EP2721707A2

EP2721707A2 - Controlling energy use

Info

Publication number: EP2721707A2
Application number: EP11790918.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jens REINELT; Michael WESTERMEIER
Original assignee: RWE Effizienz GmbH
Current assignee: Innogy SE
Priority date: 2011-06-15
Filing date: 2011-11-18
Publication date: 2014-04-23
Also published as: WO2012171592A2; WO2012171592A3; DE102011051074A1

Abstract

The present invention relates inter alia to a method which encompasses the control of the use of energy that is produced by one or more energy generators in a home network, at least according to a forecast of the energy that will be produced by the energy generators in the home network and/or according to a forecast of the future energy requirements of one or more energy consumers in the home network. The present invention further relates to a device and a computer programme.

Description

Controlling the use of energy

Field of the invention

The present invention relates, inter alia, to an apparatus having means for controlling the use of energy provided by one or more power generators in a home network.

Background of the invention

Home control systems are known in the art, such as the RWE SmartHome home control system offered by the assignee. Such home control systems, for example, with the help of Zwischensteckervorrichtungen, which are (remote) controllable from a central home control device, the switching on and off of energy consumers in a home network, such as household appliances.

Summary of some exemplary embodiments of the invention

If home control devices are used in households where there are also one or more power generators, such as photovoltaic systems, household appliances could be switched on and / or off by programming the home controller such that they run, for example, when the power generators usually provide sufficient power provides for the operation of household appliances, for example at noon in the case of a photovoltaic system. Domestic appliances, for example, to run only once for a certain period of time in the course of a day, such as a dishwasher, could thus use the power usually provided by photovoltaic systems at noon, so that the operation of household appliances usually no energy from a public energy network in the home network must be fed. Also, such home appliances could be turned on primarily at night when the demand for power in the public power grid is usually low.

However, such control of the energy consumers in the home network by the home controller then allowed only a very inflexible and ultimately inefficient control of the use of energy provided by one or more power generators in a home network. An automatic adjustment of the control, for example, an unusual weather conditions (eg a longer bad weather period in summer), an unusual energy needs (eg repeated washing / drying after a vacation) or an unusual performance demand, would not be possible, instead the timing should situational (ie if necessary) by a user of the home control device (re) programmed.

It is an object of the invention, inter alia, to provide improved control over the use of energy provided by one or more power generators in a home network.

This object is achieved inter alia by a device comprising means for controlling the use of energy provided by one or more power generators in a home network and / or for a home network. Controlling the use of at least a function of a forecast in the future of the energy producers provided energy and / or a forecast of future energy needs of one or more energy consumers in the home network.

Furthermore, the object is achieved inter alia by a method comprising controlling the use of energy provided by one or more power generators in a home network and / or for a home network. The control takes place at least as a function of a prognosis in the future of the energy producers provided energy and / or a forecast of future energy needs of one or more energy consumers in the house network.

Furthermore, the object is solved, inter alia, by a computer program comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions cause a processor to execute the inventive method when the computer program is executed by the processor;

The energy provided by one or more power generators in the home network and / or via the home network is, for example, electrical energy, thermal energy and / or gas energy. The one or more power generators are connected, for example, to the home network, for example by an inverter. The energy producers are, for example, a photovoltaic and / or solar thermal plant, a wind power plant, a combined heat and power plant, a biogas plant and / or a geothermal plant.

The domestic network is preferably the energy distribution network for a household, for example the energy distribution network in a building, in particular in a residential building, for example in a single or multiple dwelling. For example, the domestic network is a hot water pipe system of a heater or an electrical line system of a domestic power supply. The home network is included For example, to a public energy grid, such as a local or district heating network or a public power grid, connected and feedable from this. The energy that is provided by one or more energy producers in the home network, for example, from the home network in the public energy grid can be fed. An energy producer or an energy consumer in the household network is to be understood as meaning, for example, an energy producer or energy consumer connected to the household network. The one or more energy producers are, for example, all energy producers connected to the household network, or only some of the energy producers connected to the household network.

One or more energy consumers can be connected to the household network, which can cover their energy needs at least partially (or completely) with the help of the energy distributed through the household network. The energy consumers, for example, with a home control system wirelessly or wired connected and controlled by a central home control device (remote). The one or more energy consumers are, for example, all energy consumers connected to the household network, or only some of the energy consumers connected to the household network.

For example, an energy consumer is understood to mean an energy converter, e.g. convert electrical energy and / or heat energy into kinetic energy, light energy and / or heat energy, or an energy transmitter, e.g. Transfer heat energy from one substance to another substance. An energy consumer is, for example, a household appliance, such as a household appliance. a washing machine, a dryer, a dishwasher, a lamp, a radiator, a radiator, a floor heating, a heat exchanger, a stove, an oven, a multimedia device (eg a TV or a stereo), air conditioning, a ventilation system, a refrigerator or a freezer.

By using energy provided by one or more generators in the home network, for example, it is intended to include consuming (eg, converting or transmitting) at least a portion of the energy by one or more energy consumers in the home network and injecting the excess energy from the home network to a public power grid. The excess energy is, for example, part of the energy provided by the energy generators in the home network that is not consumed by any energy consumer in the home network.

It is also conceivable, for example, that the energy provided by the one or more energy producers in the home network is completely consumed by the energy consumers in the home network or completely fed into the public power grid. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the energy provided by the one or more energy producers in the home network at least to a constant and / or variable part (eg continuously) is fed into the public energy grid.

The means for controlling the use of energy include, for example, means for controlling one or more energy consumers in the home network, for example by a home control system. For this purpose, the device is, for example, a central home control device. For example, the central home control device is connectable to devices of the home control system, in particular to power generators, inverters, intermediate plug devices, sensors, such as consumption and / or feed meters, and / or energy consumers, such as household appliances. The devices connected to the central home control device are, for example, at least partially controllable by the central home control device, for example, at least on and / or off. For example, at least some of the energy consumers in the home network are controllable by the central home control device.

The connection to the devices of the home control system is preferably a secure connection, for example an encrypted connection. The connection can take place in a wireless and / or wired connection network, preferably in a local connection network (LAN), for example a wireless local connection network (WLAN). Examples of interconnection networks are: the X10 home networking network, the European Installation Bus (EIB), the Powerline Communication Bus (PLCBUS), the Local Control Network (LCN), the Zig-Bee wireless network, the Z-Wave wireless network, the BidCoS wireless network, the CosIP Radio network, the Bluetooth wireless network and the IEEE 802.11 wireless network. The means for controlling the use of the energy comprise, for example, a communication unit that is set up to establish a connection via such a connection network.

