Demand aggregationsystem architecture and design

Resumen

Individual consumers in the residential sector have not been considered targets for DR programs due to their low energy consumption. However, customers typically respond to increasing prices by modifying behavior and usage practices. Demand aggregation models are based on consumer groups subscribing to distributed power plants, with aggregators developing strategies for consumers to modify their energy demand in response to system operator requirements and energy availability. New entities are emerging that act as mediators or intermediaries between consumer groups and distributors, assuming responsibility for the installation of communication and appliance control systems in end-user premises. While the traditional grid offers programs for large-scale consumers such as industrial plants and buildings, similar programs are not available to the residential sector for 3 main reasons: communication difficulties in managing many residential units; a lack of efficient and open automation tools; and the difficulty faced in integrating heterogeneous architectures in a demand management system. This chapter describes a novel energy management system by design with the consumer at its core. The proposal consists of a group of consumers coordinating their demand behavior, as, aware of their energy consumption, they pre-schedule their demand for the upcoming 24 h.