Integration of automated Demand Response and Energy Efficiency to enable a smart grid infrastructure

Demand response and energy efficiency are part of the same demand-side management tree. However, new technologies illustrate that automation is the link between the two technologies. The utility has an adequate amount of power to meet the consumer's demand of the area. However, the climatic and consumption pattern variation affect largely the utility load curve. The huge variations imply that despite sufficient arrangements of power there is deviation observed from scheduled power demand and face contingent situations like coal shortages, sudden tripping or non-availability of transmission corridor for evacuation of power, etc. In such a scenario, efficient energy management becomes necessary and ADR Scheme increases reliability. ADR enables the participating customers to voluntarily shift or save their identified non-critical loads, thereby helping the utility in better management of peak demand-supply imbalance by way of lowering peak demand during grid stress situations ensuring better reliability of power supply to the customers. Energy efficiency reduction gives way for the development of the Open ADR. Many pilot programs are ongoing with the help of utilities, government lab, ISO, customers that are considering economic as well as environmental benefits. However, the prime target is always industries/commercial buildings as their load is much higher than others. While the merits certainly favor the outcome, there are still challenges to deploy this initiative as a full-scale mainstream program.