National Ict Australia Limited

Menkes Van Den Briel

Pascal Van Hentenryck

Sylvie Thiébaux

Boon-Ping Lim

There is provided a computer-implemented method for controlling operation of a plurality of devices of a facility that consume energy. The method comprises obtaining parameters of an energy model representing the energy consumed by the plurality of devices of the facility, the energy model including a first plurality of variables for operating the plurality of devices and a second plurality of variables for scheduling activities to be conducted in the facility; receiving requests for the activities to be conducted in the facility, the requests including requirements in relation to the activities; and automatically determining, based on the energy model, values of the first plurality of variables to control the operation of the plurality of devices, and values of the second plurality of variables that meet the requirements in relation to the activities.

Controlling operation of energy-consuming devices

The present invention generally relates to load control in an electrical grid (). Operation of a power consuming device () in the electrical grid () is controlled. An ideal shiftable load of the electrical grid () is received or accessed. A probability distribution of starting time of the power consuming device () is determined based on the ideal shiftable load of the electrical grid (). Then a starting time for the operation of the power consuming device () is determined in accordance with the probability distribution of starting time. An instruction is then sent to cause the power consuming device () to be started at the starting time.

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Eveleigh, Australia

Menkes Van Den Briel