Abstract: A general formulation of the instantaneous power split strategy between an IC engine and an electric machine in a charge-sustaining hybrid-electric vehicle is given. It is based on the instantaneous optimization of an equivalent fuel consumption. This approach involves a heuristic formulation to convert the electrical power flow into equivalent fuel cost based on the average “cost” of electricity through the various power paths (present and future). This control strategy was implemented on a HEV prototype and real-world results are presented here, demonstrating that this approach provides excellent fuel efficiency along with robustness and charge sustaining operation. Then, a general and scalable formulation of this control strategy is proposed.

Abstract: Weather has a significant impact on different sectors of the economy. One of the most sensitive is the electricity market, because power demand is linked to several weather variables, mainly the air temperature. This work analyzes the relationship between electricity load and daily air temperature in Spain, using a population-weighted temperature index. The electricity demand shows a significant trend due to socioeconomic factors, in addition to daily and monthly seasonal effects that have been taken into account to isolate the weather influence on electricity load. The results indicate that the relationship is nonlinear, showing a “comfort interval” of ±3°C around 18°C and two saturation points beyond which the electricity load no longer increases. The analysis has also revealed that the sensitivity of electricity load to daily air temperature has increased along time, in a higher degree for summer than for winter, although the sensitivity in the cold season is always more significant than in th...

Abstract: Overview of key issues in electric utilities restructuring electric utility markets in the United States OASIS - Open Access Same-time Information System tagging electricity transactions electric energy trading hedging tolls for managing risks in electricity markets electricity pricing RTO - Regional Transmission Organization electric utility markets outside the United States. Appendices: acronyms a sample of electricity contract specifications.

Abstract: We investigate the cost-effectiveness and distributional effects of a revenue-raising auction, grandfathering, and a generation performance standard as alternative approaches for distributing carbon emission allowances in the electricity sector. We solve a detailed national electricity market model and find the auction is roughly one-half the societal cost of the other approaches. This result holds under a variety of assumptions about the future state of economic regulation and competition in the electricity sector. The differences in the cost of the approaches flow from the effect of each approach on electricity price. Grandfathering is the best for producers but it imposes a substantial cost on consumers. The generation performance standard yields the lowest electricity price but highest natural gas price. The auction does better than the generation performance standard at protecting households and at preserving asset values for producers. It also yields revenues that can help meet other efficiency and distributional goals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a network communication system and method to enable the real time buying and selling of electricity generated by fuel cell powered vehicles between a fuel cell powered vehicle and a consumer. The method comprises: providing connections to the vehicle for the supply of a fuel and for transfer of electricity; determining the current cost of fuel and price paid for generating electricity; based at least on the cost of fuel and price paid for generating electricity, determining whether to make the fuel cell powered vehicle available for generation of electricity; when fuel is consumed by the vehicle and electricity generated by the vehicle, collecting data on the quantity of fuel consumed and amount of electricity generated, calculating the cost of the fuel and the value of the electricity generated, providing a debit charge for the cost of fuel consumed and a credit charge for the value of electricity generated. A method to enable the real time buying and selling of electricity generated by fuel cell powered vehicles between an energy service provider and a consumer of electricity is also disclosed.

Abstract: Energy Generation under the New Environment Deregulation of Electric Utilities Competitive Wholesale Electricity Markets Distribution in a Deregulated Market Transmission Expansion in the New Environment Transmission Open Access Electric Power Industry Restructuring in China Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) Asset Management Power Quality Information Technology Applications Application of the Internet to Power System Monitoring and Trading Index

Abstract: This paper presents estimates of the customer-level demand for electricity by industrial and commercial customers purchasing electricity according to the half-hourly energy prices from the England and Wales (E&W) electricity market. These customers also face the possibility of a demand charge on their electricity consumption during the three half-hour periods that are coincident with E&W system peaks. Although energy charges are largely known by 4 PM the day prior to consumption, a fraction of the energy charge and the identity of the half-hour periods when demand charges occur are only known with certainty ex post of consumption. Four years of data from a Regional Electricity Company (REC) in the United Kingdom is used to quantify the half-hourly customer-level demands under this real-time pricing program. The econometric model developed and estimated here quantifies the extent of intertemporal substitution in electricity consumption across pricing periods within the day due to changes in all components of day-ahead E&W electricity prices, the level of the demand charge and the probability that a demand charge will be imposed. The results of this modeling framework can be used by distribution companies supplying consumers purchasing electricity according to real-time market prices to construct demand-side bids into a competitive electricity market. The paper closes with several examples of how this might be done.