The means for controlling the use of the energy include, for example, a processor unit which is set up to carry out the method according to the invention. For example, the computer program according to the invention comprises program instructions which cause the processor unit to execute the method according to the invention when the computer program is executed by the processor unit. A processor unit is, for example, a control unit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller such as a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

A computer program can be distributed, for example, via a network such as the Internet, a telephone or mobile radio network and / or a local network. The computer program may be at least partially software and / or firmware of the processor unit. In particular, the computer program according to the invention is, for example, software and / or firmware of a processor unit of a central processing unit. len home control device. The computer program is contained, for example, on a computer program product, in particular a computer-readable storage medium, which, for example, as a magnetic, electrical, electro-magnetic, optical and / or other

Storage medium is formed. Such a computer-readable storage medium is for example portable or permanently installed in a device. Examples of such a computer readable storage medium are volatile or nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) or read only access (ROM). The computer readable storage medium is touchable, e.g. reified. Computer readable is to be understood in particular as meaning that the storage medium can be read by a computer, for example by a processor unit.

Controlling the use of the energy, for example, allows the energy provided by the one or more power generators in the home network to substantially meet the energy needs of the one or more energy consumers. Preferably, controlling the use of the energy further enables the power provided by the one or more power generators in the home network to substantially meet the power requirements of the one or more power consumers. For example, only energy from a public energy network is fed into the home network, if otherwise the energy needs and / or the power requirements of one or more energy consumers in the home network can not be met. The control of the use of energy takes place, for example, as a function of a forecast of the future energy demand of one or more energy consumers in the household network. For example, the forecast describes a limited future time period (e.g., the next 2, 4, 8, 12, or 24 hours, or 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days.) The future energy demand forecast of the one or more energy consumers in the

Home network is preferably a forecast of the time course of the future power requirement of the one or more energy consumers. A time profile of a power requirement, for example, a consumption profile is understood. A consumption profile of one or more energy consumers describes, for example, the time course of the power requirement over one day, the daily consumption profile, or over a switch-on period. A standardized daily consumption profile is, for example, the so-called standard load profile HO.

The prognosis, for example, takes into account a known future energy demand of at least one of the energy consumers in the home network and an estimated future energy demand of at least one of the energy consumers in the home network, preferably a known future consumption profile of at least one of the energy consumers and an estimated future consumption profile of at least one of the energy consumers , It is known, for example, the future energy needs and / or the future consumption profile of an energy consumer in the house network, which is turned on at a certain switch-on in the course of a day a certain time. For example, the future energy demand and / or the future consumption profile of a lamp is known, for example, every evening for a certain time (eg, using a timer from 18:00 - 22:00) lit.

For example, the future energy demand and / or the future consumption profile of an energy consumer in the home network, which is usually switched on at one or more points in the course of a day for a specific time, is estimated. For example, at least substantially known is the future energy demand and / or the future consumption profile of a freezer, the compressor of which runs a period of time at substantially periodic intervals. In addition, for example, the future energy needs and / or the future consumption profile of a cooker estimated, which is usually turned on at a certain time of the day for a certain time, for example, for the preparation of food.

For example, the apparatus comprises means for detecting the energy demand and / or power demand of the one or more energy consumers in the home network and / or for detecting the energy consumption

Consumption profile of one or more energy consumers in the home network. For example, with a central home control device of a home control system consumption meters are connected, which are adapted to capture the energy needs, power requirements and / or the consumption profile of one or more energy consumers in the home network and the central

Home control device to send. A household consumption meter can, for example, the energy demand and / or power demand of all energy consumers in the home network and / or the

Record the consumption profile of all energy consumers in the household network.

The consumption meter can for example be designed as an intermediate connector or integrated in adapter (for example, switchable adapter). In addition, energy consumers connected to a central home control device of a home control system may send to the central home control device their internally detected energy demand and / or their internally detected consumption profile.

The future energy demand of an energy consumer is known, for example, due to a known time switching of the energy consumer, for example a time switch by a central home control device, and the detected energy requirement and / or consumption profile of the energy consumer. The future estimated energy demand of an energy consumer in the home network results, for example, from the formation of an average of the detected energy demand and / or from an averaging over detected consumption profiles of the energy consumer, which leads to an average profile. In addition to or in addition to the formation of an average value or an average value profile, other statistical methods are particularly applicable for determining the future estimated energy consumption of an energy consumer.

Forecasting the future energy demand of the one or more energy consumers in the home network is, for example, composed of the estimated future energy needs of the one or more energy consumers in the home network and the known future energy needs of the one or more energy consumers in the home network. Preferably, the prognosis describes a predicted future consumption profile of the one or more energy consumers in the home network, for example a predicted daily consumption profile. For example, the prognosis is a standard load profile modified depending on the recorded consumption profiles. This is advantageous, for example, if only for a part of the one or more energy consumers in the household network a consumption profile can be detected and / or the number of recorded consumption profiles is low, so that the accuracy of the prognosis is limited only as a function of the recorded consumption profiles.

In addition to the energy consumers in the home network, the energy demand is known and / or estimated, there are, for example, other energy consumers in the home network, which have a flexible energy needs. These energy consumers are referred to below as flexible energy consumers. These are, for example, energy consumers that are to be switched on in a certain period of time for a predetermined switch-on period, but whose switch-on time is freely selectable in this period. After switching on, for example, a flexible energy consumer can no longer be switched off in the switch-on period; other flexible energy consumers, for example, can be switched off after being switched on during the switch-on period.

The energy requirement of the flexible energy consumers can be estimated and / or known, for example, from the switch-on time for the switch-on period, preferably the consumption profile of the flexible energy consumers can be estimated and / or known for the switch-on period. A flexible energy consumer is, for example, a washing machine that is to perform a certain wash in the course of a day (eg between 10:00 and 18:00). Further examples of such flexible energy consumers are a dryer, a charging station for an electric vehicle or a dishwashing machine. Controlling the use of the energy includes, for example, turning on at least one flexible energy consumer at a (future) turn-on time when the estimated and / or known energy needs of the flexible energy consumer and the projected future energy needs of the one or more energy consumers in the home network in the respective home network the turn-on time) of the flexible energy consumer together does not exceed a threshold, preferably when the estimated and / or known power requirements of the flexible energy consumer and the projected future power requirements of the one or more energy consumers in the home network do not commonly exceed a threshold in the corresponding turn-on period. The threshold value is, for example, an average of the energy and / or power provided by the energy generators in the home network in a period before the switch-on time, or the power provided at the switch-on time by the energy generators in the domestic network.

Controlling the use of the energy takes place, for example, additionally or alternatively as a function of a prognosis of the future energy provided by the one or more energy producers in the domestic network. For example, the prognosis describes a limited future period (e.g., the next 2, 4, 8, 12, or 24 hours, or 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days).

Preferably, the forecast of the future energy provided by the one or more power generators in the home network is a prediction of the time history of the future power provided by the one or more power generators in the home network. A time profile of a service provided is understood, for example, as a generation profile. For example, a production profile of one or more energy producers describes the time profile of the service provided for one day, daily generation profile.

