DD-DSM: Demonstration of Distributed Demand-side Management as a service to the UK grid operator
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Demonstration of Distributed Demand Side Management (DD-DSM) will provide a concept that allows air-conditioning units to contribute operational services to electricity system operators, in particular frequency control, reserve and other system balancing services. It does this by making use of the intrinsic thermal energy storage in the buildings and by scheduling their operation in a prescribed manner in relation to system requirements. Using such an approach should allow less conventional plant to be scheduled to provide this frequency regulation, thus saving energy and money. Variable and difficult-to-predict wind power will play a major role in delivery of the UK Government increased targets for Renewables by 2020, from 20% up to 40%. Our preliminary analysis suggest that the ability of the system to accommodate such increased levels of wind generation will be very limited if traditional approaches for system balancing are used. Given that the total installed capacity of A/C type demand in the UK will be between 2.5 GW and 4 GW a full participation of this technology in system balancing (providing reserves and flexibility) could significantly enhance the ability of the system to absorb wind power.Models developed during the project will be used to assess the limits and value of this kind of DSM and undertake a review of the present commercial and regulatory framework and suggest alternatives for its improvements in order to facilitate a cost effective integration of DSM technologies in system operation and development. In this context, Imperial team will be carried out the following research tasks:(i) Thermal and electrical demand modelling of commercial buildings: In this Task an analysis of the electrical and thermal loads of consumers with A/C will be modelled and analysed. The thermal inertia will be modelled to develop electrical loads of A/C and control strategies that include disconnections or modification of the thermostat settings. The impact of a number of key factors will be includes, such as building characteristics (e.g. dimensions, orientation, geometry, construction materials), local climate conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, radiation) and conditioning system (e.g. comfort settings, characteristic of A/C equipment). This will include evaluation of A/C loads under alternative control strategies including the effects of increased energy consumption following releases of control actions in order to restore the desired space temperature.(ii) Modelling of system operation and development with controllable loads: In this task we will investigate and develop a novel model to simulate the operation of the generation system with the presence of controllable demand that can be used to as a resource for providing short-term demand-supply balancing capability, such as peak load management (load shifting) and provision of reserve and frequency regulation services. One of the key challenges will be to select optimal combination of A/C control strategies to maximise the system peak load reduction and optimise provision of system reserves. Furthermore, a comprehensive capacity adequacy method will be build to examine the contribution that A/C controllable load can make in increasing the capacity value of intermittent generation.(iii) Evaluation of system benefits and incorporation of DSM in the commercial and regulatory framework: The key objective of this task will be to quantify the benefits of using DSM for providing demand-supply balancing capability (peak load reduction and/or provision of load frequency regulation and reserve services) and the value of firming up intermittent generation. This will also include the evaluation of corresponding savings in CO2 emissions and quantification of the degree of enhanced security that can be attributable to DSM. We will then examine how the identified benefits of Demand Response and DSM can be realised in the context of the decentralised electricity market.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Goran Strbac (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Ye Y
(2015)
Factoring Flexible Demand Non-Convexities in Electricity Markets
in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
Teng F
(2016)
Benefits of flexibility from smart electrified transportation and heating in the future UK electricity system
in Applied Energy
Teng F
(2015)
Benefits of Demand-Side Response in Providing Frequency Response Service in the Future GB Power System
in Frontiers in Energy Research
Sun M
(2017)
C-Vine Copula Mixture Model for Clustering of Residential Electrical Load Pattern Data
in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
Strbac G
(2013)
Transition to Renewable Energy Systems
Qiu D
(2020)
Exploring the effects of local energy markets on electricity retailers and customers
in Electric Power Systems Research
Qiu D
(2023)
Mean-Field Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Peer-to-Peer Multi-Energy Trading
in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
Description | We have developed novel modelling approaches to assess the benefits of demand-side response for supporting cost-effective integration of renewable and inflexible nuclear generation in GB. We have managed to link detailed thermal models of buildings with the electricity system models to provide new insights into the potential benefits of flexible HVAC demand management in commercial buildings for a wider electricity system without compromising the consumer comfort. Flexibility provided by building HVAC demand can play an important role in supporting the integration of renewable generation and therefore have a profoundly positive effect on the economic implications of electricity system decarbonisation. |
Exploitation Route | Our analysis has been used to inform the Government and policy makers about the value of DSM in ensuring a cost-effective transition towards a low-carbon energy supply, while also highlighting the importance of developing appropriate commercial and regulatory framework to remunerate DSM resources as well as other flexibility providers. Models developed in the project have also been applied to real demonstrations of industrial and commercial DSR conducted as part of the Low Carbon London trials. In the recent years the Government (DECC) has significantly stepped up its activities in the DSM area, which has most recently been reflected in the launch of a new DSR policy platform. |
Sectors | Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Retail |