Abstract: This paper examines the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to the modelling and forecasting of electricity demand experienced by an electricity supplier The data used in the application examples relates to the national electricity demand in the Republic of Ireland, generously supplied by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) The paper focusses on three different time scales of interest to power boards: yearly (up to fifteen years in advance), weekly (up to three years in advance) and hourly (up to 24 h ahead) Electricity demand exhibits considerably different characteristics on these different time scales, both in terms of the underlying autoregressive processes and the causal inputs appropriate to each time scale Where possible, the ANN-based models draw on the applications experience gained with linear modelling techniques and in one particular case, manual forecasting methods

Abstract: A system for providing remote monitoring of electricity consumption is provided. Briefly described, in one embodiment the system may comprise a plurality of electric meters, a plurality of communication devices having a unique address and defining a wireless communication network, and a site controller. Each of the plurality of electric meters may be configured to measure the electricity consumption of a load attached to the electric meter. Each of the plurality of communication devices may be associated with one of the plurality of electric meters and configured to receive data related to the electricity consumption of the electric meter data and generate a transmit message using a predefined communication protocol being implemented by the wireless communication network. The transmit message may comprise the unique identifier and the data related to the electricity consumption of the electric meter.

Abstract: This paper presents several techniques for recovering cost function estimates for electricity generation from a model of optimal bidding behavior in a competitive electricity market. Two techniques are developed based on different models of the price-setting process in a competitive electricity market. The first assumes that the firm is able to choose the price that maximizes its realized profits given the bids of its competitors and the realization of market demand. This procedure is straightforward to apply, but does not impose all of the market rules on the assumed price-setting process. The second procedure uses the assumption that the firm bids to maximize its expected profits. This procedure is considerably more complex, but can yield more insights about the nature of the firm's variable costs, because it allows the researcher to recover generation unit-level variable cost functions. These techniques are applied to bid, market outcomes and financial hedge contract data obtained from the first three months of operation of the National Electricity Market (NEM1) in Australia. The empirical analysis illustrates the usefulness of these techniques in measuring actual market power and the ability to exercise market power possessed by generation unit owners in competitive electricity markets.

Abstract: Recognition of the value of wind energy as a low cost, clean source for electricity is creating major new business opportunities for manufacturing and materials innovation. Worldwide growth in wind generation since 1994 has been 30% or higher annually. The cost of energy from large wind power plants has declined to less than $0.05/kWh at good wind sites. By the end of 2000, the global capacity had passed 17,600 megawatts (MW) [See reference 1], and in the United States alone, more than 1,800 MW of new installations should be completed this year [2, 3].

Abstract: Summary form only given, as follows. This paper reports the performance of a 4-kW grid-connected residential wind-photovoltic system (WPS) with battery storage located In Lowell, MA, USA. The system was originally designed to meet a typical New-England (TNE) load demand with a loss of power supply probability (LPSP) of one day in ten years as recommended by the utility company. The data used in the calculation was wind speed and irradiance of Logan Airport Boston (LAB) obtained from the National Climate Center In North Carolina. The present performance study is based on two-year operation (May 96-Apr 98) of the WPS. Unlike conventional generation, the wind and the sunrays are available at no cost and generate electricity pollution-free. Around noontime, the WPS satisfies its load and provides additional energy to the storage or to the grid. On-site energy production is undoubtedly accompanied with minimization of environmental pollution, reduction of losses in power systems transmission and distribution equipment, and supports the utility in demand side management (DSM). This paper includes discussion on system reliability, power quality, loss of supply, and effects of the randomness of the wind and the solar radiation on system design.