For example, the apparatus comprises means for detecting the power and / or power provided by the one or more power generators in the home network and / or detecting a generation profile of the one or more power generators in the home network. For example, feed meters connectable to a central home control device of a home control system are arranged to detect and provide the provided power and / or power and / or the generation profile of one or more power generators in the home network to the central home control device.

Forecasting the future energy provided by the one or more energy producers in the home network is, for example, by taking an average of the energy and / or averaging provided over a previous period over recorded energy

Generation profiles, which leads to a mean profile. In addition to or in addition to the formation of a In particular, other statistical methods for determining the energy provided in the future by the energy producers in the household network can also be used. Preferably, the prognosis describes a predicted future generation profile of the one or more energy consumers in the home network, for example a daily generation profile.

Controlling the use of the energy includes, for example, turning on at least one flexible power consumer at a (future) power-on time if the power provided by the one or more power generators in the home network predicted a turn-on period of the flexible power consumer in the corresponding turn-on time of the flexible power consumer is not below, preferably if the predicted in the corresponding turn-on period of the power provided by the one or more power generators in the home network does not fall below a threshold value. The threshold value is composed, for example, of the energy requirement and / or the mean value of the power consumption of the energy consumer in the

Home network in a past period and a distance value, or the current power consumption of energy consumers in the home network and a distance value.

Preferably, controlling the use of the energy includes, for example, turning on at least one flexible power consumer at a (future) power-on time if the predicted power-on period provided by the one or more power generators in the home network is at the appropriate turn-on time of the flexible power consumer Energy covers the sum of the estimated and / or known energy needs of the flexible energy consumer and the projected future energy needs of the one or more energy consumers in the home network in the corresponding turn-on period, preferably if the forecast provided by the one or more power generators in the home network in the corresponding turn-on period Power is the sum of the estimated and / or known power requirements of the flexible power consumer and the predicted future power requirements of the one or more power consumer in the home network during the corresponding switch-on period.

For example, the switch-on time of a washing machine may be selected such that the switch-on period of the washing machine is not in a period with a high predicted power requirement, otherwise, for example, the power requirement can not be covered by the power provided by the power generators in the domestic network. Instead, the switch-on time of the washing machine can be set, for example, such that the switch-on period of the washing machine is in a period with a high predicted provided power and, for example, a low predicted power requirement. Controlling the use of the energy provided, for example, depending on the currently provided by the photovoltaic system power and the current power requirements in the house network. For example, a flexible power consumer may not be powered up, although the power currently provided by the one or more power generators in the home network would meet the current power requirements of the one or more power consumers in the home network and the flexible energy consumer, if the predicted one or more power generators provided in the home network in the corresponding turn-on period does not cover the sum of the estimated and / or known power requirements of the flexible power consumer and the predicted future power requirements of the one or more power consumers in the home network in the corresponding turn-on period.

Cases are also possible in which the energy demand and / or power demand of the energy consumers in the household network can not be completely covered by the energy producers in the domestic network. In these cases, controlling the use of energy, for example, allows minimizing the energy supplied by the public power grid into the home network.

Among other things, controlling the use of energy as a function of the forecasts is advantageous in order to allow a flexible adaptation of the energy demand / demand of the energy consumers in the domestic network to the energy / power provided by the energy generators in the domestic network, so that, for example, that of the public Energy network can be minimized in the home network fed energy.

According to one embodiment, the use of the energy comprises at least consuming at least a portion of the energy in the home network and feeding at least a portion of the energy from the home network into a public power grid.

In one embodiment, the use of the energy further includes storing at least a portion of the energy in one or more energy storage means in the home network. An energy storage means is for example a heat storage, an electrical energy storage, a

Storage heater, for example, a night storage heater, a battery (for example, an electric vehicle that is temporarily connected to the house network, or a photovoltaic system), or a capacitor. The storage of at least part of the energy is advantageous inter alia to store the energy provided by the energy generators in the domestic network and to cover a future energy and / or power demand of the energy consumers in the domestic network. According to one embodiment, the controlling comprises switching on and / or off at least one energy consumer in the home network, in particular switching on a flexible energy consumer and / or switching off a flexible energy consumer, and / or activating and / or deactivating the feeding of at least a part of Energy from the home network in the public power grid and / or at least partial charging and / or discharging the energy storage device in the home network.

The control is done for example by a home control system. The one or more energy consumers and / or energy storage means are connectable, for example, with a central home control device of the home control system and controlled by this, for example, on and / or off or loadable and / or dischargeable. For example, only some of the one or more energy consumers and / or energy storage devices in the home network are connectable to and / or controllable by the central home control device of the home control system. For example, the energy consumers can be connected to the household network with the aid of intermediate plug devices, wherein the intermediate plug devices are set up such that the connection of the energy consumers to the domestic network can be switched on and / or off. That means that

Intermediate plug devices, for example, interrupt the power supply of the energy consumers. The intermediate plug devices can be connected, for example, to the home control device of the home control system and can be controlled by it. An intermediate plug device comprises, for example, means for detecting the energy requirement, power requirement and / or consumption profile of an energy consumer connected to the household network by the intermediate plug device, for example the intermediate plug device comprises a consumption meter. The intermediate plug devices are formed, for example, as flush-mounted devices and / or as cleaning devices. Alternatively or additionally, the energy consumers can be connected to the home control device of the home control system, for example via a house control interface integrated in the energy consumers, and can be controlled by the latter.

The switching on and / or off of an energy consumer in the home network is advantageous, inter alia, to allow a flexible adaptation of the energy demand (energy consumption) of the energy consumers in the home network to the energy provided by the energy generators in the home network, such that, for example the energy fed into the home network by the public power grid can be minimized. Activating and / or deactivating the feeding of at least part of the energy from the

Domestic network into the public energy grid is, inter alia, advantageous for feeding the surplus energy provided by the energy generators in the domestic grid to a demand for power. ge in the public energy grid. For example, the feed-in of surplus power in a period of high power demand in the public power grid may be activated and deactivated in a period of low power demand in the public power grid. Periods of high power demand in the public power grid are, for example, peak load and / or medium load periods. For example, periods of low power demand are base load times. It is also conceivable, for example, that in a period of high power demand in the public power grid, the energy provided by the one or more power generators in the home network will be fully fed into the public power grid, and none of the one or more during a period of low power demand Energy producers in the home network provided energy is fed into the public energy grid.

The at least partially charging and / or discharging of the energy storage means in the home network is advantageous, inter alia, to enable storage of the surplus energy provided by the energy generators in the home network and to meet later energy and / or power demand of the energy consumers in the home network / or to enable a later feed of the stored energy into the public power grid. For example, in a period of low power demand in the public power grid, it is conceivable that the surplus power provided by the one or more power generators in the home network may be stored in the energy storage means and fed into the public power grid during a period of high power demand in the public power grid becomes.