Description | Findings demonstrate significant benefits of flexible DSM in supporting cost-effective evolution to low-carbon future - it will support real time balancing of renewable generation and provide firmness. The overall benefit of DSM may exceed £10bn beyond 2030. We have further used the models developed in the project to analyse the real applications of industrial and commercial demand-side response carried out in the Low Carbon London trials. The findings of the study have been used to inform further assessments into the role and potential of flexible technologies to support the decarbonisation of electricity supply at the lowest cost. We have also used our findings from this project to inform the discussion on the necessary modification in current regulatory and market arrangements to allow a greater pool of smaller-scale flexible resources to access the market and ensure that the future electricity system is designed and managed at the least possible cost for the society. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Co-chair of EU Action Cluster on Sustainable Districts and Built Environment (Market Place of the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities) |
Geographic Reach | Asia |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | http://www.eu-smartcities.eu/sustainable-districts-and-built-environment |
Description | Energy Research Partnership: Contribution to quantifying the importance of flexibility in low carbon generation systems |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Impact | Contribution to quantifying the importance of flexibility in low carbon generation systems |
Description | Member of DECC Panel of Technical Experts for Electricity Market Reform implementation |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Scrutinising implementation of the Electricity Market Reform |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324976/EMR_Panel_s_Final_R... |
Description | Horizon 2020 - IndustRE |
Amount | € 352,720 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 646191 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 01/2018 |
Description | Low Carbon Network Funding |
Amount | £1,650,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2011 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | Quantifying benefits and risks of applying advanced network control and demand response technologies to enhance transmission network performance |
Amount | £485,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Grid UK |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2011 |
End | 10/2015 |
Title | Electricity system model combined with building thermal models |
Description | The tool combines electricity system models with thermal behaviour of buildings, allowing to study the impact of flexible HVAC systems on electricity system design and operation. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Informing the policy makers on the importance and potential of flexible demand technologies. Application of the models to study the I-C DSR trials conducted during Low Carbon London project. |
Title | I-C DSR scheduling model |
Description | The tool optimises the utilisation of flexible I-C DSR while respecting a variety of technical constraints, such as indoor temperature set points. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Informing the industry and policy makers about challenges associated with using demand-led, thermal-based I-C DSR to support the electricity system. Analysing the behaviour of I&C customers in a real DSR trial conducted as part of the Low Carbon London project. |
Title | Whole electricity system model |
Description | This model takes into account spatial and temporal characteristics of the energy system |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Informing industry and government about the whole system value of distributed energy resources |
Description | Benefits of Smart Grids in Future Low-carbon Electricity Systems, Berlin, European Institute of Innovation and Technology - Smart Energy Summer School,August 2013. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Presentation of Benefits of Smart Grids in Future Low-carbon Electricity Systems and discussion afterwards Higher interest in the topic |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Benefits of Smart Grids in Future Low-carbon Electricity Systems, IKEM Summer Academy on Socio-Economic Opportunities and Drivers on the way to a Low-Carbon Society,Guildford, July 2011. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Presentation of Benefits of Smart Grids in Future Low-carbon Electricity Systems and discussion afterwards Higher interest in the topic |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
URL | http://ikemsummeracademy.de/history/ |
Description | DECC DSR Policy roundtable, January 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Participated in an expert panel to discuss DECC's new programme aimed at utilising DSR potential |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Role and Value of Demand Response in the UK Low Carbon Energy Future |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Presentation of Role and Value of Demand Response in the UK Low Carbon Energy Future and discussion afterwards Higher interest in the topic |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Technical Meeting to Review IAEA's Methodologies and Analytical Tools for Sustainable Energy Development, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, June 2011 and June 2012. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Technical Meeting to Review IAEA's Methodologies and Analytical Tools for Sustainable Energy Development, Vienna Discussion about methodologies |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012 |
Description | Valuing Demand Response in a Smart Grid future, All Energy Conference, IET session on Smart Grids, Aberdeen, May 2011. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation of "Valuing Demand Response in a Smart Grid future" Questions regarding the topic were answered |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
URL | http://www.theiet.org/communities/powergen/all-energy/2011.cfm |
Description | What is the budget for Smart Grid concepts and technologies? Intellect Smart Grids and Smart Metering Seminar - Latest thought leadership and research around the Smart Grid, London, November 2010. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Presentation of What is the budget for Smart Grid concepts and technologies? and discussion afterwards Higher interest in the topic |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |