Demand response for Austrian smart grids

Consumer-side energy management technologies (a.k.a. load management, demand-side management) are considered one of the key instruments for future smart grids. However, practically nothing has been implemented in this field.

The aim of the project is to conduct a critical analysis whether and how consumption-oriented energy management solutions could contribute to overall energy efficiency of future smart grids in the best possible way.

Finding ideal scenarios for the highest amount of efficiency

Load rescheduling has been shown to be a meaningful concept for evenly distributing daily energy consumption, providing control power for the electricity grid, ensuring a prompt consumption of power fed in from the different generation points, or for increasing energy efficiency in large buildings. However, possible applications can often be mutually exclusive, which leads to competitive behaviour in the use of load rescheduling possibilities. It is only in a few scenarios that the uses complement each other.

Focus on usability and environmental aspects

The aim of Smart Response was to provide a strategic decision-making tool for an intelligent use of of user-side energy management up to 2020. The main focus was on technical application, user acceptance, privacy and CO2 reduction. The financial and ecological benefits of different energy management scenarios in Austria were quantified and compared in order to provide a basis for making decisions on the further development of user-side energy management concepts.

Duration

06/2010 - 07/2012