For example, the excess power in the home network may be used to charge the battery of an electric vehicle (temporarily) connected to the home network. The battery of the electric vehicle can, for example, provide the stored energy at least in part to a motor of the electric vehicle and / or can at least return part of the stored energy (for example, later) to the domestic network. An electric vehicle is for example a purely electrically operated vehicle or a so-called hybrid vehicle.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the method according to the invention further comprises recognizing the at least one energy consumer and / or energy storage device in the home network, preferably for automatic recognition. For example, the device according to the invention comprises means for detecting the at least one energy consumer and / or energy storage device in the home network.

Detecting an energy consumer and / or energy storage device in the home network is understood in particular to recognize a flexible energy consumer, and / or the type and / or type of the energy consumer and / or energy storage device. One type of energy consumer and / or energy storage device is, for example, the type or device designation of the manufacturer. manufacturer. One type of energy consumer and / or energy storage device, for example, summarizes various similar types or devices of one or more manufacturers. Examples of a type of energy consumer are washing machine, dryer, lamp, radiator, radiator, heat exchanger, stove, oven, TV, air conditioning, refrigerator, ventilation and / or freezer.

The recognition of an energy consumer allows, for example, the determination of the known future energy demand and / or the estimated future energy demand of the detected energy consumer in the home network, preferably the determination of a known consumption profile and / or an estimated consumption profile of the detected energy consumer in the home network. For example, for each (recognized) type and / or each (recognized) type, the energy demand and / or consumption profile is stored in a database in the device. In addition, for example, stored in the database, whether it is a flexible energy consumer. Furthermore, recognizing an energy consumer means, for example, recognizing whether the energy consumer is a flexible energy consumer and / or whether the flexible energy consumer is to be switched on for a specific switch-on period in a future period, for example, whether a washing machine during the day (eg until 16:00) to perform a certain wash.

For example, a user of the device may, through user input, communicate the information necessary for detection to an energy consumer and / or energy storage means in the home network. However, the device is preferably set up to automatically detect an energy consumer and / or energy storage device in the household network. For example, an energy consumer and / or energy storage means of the device may transmit the data necessary for recognition over a connection network.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the recognition of the at least one energy consumer in the home network takes place at least as a function of a detected power requirement, energy requirement and / or consumption profile of the at least one energy consumer.

For example, the power requirement, energy demand and / or consumption profile of an energy consumer is characteristic of a particular type and / or type, such that the device is configured, the type and / or type of energy consumer using the sensed power demand, energy demand and / or consumption profile of an energy consumer. For example, in the device, each for a particular type and / or a particular Type characteristic data (eg consumption profile data) stored in a database for comparison with detected values of an energy consumer.

The power requirement, the energy requirement and / or the consumption profile of an energy consumer can be detected, for example, by means of a corresponding consumption meter and / or sensor in an adapter plug device of a home control system and can be received at the device via a connection network.

According to one exemplary embodiment, controlling the use of the energy further takes place at least as a function of a parameter representative of the current power demand in a public power grid and / or for a prognosis of the future power demand in the public power grid representative parameter.

A parameter representative of the current demand for power in the public power grid is, for example, a high-fare and / or low-rate signal which is received on the home network by a ripple control device of a power supplier of the public power grid. For example, a high rate signal indicates a high demand for power in the public power grid.

In addition, a parameter representative of current and / or future power demand in the public power grid is, for example, the price of power blocks such as so-called 24h blocks, offload blocks, and / or peak load blocks on a power exchange, such as the Leipzig Power Exchange. A high rate of a power block indicates a high power demand for the corresponding period to which the power block applies. The device is, for example, set up to retrieve the rates for stream blocks on a power exchange via an internet connection.

Among other things, this is advantageous in order to allow an adjustment of the excess power in the home network fed into the public power grid to the demand for power in the public power grid. For example, with a high demand for power in the public power grid, the excess power in the home network can be maximized and energy from the home network can be fed into the public power grid, for example, by turning off flexible power consumption in the home network. In addition, the energy stored in the energy storage means in the home network can be fed from the home network into the public power grid at a high demand for power in the public power grid.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the method according to the invention further comprises receiving at least data, in particular prognosis data, from an external data center, wherein the forecast of the energy and / or the energy provided in the future by the energy generators in the home network Predicting the future energy needs of energy consumers in the home network is at least in response to the data received from the external data center. For example, the device according to the invention comprises means for receiving at least data from an external data center.

For example, the device is configured to receive the data from the external data center via a network connection. In addition, the device is set up, for example, to send data via the network connection to the data center. The network connection is for example a secure connection, preferably an encrypted connection. The network connection is, for example, a unidirectional or bi-directional connection over a public network, such as a power, telephone or mobile network, a wide area network (WAN) or the Internet. The device comprises, for example, a communication unit which is set up to establish a connection with a data center via such a network, for example a modem. It is also conceivable that the device comprises a communication unit which is set up to establish a connection to an external data center via an external communication module, for example a modem and / or a so-called DSL router, via such a network.

The data received by the data center on the device according to the invention are, in particular, weather data, weather forecast data, consumption profile data, generation profile data, performance request data, heading data and / or energy consumer recognition data.

The data center, for example, sends data to the device according to the invention, with the help of which a prognosis of the future energy provided by the energy generators in the home network and / or a forecast of the future energy demand of the energy consumers in the home network is possible. As a result, not all the data required for a prognosis must be stored in the device or captured by the device, but can at least partially be received by the data center. This is advantageous, inter alia, since the accuracy of the prediction can be improved, for example, by additional data not collected by the device (for example, weather data such as weather forecast data).

For example, the device according to the invention sends consumption profile data of the detected

Consumption profile of an energy consumer to the data center. The data center determined on the basis of the consumption profile data type and / or the type of energy consumer and sends the corresponding energy consumer detection data for the energy consumer to the device with the help of a consumer-type or consumer-type forecast of the future energy needs of energy consumers in the home network is possible. For example, the data center sends weather data to the device according to the invention, with the aid of which a weather-dependent prognosis of the future energy provided by the energy producers in the home network is possible.

The data center sends, for example, forecast data with a prognosis of the future energy provided by the energy generators in the home network and / or the forecast of the future energy demand of the energy consumers in the home network to the device according to the invention. As a result, the device does not have to determine the prognosis itself and, for example, does not have to record the data required for the prognosis, but can send it to the data center. This is advantageous, inter alia, if the computing power and / or the storage space in the device is limited.

For example, the data center sends forecast data to the device, for example a standardized consumption profile for the home network, for example a standard load profile, or a standardized generation profile for the home network.

For example, the device sends consumption profile data of the detected consumption profiles of the energy consumer in the home network and / or production profile data of the detected production profile of the energy producers in the home network to the data center. The data center determined by the

Consumption profile data and / or the generation profile data, the forecast of future energy provided by the generators in the home network and / or the forecast of the future energy needs of energy consumers in the home network and sends the corresponding forecast data to the device. The device controls the use of energy as a function of the received forecast data.

