The effect of time-of-use tariffs on the demand response flexibility of an all-electric smart-grid-ready dwelling

• Published in: Energy and buildings Vol. 128; pp. 56 - 67
• Main Authors: Pallonetto, Fabiano, Oxizidis, Simeon, Milano, Federico, Finn, Donal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.09.2016
• Subjects: Building simulation; Control algorithms; Demand response; Energy management system; Flexibility; Renewable energy; Residential building; Smart grid; Thermal storage; Time of use tariff; Residential building; Renewable energy; Energy management system; Control algorithms; Building simulation; Demand response; Time of use tariff; Thermal storage; Flexibility; Smart grid
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.06.041

•Control algorithms development to optimise electricity profile for a smart-grid house.•Economic and environmental benefits of thermal zone strategies using TOU tariffs.•Asses the impact of renewable energies and control system for building stakeholders.•Definition of a methodology to quantify the energy flexibility in a residential house.•Evaluate the energy flexibility potential of smart-grid house under TOU tariffs. The paper is concerned with the development and evaluation of control algorithms for the implementation of demand response strategies in a smart-grid enabled all-electric residential building. The dwelling is equipped with a 12kW heat pump, a 0.8m3 water storage tank, a 6kW photovoltaic (PV) array, solar thermal collectors for domestic hot water heating and an electric vehicle. The building, located in Ireland, is fully instrumented. An EnergyPlus building simulation model of the dwelling was developed and calibrated using monitored data from the building. The developed model is used to assess the effectiveness of demand response strategies using different time-of-use electricity tariffs in conjunction with zone thermal control. A reduction in generation cost (−22.5%), electricity end-use expenditure (−4.9%) and carbon emission (−7.6%), were estimated when DR measures were implemented and compared with a baseline system. Furthermore, when the zone control features were enabled, the efficiency of the control improved significantly giving, an overall annual economic saving of 16.5% for the residential energy cost. The analysis also identified an annual reduction of consumer electricity consumption of up to 15.9%, lower carbon emissions of 27% and facilitated greater utilisation of electricity generated by grid-scale renewable resources, resulting in a reduction of generation costs for the utility of up to 45.3%.