Low Cost Load Control Technology

Transcription

1 Low Cost Load Control Technology Dr David Crossley Managing Director Energy Futures Australia Pty Ltd Metering & Billing/CRM Conference Brisbane, November

2 Introduction This work was carried out as part of a project for the Demand Side Response Working Group of the Ministerial Council on Energy Several case studies of load control projects from around the world are included in a research project on network demand side management (DSM) currently being carried out for the International Energy Agency Demand Side Management Programme 2

3 Presentation Topics Components of load control technology Survey of load control technology products Technology review Options for low cost load control programs Creating a forward path for load control technology Information resources 3

4 Components of Load Control Technology 4

5 Load Control System Program Operator Central control initiation device Data receipt device Database Automated QC procedures Communications Wired link PSTN Internet Fibre-optic Power line carrier or Wireless link Paging system Radio Mobile phone Microwave GPRS Wi-Fi Customer Site Communications device Control Device Switch Thermostat Demand controller Measurement device Information display device Components of a Load Control System 5

6 Program Operator Technology Load control technology at the program operator s premises has two functions Load Control Initiation: The program operator generates and sends signals to initiate (and terminate) a load control program event with locally-switched load control, the signals are sent to the customer, and can be as simple as phone calls or messages with remotely-switched load control, signals are sent directly to the customers equipment and instruct it how to respond Data Receipt and Storage: For operational and billing purposes, the program operator requires data about the quantity and timing of load reductions achieved through the load control program two-way communication links allow this data to be collected in near real time one-way communications only allow data to be acquired some time after load control events 6

7 Communications Technology Communications technology for load control programs enables signals to be sent by the program operator and, if the communications links are two-way, also enables the program operator to receive data from the controlled loads A range of wired and wireless communications technologies can be used in load control programs; costs vary quite widely depending on the actual communications technology used 7

8 Customer Technology Load control technology at the customer site has four functions Communications: Signals sent by the program operator must be received at the customer site and conveyed to selected equipment Controlling Appliances and Equipment: The controlled equipment must be able to respond to the signals sent by the program operator with locally-switched load control, the customer simply uses the existing switches in the equipment to manually turn it down or switch it off with remotely-switched load control, a range of control devices may be attached to the equipment Load Measurement: The program operator must be able to measure the load reductions achieved through the load control program; this requires a load measurement device, usually an electricity meter Information Display: Some load control programs make use of information display devices to provide information to end-use customers about their electricity usage and costs 8

9 Survey of Load Control Technology Products 9

10 Technology Product Types Load control technology products can be classified as follows: information display devices appliance and equipment controllers integrated load control systems This survey of products is not intended be comprehensive The products shown here have been chosen to represent the broad range of existing applications for load control technology; there are many other similar products available on the world market 10

11 Information Display Devices (1) CCI Power-Mate Clipsal Cent-A-Meter 11

12 Information Display Devices (2) Ampy ecometer Home Energy Monitor Ampy EM1200 Interval Meter 12

13 Appliance and Equipment Controllers (1) Enermet SWITCHit Appliance Controller Grid Friendly Appliance Controller 13

14 Appliance and Equipment Controllers (2) Enermet ROA Ripple Control Receiver Hunt Load Control Switch 14

15 Integrated Load Control Systems (1) Carrier EMi Thermostat Web-based User Interface 15

16 Integrated Load Control Systems (2) Carrier ComfortChoice System 16

17 Integrated Load Control Systems (3) b) a) Web-based User Interface LeKeyBox Appliance Controller 17

18 Integrated Load Control Systems (4) Shree Dutt Technologies Electricity Manager 18

19 Integrated Load Control Systems (5) Phase 6/Tytronics Rippleband Neighbourhood Node, Load Agent and Meter Interfaces 19

20 Integrated Load Control Systems (6) Communications Network for the Rippleband Load Control System 20

21 Technology Review 21

22 Technology Review (1) Interval metering is not necessary to carry out load control functions There are many products available that can carry out simple remote switching of loads Some of the products in the survey can carry out remote switching that is automatically triggered by threshold events, including high price levels and network constraints, without requiring a connection to an interval meter, or even to any type of meter However, where interval metering with communications capability is available, information about threshold events can be transmitted through the meter 22

23 Technology Review (2) One-way communication is essential to carry out remote switching of loads A one-way communication link is required to transmit control signals from the program operator to the connected loads Depending on the specific capability of the communications technology, a one-way communication link can also be used to transmit information about threshold events, such as high price levels and network constraints, without requiring a connection to a meter 23

24 Technology Review (3) Two-way communication is not essential to carry out remote switching of loads However, two-way communication can greatly assist with the management of a load control program by enabling the transmission of information back to the program operator about whether remote switching has been successful and about the current status of the connected load If the return communication link is connected through an interval meter, the program operator can also receive specific information about the quantity and timing of any load reduction achieved 24

25 Technology Review (4) Metering in some form is required for settlement of the financial transactions associated with load control programs Accumulation meters are sufficient when the only information required is the quantity of energy used over the billing period Interval metering may be required if time-varying pricing is in place, particularly with CPP and RTP, and when TOU pricing applies to all loads at the customer site, rather than to particular specified loads However, some technology products are now available that can provide pulsed output from legacy electro-mechanical accumulation meters; theoretically, this output could be integrated over specified time periods to generate data similar to that obtained from an interval meter 25

