Traditional load management versus real time load control
Summary
The rapid development within information technology enables a more dynamic
and flexible operation of energy systems. Therefore the question has arisen
of how the energy system in it’s entirety would be affected by instant
price variations and load management.
In order to examine the effects from real time load control and real
time electricity pricing versus traditional load control and tariffs,
computer simulations have been performed of load management measures in
the energy system of Ronneby, Sweden. The analyses are made outgoing from
two synthetic load curves and coincident prices based on actual demand
and spot market electricity prices in December and May 1997. In the performance
the energy system optimisation model MODEST has been applied on the energy
system. The extent of potential end-use measures are estimated by the
local distribution utility Ronneby Energy AB.
It is among others shown that power related charges constitute the determinant
factor for how and when load control shall be activated. The reduced energy
system cost due to load management is therefore larger with the old electricity
price structure than with real time energy pricing from the power exchange
market.
During the part of the year when the power related charges are not valid
customer driven load control against real time spot prices might generate
unexpected distributor load profiles. Bottle necks in the distribution
grid that can be avoided the part of the year when the management is distributor
driven, might therefore cause new problems in new time periods.
If real time pricing was introduced to customers with controllable equipment,
these customers would utilise their load priority systems the whole year
round and not only during the cold season. The benefits from real time
pricing corresponding to real time load management is totally dependent
of the variation of price and not on seasonal movements or the electricity
price level.
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