The data center is in particular a control device of a power supplier of the public power grid, for example a ripple control device. The data center is connected, for example, to at least two of the devices according to the invention; the data center is preferably connected to a plurality of devices according to the invention. For example, the data center with at least two of the devices according to the invention forms a system.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the device according to the invention is a home control device, wherein the home control device further comprises means for controlling at least one energy consumer and / or energy storage device in the home network. Brief description of the figures

1 shows a schematic representation of a home control system with a home control device according to an embodiment of the invention;

2 shows a block diagram of a central home control device according to a

Embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3a-3d: examples of consumption profiles of energy consumers;

FIG. 3e shows an example of a generation profile of a power generator; FIG. and

4a-4d: exemplary flow diagrams of an embodiment of the inventive method.

Detailed Description of Some Exemplary Embodiments of the Present Invention

1 shows a schematic representation of a home control system 100 with a home control device 101 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the home control system 100 is a central home control device 101, e.g. a smart home controller (SHC), a washing machine 102, a cooker 103, a lamp 104, and a refrigerator 105. The home controller 101 and the power consumers 102 to 104 are directly connected to a home power network 106, and the refrigerator 105 is connected via an adapter plug 107 the house power network 106 connected. The intermediate plug device 107 can be plugged, for example, into a socket of the household power network 106 and has, for example, a socket for receiving a plug of the refrigerator, so that the intermediate plug device can be plugged into the power supply of the refrigerator 105. Domestic power network 106 is a local electrical distribution network for distributing electrical energy to the energy consumers in home control system 100. Domestic electricity network 106 is connected to and powered by utility meter 109 through meter 108.

Furthermore, in the home control system 100 is a photovoltaic system 110, which is connected via the counter 108 with the household power network 106 and the public power grid 109 such that the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system consumable both by the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the household power network 106 as well as in the public power grid 109 can be fed. For example, the excess power not consumed by the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the home power network 106, provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the home power network 106, is fed into the utility grid 109 from the household power network 106. The counter 108 is, for example, a bidirectional counter.

The energy consumers 102 to 104 are connected via the corresponding radio links 111 to 113 of a radio network to the central home control device 101. The energy consumers 102 to 104 can at least be switched on and off by the central home control device 101 via the radio network.

In this exemplary embodiment, the connection and the switching on and off of the energy consumers 102 to 104 are implemented via home control interfaces integrated in the energy consumers. In addition, the home control interfaces of the power consumers 102 to 104 capture the current power requirements and send the acquired power demand data over the wireless network to the central home control device. In other embodiments, controlling and connecting one or more of the power consumers 102 through 104 may be via interposer devices, such as when the power consumers 102 through 104 have no integrated home control interfaces. The refrigerator 105 is not connectable to the central home control device, for example, the refrigerator 105 does not have an integrated home control interface. However, the intermediate connector device 107 is connected to the central home control device 101 via the radio link 114 of the radio network. The intermediate plug device is controllable by the central home control device 101 via the radio network such that the

Adapter device can switch on and / or off the power supply of the refrigerator. In addition, the intermediate connector device 107 detects the current power requirement of the refrigerator 105 and sends the acquired power demand data to the central home control device via the wireless network. For example, in other embodiments, the refrigerator 105 may have an integrated home control interface.

The photovoltaic system 110 is connected via the radio link 115 to the central home control device 101, for example via a home control interface integrated in the photovoltaic system 110. For example, it is controllable by the central home control device 101 whether the energy generated by the photovoltaic system 110 is at least partially provided in the household power network, whether the energy is at least partially used to charge a battery of the photovoltaic system 110 and if the energy stored in the battery is in the House power network 106 is provided. In addition, the photovoltaic system 110 currently detects the photovoltaic system in the Hausstromnetz 106 provided (or providable) power and sends the detected performance data via the wireless network to the central home control device 101.

The counter 108 is connected via the radio link 116 to the central home control device 101, for example via a home control interface integrated in the counter 108. The counter 108 detects the current power demand of the power consumers 102 to 105 in the home network and the power currently provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the home network and sends the acquired data over the wireless network to the central home control device.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that a charging station for charging the battery of an electric vehicle to the household power network 106 is connected. The optional charging station is also connected, for example, via a radio link to the central home control device 101. For example, it is controllable by the central home control device 101 whether the battery of an electric vehicle temporarily connected to the charging station is at least partially charged and / or whether the energy stored in the battery of the electric vehicle is at least partially provided in the household power network 106. In addition, the charging station detects, for example, the (current) power requirement for charging the battery and sends the acquired power requirement data to the central home control device 101 via the radio network.

The central home control device 101, the power consumers 102 to 104, the intermediate plug device 107, the counter 108, and the photovoltaic system 110 (as well as the optional charging station) form a home control system, such as a RWE SmartHome home control system. The radio links 111 to 116 form the radio network, for example a CosIP radio network, a WLAN radio network and / or a Bluetooth radio network.

The central home control device 101 is connected to a data center 118 via the Internet 117 and can receive data from the data center 118 and send data to the data center 118. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the central home control device 101 of FIG. 1 according to the invention.

The central home control device 101 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a processor 1010. For example, processor 1010 executes program instructions stored in program memory 1011 and stores intermediate results or the like in main memory 1012. Program memory 1011 and / or main memory 1012 may be provided by the processor 1010 can be used to store data such as received data, control data and / or forecast data, For example, data for controlling the energy consumers 102 to 105 and the photovoltaic system 110 and / or for determining a prognosis of the future production profile of the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 and the future consumption profile of one or more of the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the household power network 106. For example Program memory 1011 is a read-only memory (ROM) and main memory 1012 is a volatile or non-volatile memory.

Program instructions which are stored in program memory 1011 relate in particular to the determination of at least one of said forecasts and / or the control of energy consumers 102 to 105 and photovoltaic system 110. The program instructions may be comprised, for example, by a computer program stored in program memory 1011 .. has been loaded into program memory 1011, for example from a computer program product, in particular a computer-readable storage medium, or via a network. Processor 1010 receives data from wireless network module 1013, such as a Cosip-

Radio network module, a WLAN radio network module and / or a Bluetooth radio network module. At radio network module 1013, power data and power demand data sent over the radio network to central home controller 101 are received and forwarded to processor 1010. In addition, processor 1010 may, for example, send control commands over wireless network module 1013 to the power consumers 102 through 104, the intermediate connector device 107, and the photovoltaic system 110 via the wireless network.

In addition, processor 1010 receives data from modem 1014. Modem 1014 receives data received from data center 118 to central home control device 101 over the Internet 117 and forwarded to processor 1010. In addition, processor 1010 may send data via modem 1014 to data center 118 via Internet 117. Alternatively or additionally, the processor 1010 can be connected, for example, via a network module to a so-called DSL router, so that data received at the DSL router via the Internet 117 is received by the data center 118 to the central home control device 101 and sent to the processor 1010 via the network module can be forwarded.

