Patent ID: 8417391

Claim:
A method of maximizing a power flexibility of an energy load, said method comprising: receiving load constraints indicating conditions under which said energy load should be operated, said energy load not functioning when said load constraints are not satisfied; receiving a set of control parameters and possible values that control operation of said energy load and affect power usage of said energy load; receiving a computer model of said energy load, said model outputting said power usage of said energy load in response to changes in inputs to said model; receiving a value function having a term indicating a change in energy usage as a function of said control parameters for said energy load during time intervals of a time period; maximizing said value function using said computer model, said load constraints and said control parameters by maximizing the difference between a maximal energy consumption of said energy load allowed within said load constraints and a minimal energy consumption of said energy load allowed within said load constraints during said time intervals; and outputting a subset of said control parameters resulting from maximizing said value function, said subset able to operate said energy load between said maximal energy consumption and said minimal energy consumption within said load constraints while maximizing said change in energy usage.