on meteorological predictions for relatively
long time periods, based on the seasonal use of hydro resources.
Thus, adjustments may be needed if the hydro resources are either
used at a lesser rate than what was originally planned for, or at
an increase rate depending on the demands and predictions of how
much electrical power is produced by the wind turbine facility with
which it has a contractual agreement.
[0165] It should be noted that the process employed in FIG. 24 need
not be performed by separately owned entities, but rather can be
implemented by a single power production facility that incorporates
both a renewable energy source such as a wind turbine energy
production facility or solar energy based electrical production
facility in cooperation with the hydroelectricity plant or the
like.
[0166] FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing how the control center
processor 500 is used to control an amount of reactive power
provided from the xM device (see, e.g., FIG. 10) or other
compensation device employed in the co-active converter so as to
adjust an amount of reactive power requested by a system operator.
The process begins in step S2501 where a message or request is
received by a system operator to adjust an amount of reactive power
provided to the grid. The process then proceeds to step S2503 where
the processor generates a control command to be supplied to the xM
device (or other compensation device employed by the co-active
generator) so as to adjust an amount of reactive power for one or
more of associated wind turbines that are coupled to the co-active
generator that employs the xM device, or other compensator. The
process then proceeds to step S2505 where an amount of reactive
power in the xM device is provided based on the requested amount of
reactive power. Subsequently the process ends.
[0167] FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a method for guaranteeing a "power
unit", at least a fraction of which is generated from a wind
turbine electrical power production facility. The process begins in
step S2601 where an operator or trader offers for sale a unit of
power to be provided by a wind turbine electrical power production
facility in a virtual market. The process proceeds to step S2603
where the processor 500 forms a notice message that includes an
identifier field that identifies the wind turbine facility, an
indication of an amount of the portion of the power output (e.g.,
all the power produced), and a time period for which the portion of
power output is offered for sale. A data structure for this message
format is seen in FIG. 18 for example.
[0168] Once the notice message is formed, the process proceeds to
step S2605 when an inquiry is made regarding whether a bidding
exchange process will be used for selling the unit of power. If the
response to the inquiry is negative, the process proceeds to step
S2621 where a third party allocates a budgeted amount of power from
another source if the wind turbine has a shortfall so as to
compensate for the shortfall from that wind power facility. The
process then proceeds to step S2623 where an inquiry is made
regarding whether the budgeted amount of power is legally
accessible by the third party. If the response to the inquiry is
negative, the process proceeds to step 2607 as will be discussed
below. However, if the response to the inquiry in step S2623 is
affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2617 where the unit of
wind turbine generated electric power is resold as a "guaranteed"
power unit. The "guaranteed" power unit is a hybrid unit of power
that at least includes wind generated electric power that if is
insufficient at the time of delivery, is supplemented with a
contractual obligation for energy to be supplied from another power
production facility. The process then proceeds to step S2619 where
the required unit of power is delivered at a designated time before
the process ends.
[0169] If the response to the inquiry in step S2605 is affirmative,
the process proceeds to step S2607 where the control center
processor 500 generates a statistical indicator regarding a
likelihood that the power output from the wind turbine facility
will be deliverable at the appointed time. This statistical
indicator is included in a message having data fields like that
shown in FIG. 12. The process then proceeds to step S2609 where an
offer price is identified for the power output from the wind
turbine identifier, the statistical indicator and the time period
indicated in the message. The process then proceeds to step S2611
where an inquiry is made regarding whether the purchaser of the
power from the wind turbine facility wishes to purchase an option
from the exchange so as to guarantee the delivery of the power unit
at the appointed period of time even if the wind turbine generation
facility cannot produce the entire unit of power. If the response
to the inquiry in step S2611 the process proceeds to step S2613
where a third party is approached to enable the purchase of an
option for power from an alternative source if the wind turbine in
fact has a shortfall at the time of delivery. Subsequently, the
process proceeds to steps S2617 and S2619 as previously discussed.