3a to 3e show examples of consumption profiles of the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the home control system 100 of FIG. 1 and an example of a production profile of the photovoltaic system 110 in the home control system 100 of FIG. 1. Among other things, consumption profiles (or so-called load profiles) are shown in FIGS. 3a to 3e which schematically describe the time profile of the power requirement of one or more of the energy generators 102 to 105 over a time period. The profiles shown are simplified and are merely for the purpose of exemplifying the invention. The profiles shown are, for example, mean consumption or average generation profiles (averaged profiles or mean value profiles), which result from a plurality of corresponding corresponding consumption or production profiles. FIG. 3 a shows the averaged time profile of the power requirement of the refrigerator 105 over one day, the average daily consumption profile 201.

The refrigerator 105 has an at least substantially periodic daily consumption profile, with 2-hour time intervals with at least substantially constant power requirements and 2-hour time intervals with no power requirements alternating. For example, in the 2-hour time intervals with the constant power demand, the compressor of the refrigerator 105 compresses the refrigerant, for example, in the 2-hour time periods without power demand, no compression of the refrigerant is required. The daily consumption profile of the refrigerator 105 is thus substantially the same every day, so that in the course of a day with a high probability only smaller deviations from the average daily consumption profile 201 occur.

Fig. 3b shows the time course of the power requirement of the lamp 104 over a day, the daily consumption profile 202. The switch-on periods of the lamp 105 are determined via a timer, for example in the central home control device 101. In addition, the lamp 104 has a constant in each turn-on Power consumption, so that the daily consumption profile 202 of the lamp 104 is known.

FIG. 3 c shows the averaged time profile of the power requirement of the oven 103 over one day, the average daily consumption profile 203.

The oven 103 is usually turned on during the day at 15:00 and at 19:00 for a turn-on period of usually 1 hour each. The power requirement in the switch-on period at 15:00 is usually lower than the power requirement in the switch-on period at 19:00, for example because fewer cooking plates are switched on. The usual daily consumption profile of the oven 103 essentially corresponds to the average daily consumption profile in FIG. 3b, so that in the course of a day there is a high probability of only smaller deviations from the averaged daily consumption profile 203. However, on certain days, such as on weekends, sick days or public holidays, there may be a high probability of greater deviations from the averaged daily consumption profile. Therefore, it may be advantageous, for example, to determine an average daily consumption profile for each day of the week and / or holiday (s).

FIG. 3d shows the time profile of the power requirement of the washing machine 102 over a switch-on period, the consumption profile 204. The switch-on period of the washing machine 102 is 4 hours, with the temporal power requirement of the washing machine 102 changing over the 4 hours.

For example, in the first hour of the turn-on period, water is pumped into the washing machine 102 and heated there, so that the power consumption of the washing machine 102 is increased in the first hour. For example, in the second and third hours of the turn-on period, the washing drum is rotated at a low frequency, so that the power consumption of the washing machine 102 decreases. In the fourth hour of the turn-on period, the washing drum is rotated at a high frequency, the laundry is thrown, so that the power consumption of the washing machine 102 increases.

The power requirement of the washing machine 102 over a switch-on period is known, so that the consumption profile 204 is known. However, the exact turn-on time of the washing machine 102 is not fixed and may be determined by the central home control device 101, for example. The washing machine 102 is a flexible energy consumer.

The power or energy requirement of a charging station of the household power network or the battery of an electric vehicle connected thereto is also known, for example, for the charging period (switch-on time). For example, the charging station can detect the energy requirement and / or the corresponding power requirement in the charging period for (fully) charging the battery. Furthermore, the user can specify at the charging station and / or in the SHC at which time the battery

(full), for example, on weekdays at 07:30 and on Sundays and public holidays at 09:00. The corresponding data can be transmitted from the charging station to the central home control device. The exact switch-on time of the charging station is thus not fixed and can for example be determined by the central home control device 101 such that the Battery is fully charged at the specified time. The optional charging station is thus a flexible energy consumer.

3 e shows the predicted time profile of the power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106, the forecast daily generation profile 205 for a specific day. The predicted daily generation profile 205 is determined, for example, by means of an average daily generation profile and / or weather data, for example weather forecast data.

For example, the photovoltaic system 110 is to provide power in the household power network 106 in the household power network 106 from the sunrise at 06:00 until sunset at 22:00. Between sunset and sunrise, the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 should not provide power. For example, the sky should be cloudy in the mornings, so that the predicted power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 is low until 12:00. In the afternoon and evening, however, the sky should clear and the sun shine, so that the predicted power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 is high from 12:00.

Furthermore, FIG. 3e shows the predicted time course of the power requirements of the oven 103, the lamp 104 and the refrigerator 105, the forecast daily consumption profile 206 for a specific day. The predicted daily consumption profile 206 is composed of the average daily consumption profile 201 of the refrigerator 105, the known daily consumption profile 202 of the lamp 104 and the average daily consumption profile 203 of the oven 103.

In the period from 06:00 to 19:00 and from 20:00 to 22:00, the predicted power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 is sufficient to meet the projected power requirements of the oven 103, the lamp 104, and the refrigerator 105 in FIG to cover the house power network 106. The predicted generation profile 205 covers the predicted consumption profile 206 during this period. Only within the period of 19:00 to 20:00 and after sunset, the predicted power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 is insufficient to meet the projected power requirements of the oven 103, the lamp 104 and the refrigerator 105 in the home network ,

Furthermore, FIG. 3e shows a sum 207 of the forecasted daily consumption profile 206 and the known consumption profile 204 of the washing machine 102 when the switch-on time of the washing machine is 15:00. FIG. 4a shows a flow diagram 300 of an embodiment of the method according to the invention for controlling the use of the energy provided. The method can be carried out, for example, at least partially by the central house control device 101 according to the invention from FIG. 1. For example, processor 1010 of FIG. 2 executes the inventive method with flowchart 300.

In a step 301, the current power provided by the power generators in the home network is detected; and in a step 302, the current power requirement (or consumption) of the energy consumers in the household network is recorded. For example, the current power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the home power network 106 is detected by the counter 108 and sent to the central home control device 101; and in a step 502, the current power requirement (s) of the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the household power network 106 is detected by the counter 108 and sent to the central home control device 101.

In steps 303 and 304, the forecasted daily generation profile and the forecasted daily consumption profile are determined for a specific day.

In a step 305, the use of the provided energy is controlled in dependence on the currently detected provided power, the currently detected power demand, the forecasted daily generation profile, and the generated daily consumption profile. For example, the use of the power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 is controlled so that no energy from the public power grid 109 in the

Domestic electricity network 106 must be fed. If power from the public power grid 109 needs to be fed into the home grid 106, the use of the power provided may be controlled so as to minimize the power fed into the home power grid 106 from the public power grid 109.

