Savings estimates for implementing automated demand response (AutoDR) for energy conservation and curtailment are in the billions of dollars. Recent breakthroughs in Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory moves the commercial and industrial AutoDR initiatives forward with the release of an open standard and bright yellow boxes. The yellow boxes receive signals from energy suppliers which causes equipment at commercial and industrial facilities to automatically respond by shutting down until signals are received to end the demand response (DR) event.
Similar technologies are deployed in millions of residences worldwide. In many New England states, water heaters have been included in automated demand response programs for a decade. With the growth of smart grid technologies, many utilities are moving forward with voluntary demand response while others are moving toward load limiting and curtailment automatically. One of the “givens” is that in the industrial, commercial or residential markets, an over-ride option is required. If your ZigBeeTM—enabled washing machine is curtailed just seconds after the bleach has been dispensed, consumers will want to be able to over-ride AutoDR.
The goal with either a voluntary or automated demand response program is to reduce peak demand. The message has been escalating that we must practice using energy wisely to save our planet and our pocketbooks. Education and legislation have been making some inroads into the first form of demand response: be aware of the demand and respond by shutting off unessential electrical devices within a home or business. Getting the message out about when DR is required is getting easier; in some countries, the television station broadcasts message that curtailment is required.
Better communications options for notification of peak demand, emergency curtailment situations or pending outages include digital, two-way utility networks, part of the emerging Smart Grid. Utilities use their data networks to send messages to smart thermostats or even home energy management systems. Pilots can be found in just about every state of sending demand response signals to consumers. Media is expanding to include i-Applications (Apple iTouch and iPhone), Blackberry, Google Android, on web portals, SMS (text) message to cell phones or a low tech automated voice response, depending on the consumer preference. The message is: use energy wisely and reduce peak demand. If we do it well, maybe we won’t be forced to have implement AutoDR to avoid blackouts in the United States.
Related posts:
- Renewables push a gold mine for demand-response middlemen – NYTimes.com
- Energy Risk – Smart Grid, New Products Promoting Wise Use of Energy @ RiskCenter: A Financial Risk Management Media Company
- Demand response co. EnerNoc lands $100M contract
- Energy Risk – Adding Structure to the Smart Grid’s Retail Demand Response Resources, Part VII @ RiskCenter: A Financial Risk Management Media Company
- Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition Hails FERC Release of Report on Potential for Reducing Peak Demand