However, if the response to the inquiry in step S2611 is
affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2615 or an option is
purchased from the exchange. Subsequently, the process ends after
performing steps S2617 and S2619 as previously discussed.
[0170] FIG. 27 is a flowchart describing a process for initiating
and operating a renewable exchange. The process begins in steps
S2701 where an offer for sale of wind turbine generated electric
power is received from a particular wind turbine electric power
generation facility. The offer of sale includes a particular time
duration as well as an amount of power. The process proceeds to
step S2701 where a meteorological report is prepared from
meteorological sensor data and meteorological forecasting data. The
report enables the prediction of a statistical description of the
likelihood of actually delivering the expected wind power unit
during the time duration. The process then proceeds to step S2705
where an estimated amount of electrical power generated from the
wind speed is calculated with a particular statistical confidence
measure. Also, an expected value of the wind turbine power is
calculated based on the confidence measure. Furthermore, an
expected transfer access fee is also identified so as to provide a
basis set of fees and expected values for delivering a unit of
power to the power grid.
[0171] In step S2707, either the option price or a cost of a
futures contract for an alternative source of power is identified
during the particular times when the wind power is to be delivered
to the grid. The option price and the futures contract are
identified in case the wind turbine is not driven with sufficient
speed so as to create the wind power needed to provide the unit of
power originally obligated. The process then proceeds to step S2709
where a message is transmitted for display to an operator that
presents the offer and expected wind power unit with the
statistical confidence measure in the renewable exchange forum,
which in the present embodiment is a website, although it should be
recognized that other forums may be used as well, including a
secure network of computers linked to one another with a defined
protocol for exchanging bid and ask prices on units of power. After
step S2709, the process proceeds to step S2713 where an inquiry is
made regarding whether there has been a request for the expected
value of wind power. If the response to the inquiry in step S2713
is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2715 where the
expected value is sent to the requester and then the process
proceeds to step S2711, which is the same step that would be
performed if the response to the inquiry in step S2713 is
negative.
[0172] In step S2711 options for different amounts of power from
alternative power sources are presented for purchase. The process
then proceeds to step S2717 where an inquiry is made regarding
whether a bid has been made on the wind power unit. If the response
is negative, the process ends. On the other hand, if the response
to the inquiry in step S2717 is affirmative, the process proceeds
to step S2719 where another inquiry is made regarding whether there
has been a purchase of one of related options. If the response to
the inquiry is negative, the process ends. On the other hand, if
the response to the inquiry in step S2719 is affirmative, the
process proceeds to step S2721 where another inquiry is made
regarding whether the operator wishes to resell the wind power unit
with an option associated therewith. If the response to the inquiry
is negative, the process ends. On the other hand if the response to
the inquiry in step S2721 is affirmative, the process proceeds to
step S2723 where a message is sent to the power exchange broker
indicating that there is a guaranteed power unit including both
wind generated power backed-up by power from an alternative energy
production facility.
[0173] FIG. 28 is a flowchart that describes how various power
resources and investment funds may be aggregated through the use of
communication links and through a trading exchange according to the
present invention. The process begins in step S2801 where "virtual
energy" storage assets are aggregated with one another in an
account so as to form discrete energy denominations. The process
then proceeds to step S2803 where a budget analysis is performed to
determine energy obligations over a predetermined period of time
for a particular energy provider for the power grid. The process
then proceeds to step S2805 where an inquiry is made regarding
whether there is an excess of virtual energy available at a
predetermined period of time. If the response to the inquiry in
step S2805 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2807 where
an estimate of the time value of the virtual energy is made. The
process then proceeds to step S2809 where an offer price is set for
available denominations and then in the inquiry in step S2811, it
is determined whether the offer price is less than or equal to the
bid price. If the response to the inquiry is negative, the process
proceeds to step S2815 where the virtual energy is held in account
for later use or sold at a later time. On the other hand, if the
offer price is less than or equal to the bid price, a determination
is made in step S2813 to sell the denomination of power at this
time and the process proceeds to step S2827 where the provider of
the purchased energy denomination provides power to the grid at the
appropriate time and then in step S2829 the purchaser provides
remuneration to the provider of the purchased energy before the
process ends.
