Distribution Network support from Multi-Energy Demand Side Response in Smart Districts

This work investigates from a techno-economic perspective the potential for groups of smart buildings distributed throughout an area to provide Demand Side Response (DSR) as a means to increase electricity distribution network capacity. More specifically, intelligent multi-energy flows between buildings within a smart district are optimized with the aim of reducing energy costs for end-users and network costs for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). For this purpose, an optimization methodology that captures the impacts of DSR by explicitly modelling (ii) interactions between different energy vectors through an integrated electricity-heat-gas model, (ii) security limits and (iii) DNO investment decisions and preferred deployment of DSR, is proposed. The methodology is illustrated with a real UK multi-energy district where an intelligent information platform (i.e., the District Information Modelling and Management for Energy Reduction (DIMMER) platform under development in the homonymous European project) is being tested. The significant flexibility of the smart district to provide DSR services without compromising end-user comfort levels (i.e., avoiding load curtailment) by intelligently exchanging different energy vectors is demonstrated. The results highlight a strong business case for DSR, as the associated deployment costs are minimal thanks to the flexibility of the smart district, while network savings are significant.