For example, the switch-on times and / or switch-off times of the flexible energy consumers, for example the washing machine 102, in the household power network 106 can be determined such that as far as possible no energy from the public power grid 109 has to be fed into the household power grid 106. For example, an energy storage device in the home power network 106 may be controlled such that the energy storage device is charged in periods of excess power in the home utility network 106 and provides additional power in the home utility network 106, for example, during periods of power demand not covered by the photovoltaic system 110. For example, the predicted daily generation profile 205 and the forecasted daily consumption profile 206 indicate that in the period from 19:00 to 20:00 and after sunset, the predicted performance provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the domestic grid 106 is insufficient to meet the demand predicted power demand in the household power network 106 to cover. Therefore, the central home control device 101 may control a battery of the photovoltaic system 110 such that the battery is charged in periods of surplus power in the household power network and additional power in the period 19:00 to 20:00 and / or after sunset, for example House power network 106 provides. Alternatively or additionally, a battery of an electric vehicle temporarily connected to an optional charging station of the home control system can be controlled in such a way that the battery is charged in periods with excess power in the household power network and, for example, in the period from 19:00 to 20:00 and / or after sunset provides additional power in the home power network 106. For example, the optional charging station is controlled by the central home control device 101 accordingly.

4b shows a flow diagram 400 of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for determining the forecasted daily generation profile. The method can be carried out, for example, at least partially by the central house control device 101 according to the invention from FIG. 1. For example, processor 1010 of FIG. 2 executes the inventive method with flowchart 400. The flowchart is executed, for example, in step 303 of the flowchart 300.

In a step 401, the power provided by the power generators is detected. For example, the power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106 is detected and corresponding performance data is sent to the central home control device 101. The central home control device 101 receives the performance data and records the time history of the provided power, for example in the form of generation profiles.

In a step 402, the forecasted daily generation profile 205 of FIG. 3e is determined as a function of the recorded performance data for a specific day.

For example, the central home control device 101 determines one or more corresponding averaged daily generation profiles from the recorded time history of the power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the home power network 106. For example, the central home control device 101 stores averaged daily generation profile data in a database for different weather conditions, respectively. For example, the central home control device 101 receives weather forecast data for the specific day from the data central 118 and determines the predicted daily generation profile 205 by selecting the daily generation profile data averaged for the corresponding weather situation. Alternatively, the central home control device 101 sends, for example, the recorded performance data or generation profile data to the data center 118, which determines the predicted daily generation profile 205 and sends corresponding daily generation profile data to the central home control device 101.

4c shows a flow diagram 500 of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for determining the predicted daily consumption profile. The method can be carried out, for example, at least partially by the central house control device 101 according to the invention from FIG. 1. For example, processor 1010 of FIG. 2 executes the inventive method with flowchart 500. The flowchart is executed, for example, in step 304 of the flowchart 300.

In a step 501, the respective power requirement of the power generators 102 to 105 in the household power network 106 is detected and corresponding power demand data is sent to the central home control device 101. The central home control device 101 receives the power demand data and records the time history of the respective power demand, for example in the form of respective consumption profiles.

In a step 502, the energy consumers are recognized in the home network. Alternatively, for example, embodiments are conceivable in which there is no recognition of the energy consumer in the house network.

For example, the central home control device 101 recognizes the type and / or type of the energy consumers 102 to 105 by, for example, comparing the recorded consumption profiles with corresponding consumption profile data in a recognition database stored in program memories 1011. Alternatively or additionally, the central home control device 101 sends the corresponding recorded consumption profile data, for example, to the data center 118, which performs the recognition of the type and / or type of the energy consumers 102 to 105 and sends corresponding recognition data to the central home control device 101.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the energy consumers 103 to 105 are recognized, for example, as a stove 103, as a lamp 104 and as a refrigerator 105 and taken into account by the central home control device 101 when determining the predicted daily consumption profile 206. The energy consumer 105 is recognized as a washing machine 102 and as a flexible energy consumer. In a step 503, the forecasted daily consumption profile 206 of FIG. 3e is determined for a concrete day. The predicted daily consumption profile 206 is composed, for example, of the average daily consumption profile 201 of the refrigerator 105, the known daily consumption profile 202 of the lamp 104 and the average daily consumption profile 203 of the oven 103.

For example, the central home control device 101 determines from the recorded time history of the respective power requirements of the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the household power network 106 and the type or type of energy consumers 102 to 105 the corresponding averaged consumption profiles 201 to 204 to determine the averaged consumption profiles to be associated with a recognized type and / or type in the recognition database. For example, for the refrigerator 105, only the average daily usage profile 201 is determined because a refrigerator has a daily usage profile substantially the same each day.

For stove 103, on the other hand, for each day of the week as well as public holidays, holidays and sick days, a respective averaged daily consumption profile is determined, for example, since larger deviations between the daily consumption profiles are to be expected. The daily consumption profile 203 is one of these averaged daily consumption profiles.

The lamp 104 has a constant power requirement during the switch-on period, which is stored in program memory 1011 in the recognition database, for example. In addition, the switch-on periods of the lamp 105 are determined, for example, via a timer, for example in the central home control device 101, so that the daily consumption profile 202 of the lamp 104 can be determined from the known power requirement and the known switch-on periods.

The power requirement of the washing machine 102 (and, for example, an optional charging station for an electric vehicle) over a turn-on period (charging period) is also known, for example via an entry in the recognition database in program memory 1011. However, the exact turn-on time of the washing machine 102 (and the optional charging station) is is not fixed and may, for example, be determined by the central home control device 101 because the washing machine 102 (and the optional charging station) is a flexible power consumer. The washing machine 102 has been recognized as a flexible energy consumer and is therefore not taken into account by the central home control device 101 when determining the predicted daily consumption profile 206. 4d shows a flow diagram 600 of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for controlling the use of energy, here by way of example in the form of determining a switch-on time for a flexible energy consumer. The method can be carried out, for example, at least partially by the central house control device 101 according to the invention from FIG. 1. For example, processor 1010 of FIG. 2 executes the inventive method with flowchart 600. The flowchart is executed, for example, in step 305 of the flowchart 300. The determination of the switch-on time of the flexible energy consumer is carried out in such a way that, as far as possible, no energy from the public energy grid has to be fed into the household grid during the switch-on period of the flexible energy consumer. For example, based on the forecasted daily production profile 205, the forecasted daily consumption profile 206 and the consumption profile 204 of the washing machine 102, a suitable switch-on time for the washing machine 102 is determined such that, as far as possible, no energy is available from the public energy network 109 during the switch-on period of the washing machine 102 must be fed into the household power network 106.