[0174] On the other hand, if the inquiry in step S2805 is negative,
the process proceeds to step S2819 where an inquiry is made
regarding whether the energy that is available for another
affiliated power generation resource exists. If the response is
affirmative, a message coordination is made with the affiliate so
as to make up for the shortfall using internal accounting measures
and then the process ends. On the other hand if the response to the
inquiry in step S2819 is negative, the process proceeds to step
S2821 where another inquiry is made regarding whether offers are
available for a needed amount of power. If the response to the
inquiry in step S2821 indicates that there is an offer available
for the needed amount of power, the process proceeds to step S2825
where the sufficient amount of energy in the predetermined amount
of denominations is purchased so as to meet the shortfall. The
process then proceeds to step S2827 and subsequently S2829, which
were previously discussed. However, if the response to the inquiry
in step S2821 is negative, the process proceeds to step S2817 where
an increase in the bid is made until sufficient energy
denominations are satisfied to meet the obligations. Subsequently,
the process proceeds to steps S2827 and S2829 as previously
discussed before the process ends.
[0175] FIG. 29 is a flowchart describing a process for obtaining
transfer assets which may be needed to coordinate energy
"substitution" operations with a virtual energy storage unit and a
wind turbine electrical power production facility. The process
begins in step S2901 where an agreement is identified between an
owner or agent of a wind turbine power facility and an alternative
power producer. After the agreement is made, the process proceeds
to step S2903 where the location of the alternative power producer
is identified. The process then proceeds to step S2905 where a
physical path over a grid (perhaps including a distribution or
collection grid) is identified, for delivery of power from the wind
turbine facility to the location of the alternative power producer,
or vice versa. Subsequently the process proceeds to step S2907
where an inquiry is made regarding whether access rights exist for
the transfer of power across those facilities. If the response to
the inquiry in step S2907 is affirmative, the process proceeds to
step S291 where the electrical power is supplied to the
transmission and distribution grid before the process ends.
However, if the response to the inquiry in step S2907 is negative,
the process proceeds to step S2909 where a contract is let so as to
secure access rights before the power is passed over the necessary
path portion of the grid before continuing to step S2911 and
concluding the process.
[0176] FIG. 30 is a flowchart that describes whether, in the
context of a virtual forum for implementing the renewables
exchange, sufficient funds are available for authenticating whether
transactions may be financially backed or not. The process begins
in step S3001 where accounts are established for different members
of the renewable exchange. The process then proceeds to step S3003
where a message is received indicating that a transaction request
has been made by one of the market participants in the renewables
exchange. The process then proceeds to an inquiry in step S3005
requesting whether there are sufficient funds and/or resources
available to cover the proposed transaction. If the response to the
inquiry in step S3007 is negative, a message is issued to the
requester indicating that there are insufficient resources to
transact the deal. On the other hand if the response to the inquiry
in step S3005 is affirmative, a message indicating that sufficient
resources exist and in step S3011 the transacting parties have
their respective accounts debited or credited depending on whether
they are a buyer or a seller of the particular power unit.
[0177] FIG. 31 is a flowchart describing a method for tracking
costs for parties who participate in a renewable exchange or use a
virtual energy storage facility to supplement the output electric
power from a wind turbine electric power production facility. The
process begins in step S3101 where an inquiry is made regarding
whether the unit of wind power is being offered for sale. If the
response to the inquiry is negative, the process returns. On the
other hand if the response to the inquiry is affirmative, the
process proceeds to step S3103 where an estimate is made whether
the fixed costs is less the expected value of the wind power. Steps
in this process include identifying the transmission and
distribution assets required to deliver power from the wind turbine
electrical power production facility to predetermined locations on
the grid. Also included are the identification of fees associated
with using the transmission and distribution assets, as well as
determining transaction costs. Furthermore, a determination is made
regarding the price of an options contract to "guarantee" the
delivery of the power unit, recognizing that the reliability of
delivering power unit from a wind turbine based system is based on
a stochastic process.
