Automated Demand Response for Energy Sustainability
EW-201256
Objective
The use of electric utility demand response (DR) programs and participation in emerging electric grid ancillary services (A/S) markets can provide new sources of funding to Department of Defense (DoD) installations to meet future energy and sustainability objectives. This opportunity is being missed, in large part, because of the lack of suitable communication and control technologies to automate the demand response. This project will implement OpenADR communications and control technology at Fort Irwin, California. The objective is to demonstrate how a variety of electric loads can be automated to participate in emerging electric grid independent system operator (ISO) ancillary services markets.
Technology Description
OpenADR technology provides the needed automation link between the ISO or utility and a set of preprogrammed (automated) DR strategies in the installation's energy management system (EMS), and thereby to the individual electric loads. This automated communication technology effectively joins an installation's EMS with grid A/S operators and utility DR programs. DR and A/S control strategies are implemented in the installation's EMS to adjust the operation of building and other electric loads in response to A/S commands from the grid operator or DR signals from the utility via the Demand Response Automation Server (DRAS). On a military installation, candidate electric loads for use in DR programs include HVAC equipment, lighting, water pumping, and other miscellaneous motor loads.
Benefits
The capabilities of the Automated Demand Response for Energy Sustainability (ADRES) system will enable DoD installations to participate in ISO energy markets. The resulting financial benefits can be used to procure renewable energy systems, energy efficiency technologies, microgrid technologies, or other energy infrastructure improvements at the installation, providing key contributions toward meeting DoD's energy goals. The system also provides support to the regional commercial power grid by enabling the installation to automatically curtail electric demand in response to conditions in the power grid. This grid participation enhances regional grid stability and security, which in turn improves energy security and electrical reliability for the installation.
The ADRES technology can also be employed to perform automated load shedding to balance the effects of variable renewable energy sources. This automated demand response can mitigate the variability in renewable energy systems due to changing weather conditions. In microgrid applications, the automated load shedding provided by ADRES can provide important stabilization benefits. By causing the electric load to track the variability of renewable power sources, system stability is enhanced. While this problem can be addressed through costly energy storage technologies, ADRES offers a lower cost alternative and supplemental strategy. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2014)
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Mr. Steve Gabel
Honeywell International Inc.
Phone: 763-954-6512
Fax: 763-954-5489
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.