26 Options for Low Cost Load Control Programs 26

27 Distribution of Low Cost Information Display Devices Purpose: To raise end-use customers awareness about their electricity use and cost and encourage a change in their electricity-using behaviour Target Audience: Primarily residential; small businesses could also be targeted Technology: Device that displays information about electricity use and costs, and may also provide information about other factors, eg greenhouse gas emissions Communications: None Type of Metering Required: None Infrastructure Required: None Pricing Initiatives: Time-varying price structures, eg TOU, RTP and/or CPP Education and Awareness Raising: Promotion and education campaign encouraging customers to change their electricity-using behaviour Examples of Technology Products: Power-Mate ; Cent-A-Meter Indicative Cost: $60 to $200 per customer site 27

28 Installation of Frequency Sensors in Household Appliances Purpose: To achieve automated switching of household appliances in response to system frequency variations Target Audience: Manufacturers of household appliances Technology: Computer chip that senses frequency disturbances on the network and turns an appliance off for a few minutes to allow the network to stabilise during a crisis Communications: None Type of Metering Required: None Infrastructure Required: None Pricing Initiatives: None required Education and Awareness Raising: Education campaign explaining the technology to householders Examples of Technology Products: Grid Friendly appliance controller Indicative Cost: About $2.00 per appliance in large manufacturing quantities plus the cost of any education campaign 28

29 Roll Out of Low Cost Plug-in Appliance Controllers Purpose: To enable low cost direct load control of appliances and equipment Target Audience: Primarily residential; small businesses could also be targeted Technology: Plug-in device that enables remote control of appliances through power line signalling Communications: One-way Type of Metering Required: None Infrastructure Required: Ripple control infrastructure Pricing Initiatives: Time-varying price structures and/or incentive payments required to motivate customers to install the controllers Education and Awareness Raising: Promotion and education campaign explaining the purpose and objectives of the program and encouraging customers not to override load control signals Examples of Technology Products: SWITCHit ; Rippleband Plug-in Relay Indicative Cost: $26 to $50 per connected appliance or piece of equipment plus the cost of an education campaign and any infrastructure required 29

30 Roll Out of Smart Air Conditioner Thermostats Purpose: To enable low cost direct load control of air conditioners Target Audience: Residential and small commercial customers Technology: Programmable thermostat with two-way communications Communications: Two-way Type of Metering Required: None Infrastructure Required: Two-way communications infrastructure Pricing Initiatives: Time-varying price structures and/or incentive payments required to motivate customers to install the thermostats Education and Awareness Raising: Promotion and education campaign explaining the purpose and objectives of the program and encouraging customers not to override load control signals Examples of Technology Products: ComfortChoice Demand Management Solution Indicative Cost: $250 to $300 per thermostat; additional costs for installing and maintenance of the thermostats and for the communications network 30

31 Promotion of Integrated Direct Load Control Systems Purpose: To enable relatively complex demand side response programs. Target Audience: Primarily residential and small commercial customers Technology: Integrated load control system combining appliance and equipment controllers with two-way communications technology Communications: Two-way Type of Metering Required: Interval Infrastructure Required: Two-way communications infrastructure Pricing Initiatives: Time-varying price structures, eg TOU, RTP or CPP would be required to motivate customers to install the equipment; alternatively, or in addition, incentive payments could be used Education and Awareness Raising: Promotion and education campaign explaining the purpose and objectives of the planned DSR program Examples of Technology Products: LeKey Energy Management System; SD Electricity Manager; Rippleband Load Control System Indicative Cost: Range $300 to $600 per site plus the costs for an education campaign and communications network 31

32 Creating a Forward Path for Load Control Technology 32

33 Technology Forward Path (1) Considerable product design and development of load control technology is currently taking place Much of this development is being carried out by ICT firms rather than by firms traditionally involved in designing, developing and manufacturing equipment for the electricity industry Product lifetimes for newly-developed load control equipment are much shorter than those for other equipment in the electricity industry The rapidly increasing availability of sophisticated load control equipment at comparatively low cost, opens up major opportunities to implement load control programs 33

34 Technology Forward Path (2) There is a danger that too rapid deployment of load control technology without a clearly defined strategy may result in a range of problems These problems may include: a rail gauge problem in which multiple different proprietary load control products are installed that are unable to interface with each other; a stranded assets problem in which existing load control equipment currently installed in the Australian electricity industry becomes uneconomic and has to be replaced with more cost-effective technology; and an uneconomic lifetimes problem in which the short lifetimes of new load control products force massive and costly physical replacement and re-installation programs on a regular basis 34

35 Technology Forward Path (3) A national policy development process should be established to ensure: that open standards and protocols are developed for all the important load control functions and that load control equipment installed in the Australian electricity industry complies with these standards and protocols; that new technology products are developed to expand existing load control functions and add new functions to equipment already in use in the Australian electricity industry, eg the existing ripple control infrastructure and the existing very large stock of accumulation meters; that new load control technology products are designed so that additional capabilities and functions can be added without requiring the physical replacement of whole units or parts of units, eg by using communication links to implement mass upgrades of firmware installed in load control products 35

36 Information Resources 36

37 Information Resources (1) David Crossley: Summaries of documents on demand management and energy efficiency in Australia are available at my company s website: Ministerial Council on Energy demand side response page: wordindex&keyword=demand%20side National Framework for Energy Efficiency: 37

38 Information Resources (2) The International Energy Agency DSM Programme carries out multi-national research projects on demand side management. Website for information about the IEA DSM Programme: The IEA DSM Programme currently has two research projects on demand response and network-driven DSM (Tasks XIII and XV). Website for information about participating in these IEA projects: 38