[0178] After the costs are estimated in step S3103, the process
proceeds to step S3105 where a particular wind power unit is
purchased along with an option so as to guarantee the adequacy of
the power provided by the unit of power that is based at least in
part on the wind turbine power production facility. The process
then proceeds to step S3107 where the unit of power is sold on the
power exchange as a guaranteed unit, such as that which is offered
by way of a fossil fuel electrical power production facility. The
process then proceeds to step S3107 where the power is delivered
from the wind turbine via predetermined transmission and
distribution assets. Subsequently, in step S3109 the transfer fees
are remitted with a reporting message from the seller of the power
unit or a delegated power to a treasury function of the respective
transmission and distribution assets that were actually used.
Subsequently the process ends.
[0179] FIG. 32 is a flowchart describing a method for investing for
multiple people in power units that include at least a
predetermined amount of power produced from a wind turbine electric
power production facility. The process begins in step S3202 where
the investor logs onto a renewable exchange or perhaps a broker for
the investor logs onto the renewable exchange. The process then
begins to step S3203 where the investor/broker is able to view
"open contracts" for purchasing shares and "guaranteed" wind power
units. The process then proceeds to step S3205 which enables the
investor/broker to select a predetermined number of shares in the
"guaranteed" wind power units. Each share covers only a fraction of
ownership for a group (one or more) guaranteed wind power units.
Subsequently the process proceeds to step S3207 where the
investor/broker is able to view and use a risk assessment tool that
helps assess the financial risk associated with investing a
selected number of shares. The tools provide an expected value of
the wind power produced electricity and statistical estimation of
the fluctuations therein for that predetermined period of time.
Meteorological data in the present document should be interpreted
herein to include the predicted wind power produced electricity. It
should also be understood that the sensor data, and or partially
analyzed meteorological data may be used in other processor-based
methods and systems according to the present invention to provide
the corresponding prediction of the amount of wind power produced
electricity. Furthermore, the tool provides a current price of the
options available for guaranteeing the wind power. Based on this
estimated risk, the investor/broker is able to make a reasonable
determination as to whether the value of the wind power unit is
believed to be warranted in view of the expected cost and the
likelihood of delivery of that particular wind power unit.
[0180] The tools for forecasting wind speed (or another energy
source, such as ocean current) employ Multivariate data analysis,
and/or neural networks and/or Fuzzy Control methods and
mechanisms.
[0181] After assessing the risks associated with purchasing the
wind power unit, the process proceeds to step S3209 where an
inquiry is made regarding whether shares were actually purchased.
If the response to the inquiry is negative, the process ends.
However if the response to the inquiry in step S3209 is
affirmative, the process proceeds to step S3211 where the
investor/broker remits a payment and the investor's/broker's
account is subsequently debited. The process then proceeds to step
S3213 where the unit of power which is now "guaranteed" by way of
an option for purchasing power sold on the power exchange. The
process then proceeds to step S3215 where brokerage fees and fixed
fees are subtracted from the purchase price and then in step S3217
the profit or loss is distributed on a per share basis to the
respective shareholders and subsequently the process ends.
[0182] FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing how meteorological data may
be used to help determine the process for "guaranteeing" units of
power that include electrical power produced from a wind turbine
facility. While the present document refers to both a wind turbine
facility and a wind farm, the invention applies to both
circumstances. Furthermore the terminology used in the present
document generally uses both terms interchangeably, especially when
referring to power produced from a wind-based power production
facility since the power may be from a single wind turbine unit or
a plurality of wind turbine units. Thus it should be understood
that the electrical power produced may be from one or more wind
turbines even if the text refers to a wind turbine facility. The
process begins in step S3301 where meteorological data is used to
predict an expected amount of power to be produced by a wind
turbine at a certain time in the future. The process then proceeds
to step S3303 where a futures contract is executed with an
alternative power provider such as another wind turbine operator or
hydroplant operator or the like so as to "guarantee" the delivery
of the electrical power unit if a shortfall exists at the wind
turbine power production facility. The process then proceeds to
step S3305 where a unit of wind-generated electric power, as
guaranteed by a back-up power resource is offered for sale or under
a delivery contract made available for sale at a future time. The
process then proceeds to step S3307 where the contract for the
guaranteed unit of wind-generated electric power is sold to a
purchaser, and then in step S3309 the sold power is actually
delivered to the grid as requested in the quantity and power as
defined by the particular unit of power sold. Subsequently the
process ends.
