Quantitative flexibility assessment of a comprehensive set of demand response programs

Abstract

Providing additional required flexibility as a consequence of variable wind generation is an essential challenge in future power grids. Demand Response (DR) is a relatively economic tool which can create considerable flexibility by motivating the customers to change their typical consumption patterns. This paper aims at quantitative evaluation of flexibility level of a comprehensive set of DR programs in power grid with significant amounts of wind generation through an applicable metric. The employed metric determines the flexibility of different DR programs based on their impacts on releasing technical constraints of conventional generation units which are restricted flexibility amount including minimum stable generation level, operating range, minimum up/down times and ramp up/down capability. To this end, a comprehensive portfolio of DR programs consists of tariff-based, incentive-based, and combinational DR programs have been modeled considering the customer’s benefit function based on price elasticity concept. The paper concludes with applicable guidelines for power system operators to design and implement an appropriate DR program from both the flexibility and economic aspects in wind integrated power grids.

Published in: International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, Volume 116, March 2020.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2019.105562