Abstract: This paper presents estimates of the customer-level demand for electricity by industrial and commercial customers purchasing electricity according to the half-hourly energy prices from the England and Wales (E&W) electricity market. These customers also face the possibility of a demand charge on their electricity consumption during the three half-hour periods that are coincident with E&W system peaks. Although energy charges are largely known by 4 PM the day prior to consumption, a fraction of the energy charge and the identity of the half-hour periods when demand charges occur are only known with certainty ex post of consumption. Four years of data from a Regional Electricity Company (REC) in the United Kingdom is used to quantify the half-hourly customer-level demands under this real-time pricing program. The econometric model developed and estimated here quantifies the extent of intertemporal substitution in electricity consumption across pricing periods within the day due to changes in all components of day-ahead E&W electricity prices, the level of the demand charge and the probability that a demand charge will be imposed. The results of this modeling framework can be used by distribution companies supplying consumers purchasing electricity according to real-time market prices to construct demand-side bids into a competitive electricity market. The paper closes with several examples of how this might be done.

Abstract: A system and method for processing bids of an auction by electricity market participants for electricity market commodities. The method includes retrieving model parameters and multiple bids for the electricity market commodities. The model parameters and bids are applied to equations representative of an electricity market, where the equations include at least one variable to be optimized. The equations are simultaneously solved for the variable(s). In simultaneously solving for the variable(s), the equations are iteratively solved to optimize the variable(s) according to a predetermined objective. Results of the auction are published to notify the market participants. The electricity market commodities include electric energy, reserve capacity, and transmission.

Abstract: In a competitive electricity market traditional demand-side management (DSM) options offering customers curtailable service at reduced rates are replaced by voluntary customer responses to electricity spot prices. In this new environment, customers wishing to ensure a fixed electricity price while taking advantage of their flexibility to curtail loads can do so by purchasing a forward electricity contract bundled with a financial option that provides a hedge against price risk and reflects the “real options” available to the customer. This paper describes a particular financial instrument referred to as a “double-call” option and derives the value of that option under the assumption that forward electricity prices behave as a geometric Brownian motion process. It is shown that a forward contract bundled with an appropriate double-call option provides a “Perfect hedge” for customers, which can curtail loads in response to high spot prices and can mitigate their curtailment losses when the curtailment decision is made with sufficient lead time.

Abstract: System for controlling an electric assisted turbocharger comprise an electric motor disposed within turbocharger, and an electric motor controller electrically coupled thereto for purposes of controlling the same. A memory is electrically coupled to the electric motor controller and is configured with a condition map that correlates electric motor instructions with engine and turbocharger conditions. The system includes sensors that are electrically coupled to the electric motor controller, and that are configured to sense conditions of at least one of the turbocharger and the internal combustion engine that is coupled thereto. The electric motor controller is configured to control the electric motor based upon the input received from the plurality of sensors as compared to the data contained multi-dimensional condition map. The system provides electric motor speed control, boost pressure control dampening, and can be used to produce electricity from the electric motor depending on the particular operating condition.

Abstract: Multiple installation variegated generators for fossil fuel- and electric-powered vehicles comprised of a plurality of different type generator units mounted at various areas on a vehicle that supplement the power supply of the vehicle. The propeller-type generator units and the turbine-type generator units utilize the force of oncoming wind when a vehicle so-equipped is proceeding forward such that the rotation of the spinning propeller and turbine blades is transferred to generators that output electricity. The rolling wheel-type generator units consists of installing an additional fifth wheel, sixth wheel, seventh wheel, and eighth wheel of a dedicated generator roller wheel set on any of the main wheel axles disposed on the vehicle undercarriage such that by circumvolution around the axle when the vehicle is proceeding forward, the additionally installed generator roller wheel set rotates generators to produce electricity. A matching rectifier center situated at an appropriate area of the vehicle caches the electric power produced by each generator unit and, following accumulation, directly supplies electricity to the vehicle or recharges its storage battery; furthermore, since the generator units rotate faster as the speed of the vehicle increases, a greater amount of electricity is produced and, as such, the present invention saves energy and minimizes pollution.

Abstract: In urban areas, due to their beneficial effects on the environment, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles are an important factor for the improvement of traffic and more particularly for a healthier environment. We are quite rapidly reaching the end of the cheap oil era. This could happen around 2010 and is nowadays probably indicated by the steadily growing oil price. Therefore the need for alternative energy sources is growing and the competitiveness of alternatives against oil is becoming more and more realistic. Electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles are offering the best possibility for the use of new energy sources, because electricity can result from a transformation with high efficiency of these sources and is always used with the highest possible efficiency in systems with electric drives or components. Some basic considerations about the situation, today and in a mid and long-term perspective, are presented together with the infrastructure developments.