[0183] FIG. 34 is a graph showing appropriate types of weather
prediction and wind forecasting methodology employed according to
the present invention based on the time interval for which the wind
power prediction is to be done. As previously discussed, the
pricing and planning for providing "premier" power according to the
present invention uses meteorological data to provide a statistical
indication (see, e.g., the message format of FIG. 12) regarding the
likelihood of the wind turbine power production facility actually
delivering the predefined unit of power. As shown in FIG. 34, for
intervals on the order of seconds, minutes, and fractions of an
hour wind predictions may be based on the output of near term
correlation and regression in combination with nowcasting weather
prediction techniques. Near by standard meteorological observation
stations output are, according to the present invention, profitably
combined with wind measurement/measurements at the turbines in the
wind farm for which a wind power prediction is to be done.
Techniques for nowcasting and wind correlation and regression are
described for example in Browning, K. A., "Now Casting", Academic
Press, London, 1982, ISBN 0-12-137760-1, and in Brown, Katz, and
Murphy, Journal of Climate and Applied Meteorology, Vol. 23, No. 8,
pp. 1184-95, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein
by reference. From the perspective of renewable power plant
operators, the meteorological predictions for short terms are used
to estimate an amount of AC power that a particular set of wind
turbines will provide to the AC power grid. When sufficient
investment funds are combined in a renewable energy portfolio
investment instrument, it is possible to predict a return on
investment to be expected by harnessing wind energy in relatively
short time intervals.
[0184] For longer term predictions, on the order of hours, days and
up to a week in advance numerical prediction and dynamic
meteorology techniques as well as meso-scale meteorological
modeling forms the basis for extraction of wind data for wind power
prediction. A typical prediction length of 5 days may limit this
range, corresponding to a typical lifetime of a mid-latitude
atmospheric motion system. These techniques are described e.g. in
Haltiner, G., "Numerical Prediction and Dynamic Meteorology", sec.
ed., John Wiley & Sons, as well as Pielke, R., "Mesoscale
Meteorological Modeling", Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Academic
Press, 1984, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein
by reference. Wind prediction output from these modeling techniques
may be used for something other than the spot-type trading which is
more appropriate for regression or nowcasting or even dynamic
ganged control between a wind power facility and a hydroelectric
plant for example. By having this mid-term meteorological forecast
data regarding expected wind energy, actors who participate in a
power exchange are able to predict with some degree of accuracy the
level of risk/reward that the actor is engaged in when entering
bilateral transactions for "power units," (i.e., specific amounts
of energy that are traded, purchased, sold, stored etc. as a power
unit).
[0185] Even longer term prediction includes also synoptic scale
numerical prediction and climatological statistical analysis
performed on the order of weeks or even seasons. Such modeling
prediction services are available from e.g. the European Center for
Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF), the National Weather Service
operated by NOAA in USA, and similar national and international
organizations. Having this meteorological data enables operators of
renewable energy resources to handle the power produced therefrom
in a more fungible way that in the past. For example, renewable
operators, based on the meteorological forecast, may opt to sell
units of energy in advance by borrowing the energy asset from the
virtual energy storage facility during the week, and then reliably
"replenish" the energy supply over the weekend when low-load
periods are routinely observed.
