Domestic Dynamic Demand

1. Doing our bit @Home! Damon Hart-Davis, d@hd.org, earth.org.uk On-line: http://www.earth.org.uk/note-on-dynamic-demand-value.html Also LinkedIn UK Green Energy Engineering: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=137960 Domestic Dynamic Demand

2. What is Dynamic Demand? • AKA “intelligent demand”, “automated demand response”, “grid-sensitive”, etc • DD appliance reduces its energy demand when the electricity grid is under strain • Can be built into new domestic appliances, probably for pennies • Can be a (free) software add-in for Internet-connected computers

3. Why Dynamic Demand? • Demand-side management already used in industry; domestic demand is 30% of total • Allows for less storage, more intermittent RE, less FF/CO2/AGW • Helps to “balance” the grid • Allows for lower peak demand, less infrastructure, saves money • Should be cheap and effective

4. When, How Useful? • 'Demand pickups', eg massed kettle boiling when England loses at football • When a power-station fails, eg Sizewell in May 2008 • When the wind drops and the sun goes in, ie an RE drought • Mainly useful on short scales (seconds) but some value up to hours/days

5. How for Different Appliances? • Different appliances with different use and power profiles • Don't want to annoy users • But if the grid was going to collapse anyway... • General effect will be to delay/slow energy-hungry activity, eg heating water

6. Variations & Alternatives • Use to trim demand at high CO2 intensity? • Voltage-based demand-reduction • Time-of-day/peak/stress tariffs to incentivise shifting of load • Asking nicely (eg South Africa)‏ • Load shedding (eg South Africa)‏

7. Conclusion • Seems that it should be done and would save energy and money • Have tried to persuade EC to make DD a condition of A+/A++ energy label • We can all run our washers before 4pm or after 9pm in winter!