First, it is checked in step 601 whether the power currently provided by the power generators in the home network covers the current power consumption of the energy consumers in the home network. For example, the current power provided by the photovoltaic system 110 in the household power network 106, detected by the counter 108 and sent to the central home control device 101, is correlated with the current power demand (or consumption) sensed by the counter 108 and sent to the central home control device 101. the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the household power network 106 compared. If the provided power does not meet the power requirement, step 601 is repeated.

If the provided power meets the power demand, it is checked in step 602 if a flexible power consumer is waiting to power up. If no flexible power consumer is waiting for power up, step 601 is repeated.

For example, it is recognized (eg, at step 502 of flowchart 500) that the washing machine 102 is to perform a wash and wait for the power to be turned on (eg, by the home control device 101). For example, the central home control device 101 recognizes that the washing machine 102 has been loaded with laundry and is to perform a wash cycle. For example, the washing machine 102 sends corresponding data via the radio link 111 to the central home control device 101. If the washing machine 102 is not directly connectable to and controllable by the central home control device 101 via a radio link, but the connection and the control is made via a Zwischensteckervorrichtung, for example, the Zwischensteckervorrichtung could recognize that the washing machine 102 was started by the user. For example, the adapter plug device could detect an increased power requirement of the washing machine 102, subsequently interrupt the power supply of the washing machine 102 and send corresponding data to the central home control device 101.

For example, a washing machine may not be turned off by the central home control device after power on (eg, by the user or the central home control device 101). By contrast, other flexible energy consumers can be switched off after being switched on by the central home control device, for example a dryer or possibly an optional charging station for an electric vehicle. In this case, the switch-on period could possibly be interrupted. Such information may be associated with a recognized type and / or type in the recognition database.

If a flexible energy consumer is waiting to be powered on by the central home control device 101, in step 603 the sum of the predicted daily consumption profile and the consumption profile of the flexible energy consumer is formed at the current time, assuming that the flexible energy consumer is turned on at the current time, such that the sum is formed at least for the corresponding switch-on period of the flexible energy consumer, for example for the next 4 hours. Furthermore, in step 603, it is checked whether the sum of the forecasted daily consumption profile and the consumption profile of the flexible energy consumer in the corresponding switch-on period (for example, an interrupted or uninterrupted switch-on period, which is determined by the duration of the flexible energy consumer) of the forecast daily Generation profile is covered, so the operation of the flexible energy consumers in the appropriate switch-on is possible without energy from the public power grid.

For example, the sum of the forecasted daily usage profile 206 and the

Consumption profile 204 of the washing machine 102 in the corresponding turn-on period of the washing machine 102 is formed. The sum formed corresponds to the time profile of the predicted total power requirement of the energy consumers 102 to 105 in the household power network 106 when the washing machine 102 is switched on for the switch-on period at the current time.

If the predicted daily generation profile does not cover the sum of the predicted daily consumption profile and the consumption profile of the flexible energy consumer in the corresponding turn-on period, step 602 is repeated and a check is made to see if another flexible energy consumer is turning on (eg, by the central home control) - direction 101). Alternatively, step 601 may also be repeated, for example, if the forecasted daily generation profile does not cover the sum of the forecasted daily consumption profile and the consumption profile of the flexible energy consumer in the corresponding switch-on period, for example if no further flexible energy consumer is waiting to switch on.

If the predicted daily generation profile covers the sum of the predicted daily consumption profile and the consumption profile of the flexible energy consumer in the corresponding switch-on period, the flexible energy consumer is switched on in step 604. Subsequently, the predicted daily consumption profile is supplemented by the consumption profile of the flexible energy consumer in the corresponding switch-on period and step 602 is repeated.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3e, the washing machine 102 may only be turned on at 15:00, without having to feed energy from the public power grid 109 into the home power grid 106. The corresponding daily consumption profile 207 supplemented by the consumption profile 204 of the washing machine 102 is shown hatched in FIG. 3e.

For example, if the requirement can not be fulfilled within a given time period, for example within one day, the flexible energy consumer will be independent of the currently collected provided power, the currently recorded power requirement, the forecasted daily generation profile and the generated daily consumption profile controlled switched on. Alternatively or additionally, the flexible energy consumer can be switched on, for example, in such a way that the energy fed into the household network from the public power grid is at least minimized. Alternatively or additionally, for example, a query can be made to the user as to whether switching on should be postponed (and, for example, for how long it should be postponed).

The invention has been described in general terms and by means of exemplary embodiments and is outlined by the following claims. It is emphasized that the features of the devices and / or methods described for the invention and its exemplary embodiments are freely combinable. The description of a feature in the context of a particular embodiment does not mean that the feature with the other features of this embodiment is to be regarded as linked. In particular, features of the description and / or the claims, even with complete or partial circumvention or omission of features of the independent claims, alone or freely combined with each other independently be inventive and should also be considered independent (and in any combination with the others described Characteristics). The disclosure of a means for performing a method step of a device should in particular also be disclosed as a disclosure of an be understood corresponding procedural step. Conversely, the disclosure of a method step should also be understood in particular as a disclosure of a means for carrying out a corresponding method step.

Claims

P a n t a n s p r e c h e

Method (300-600) comprising:

Controlling (305, 604) the use of energy provided by one or more generators (110) in a home network (106), at least in response to a forecast (205) of future energy and / or energy provided by the generators (110) Forecasting (206) future energy needs of one or more energy consumers (102-105) in the home network (106).

The method (300-600) of claim 1, wherein the use of the energy comprises at least: consuming at least a portion of the energy in the home network (106) and injecting at least a portion of the energy from the home network (106) into a public power grid (109). ,

The method (300-600) of claim 2, wherein the use further comprises: storing at least a portion of the energy in one or more energy storage means in the home network (106).

Method (300-600) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controlling (305, 604) comprises switching on and / or off (604) at least one energy consumer (102) in the home network (106) and / or activating and / or or disabling the feeding of at least a portion of the energy from the home network (106) to the public power grid (109).

The method (300-600) of claim 4, the method further comprising:

Recognizing (502) the at least one energy consumer.

The method (300-600) according to claim 5, wherein recognizing (502) the at least one energy consumer (102-105) in the home network (106) at least as a function of a detected power requirement, energy requirement and / or consumption profile (201-204) of the at least an energy consumer (102-105).

The method (300-600) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein controlling the use of the energy (305, 604) further at least in response to a characteristic representative of the current power demand in a public power grid (109) and / or a forecast of future demand for power in the public power grid (109) representative characteristic takes place.

The method (300-600) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method further comprises:

Receive at least data from an external data center (118)

wherein the forecast (205) of the future energy provided by the energy producers (110) and / or the forecast (206) of the future energy demand of the energy consumers (102-105) in the home network (106) at least in dependence on the external data center (118 ) received forecast data.

A computer program comprising program instructions, the program instructions causing a processor (1010) to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 8 when the computer program is executed by the processor (1010);

10. Device (101), comprising:

Means (1010) for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8.