[0186] FIG. 35 is a block diagram explaining how according to the
present invention a chain of interactions between the energy
suppliers, the actor performing load/supply balancing, the energy
market, and meteorological information, here represented by, but
not limited to the wind predictions done by the national weather
services, can be set up to enhance the commercial value of electric
power produced by e.g. wind energy technology. The method that is
presently described to enhance the commercial value of electric
power produced by wind energy may equally well be used to enhance
the value of other renewable energy sources with variable
characteristic such as e.g. solar and wave. By linking the
load/balancing supply with wind prediction operations and wind
power forecasting techniques estimates and business-level cost
analyses may be performed when pricing the different units of
electrical power generated from renewable sources, e.g. wind, that
are sold in the energy market.
[0187] FIG. 36 is a block diagram that shows how the renewable
energy control center processor 500 shown in FIG. 5 may receive
meteorological data services, 513 in FIG. 5. Wind sensors at a wind
farm are connected to the wind farm operator's processor system
through an I/O bus, as shown. Near-by located sensors at other
farms are equally connected to the operator's processor system. I/O
links are through the bus established with independent renewable
energy forecast consultant's systems as well as with the system
outputs from National Meteorological Centers. The wind farm
operator's processor system may include, but is not be limited to,
wind prediction forecasting tools for the very short range and for
the long range. For very short-term forecasts, on the order of
seconds to minutes (such as two minutes which should provide
sufficient reaction time for a virtual energy storage facility or
other energy source to act in response to a request for output
production increase or decrease in the case of a wind gust or
lull), methods based on statistical analysis of a time series from
nearby located wind sensors may be used, in combination with known
probability distributions of the wind itself. These distributions
and their characteristics are known at many sites and are obtained
in real time and updated while a wind farm is operated. Presently
used wind energy siting tools in combination with statistical
regression and correlation methods are used by the inventive system
to predict the wind. This data may be complimented by atmospheric
boundary layer parameterization schemes as stand alone or as
integrated into numerical wind energy siting tools so as to provide
profiles of wind data over the disk of the wind turbine or the
disks of the turbines in a wind farm. Available wind generated
electric power is extracted from predicted wind by integrating over
the area or volume swept by turbines. The data is also processed to
include effects of nearby wind turbine wakes. Multi Variate Data
Analysis (MVDA) techniques and/or Neural Network methods may here
be used to continuously improve the predictive skill. Long range
forecasts are here calculated by statistical methods using
previously measured and collected data. This data may be from local
sensors in combination with climatological data received from the
National Meteorological Center. Wind power predictions by the
processor system are transferred to the renewable energy control
center processor 500 in FIG. 5.
[0188] The renewable energy control center processor 500 shown in
FIG. 5 may also receive meteorological data services from an I/O
link established with the output systems at a National
Meteorological Center. The meteorological center receives
meteorological data through its links to global telecommunication
systems used by the World Meteorological Organization for transfer
of raw and refined meteorological data between its member states.
Data links are established to meteorological sensors at wind farms
either directly or through the I/O buses of the wind farm processor
systems. Very short-term and long-term forecasts of available wind
power may be calculated by the meteorological center using methods
as described above. For short-term forecasting, intervals of
minutes to an hour, the prediction is based on nowcasting
techniques possibly in combination with statistical methods.
Nowcasting here refers to methods for objectively analyzing
observed meteorological data covering a restricted geographical
area (i.e., meso-scale area). Observations techniques may include
but not be limited to radar, satellite, balloon or ground-based
sensors or other suitable methods.
[0189] The objective analysis tools include available
meteorological numerical analysis tools in combination with wind
energy siting tools. Preferable output of the numerical nowcasting
tools is a three-dimensional time series of data at intervals of
minutes. Predictions of available wind power is obtained from this
data by trend fitting using data from the geographic upwind area,
data from several time intervals, as well as combined with the
influence of the local characteristics as described by atmospheric
boundary layer physics. Electric power production is calculated
from predicted wind speed and direction as described above
including effects of wakes from nearby turbines. Predictive skill
may be enhanced by combining observational data and measured
electric power output through MVDA or Neural Network and Fuzzy
Logic methodologies. For medium range forecasts on the order of
hours to days, the methods are based on post-processing output from
meteorological synoptic and meso-scale numerical forecast models.
Methods include a combination of discrete output data on wind speed
and direction from numerical forecast models combined with
meso-scale objective analysis tools. This is performed by national
meteorological centers as part of their operations. The
three-dimensional time series output of these numerical models may
be post-processed as described above to include wake effects of
nearby turbines to obtain available wind power at a site, including
consideration of wake effects of nearby turbines. For long range
forecasts, a week or longer, for example, statistics on wind speed
and direction are used to produce probabilities of available wind
power for a given geographic area. Statistics are based on data
from the meteorological observation network and sensors mounted on
wind turbines. This data may be combined with past numerical
forecasting results to fill gaps in the observation network.
[0190] The renewable energy control center processor 500 shown in
FIG. 5 may also receive meteorological data services through an I/O
link established with the output systems of processors operated by
a renewable energy forecasting consultant. The consultant agency
may be independent or formed as an alliance between e.g. wind farm
operators and national meteorological centers. The renewable energy
forecasting consultant processor system may include calculation
tools and methods as described above for forecasting over very
short to long range.
[0191] The control processor 500 in FIG. 5 may hold a database that
is set up to be automatically populated by wind power prediction
information transferred from the meteorological data services 513
in FIG. 5 (corresponding to the diagram in FIG. 36).
[0192] Each of the actors providing meteorological data services
513 in FIG. 5 may also provide input to the renewal power exchange
507 so that traders and investors may make informed decisions
regarding the likelihood of a wind turbine facility actually being
able to deliver the required power levels with a certain degree of
probability. Based on the statistical indicators associated with
the likely delivery of those power levels, the investor may choose
to execute more expensive or least costly options for guaranteeing
the delivery of the wind power units for sale as premier power.
[0193] As opposed to conventional systems and methods, selected
features of the present invention that characterize aspects of the
invention include the following:
[0194] There is a commerce-based entity like a power exchange to
deal with wind power as "green power" with a distinguished
value.
[0195] There is an identity associated with the wind power-based
units of electrical power transferred from a predetermined number
of wind farms to other power grid facilities, like consumers or
energy storage units or the like, thus identifying wind power as
"green power" with a distinguished value.
[0196] There is an economic-based mechanism, such as a data
processing system for managing a financial services configuration
of a portfolio established as a partnership between
stakeholders.
[0197] There is a method and mechanism for prognosticating the wind
energy output, based on meteorological forecasting and data
analysis techniques as well as improving the forecast with signals
from local sensors not only to deal with wind power as "green
power" with a distinguished value but enabling "green power" to
become equally commercially competitive with other power sources at
this time.
[0198] There is one connection (preferably), "the co-active
converter", from "a predetermined number of wind farms", via a
C&T grid" to "the power grid."
[0199] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.
From the above description, it will be apparent that the invention
disclosed herein provides novel and advantageous methods and
mechanisms to operate and control wind turbines, wind farms and
their co-operation with the electrical power grid and its
stakeholders aiming at long-term business operations. For example,
some aspects of the priming procedure can be performed in various
ways equivalent to those disclosed herein, including transmission,
upon a direct request between two stakeholders, i.e., outside the
power exchange, point-to-point, of wind power-based units of
electrical power to a storage facility that may be embodied as so
called "pumped hydro" or other energy storage facilities. Similar
priming procedures can be performed on other renewables, such as
solar electric power where hydro might be accompanied or
substituted by gases that hold energy. Those gases might be not
only a simple source, such as air, which is compressed but also a
more complicated source like hydrogen which is produced by
hydrolysis from temporarily available surplus electrical power and
which is burned in a gas turbine used as a prime mover, all to stay
within "renewables" regime. LNG, liquid natural gas, is of course a
strategic option to complement "renewables" to form another type of
"hybrid," but still with fairly low environmental impact due to its
low carbon content, or more precise low CO.sub.2 per kWh. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
* * * * *
References