The design and development of simulation models and tools for Demand Response (DR) programs are becoming more and more important for adequately taking the maximum advantages of DR programs use. Moreover, a more active consumers' participation in DR programs can help improving the system reliability and decrease or defer the required investments. DemSi, a DR simulator, designed and implemented by the authors of this paper, allows studying DR actions and schemes in distribution networks. It undertakes the technical validation of the solution using realistic network simulation based on PSCAD. DemSi considers the players involved in DR actions, and the results can be analyzed from each specific player point of view.
Demand Response (DR) was expected to significantly grow in the scope of electricity
markets, bringing economic and technical benefits to the whole system. However, DR
is not being as successful as expected [
DemSi, the DR simulator developed by the authors of this paper, presents several
innovative features when compared with other existing tools [
DemSi considers the players involved in the DR actions and results can be analyzed from the point of view of each specific player. This includes five types of players, namely consumers, retailers (suppliers), Distribution Network operatos (DNOs), Curtailment service Providers (CSPs), and Virtual Power Players (VPPs). The analysis can also be done from the point of view of the retailer, of the consumers (both individually or in the scope of a load aggregator) or of the DNO.
Another advantage of DemSi is that it includes a diversity of DR programs. DemSi allows choosing among a large set of DR programs, each one modeled according to its specific characteristics. 2
The development of DemSi has been based on three simulation tools. GAMS –
General Algebraic Modeling System – is a computational tool developed to
implement linear optimization problems, as well as non-linear and mixed-integer ones [
MATLAB is a powerful software of numeric computation that was developed in
1978 by Cleve Moler and is nowadays a property of MathWorks. The main
characteristic of MATLAB is the use of matrixes as the basic data structure [
PSCAD/EMTDC is a simulation tool developed by the Manitoba-HVDC Corporation, dedicated to the system analysis and having electric power systems as the main application area. PSCAD is the graphical interface to the user, while EMTDC is the simulation software. The graphical interface of PSCAD considerably improves the EMTDC usability. It makes possible for the user to build the circuit schematically, to process the simulation, to analyze the results, and to manage the data in a completely integrated environment. An important advantage of PSCAD, which is crucial for DemSi, is the possibility of linking it with MATLAB software. 3
DemSi combines the use of GAMS optimization software and of MATLAB, which has been used to program some of the models. The other models have been programmed in GAMS. PSCAD is used for the electrical network simulation and is connected with the other two software tools.
DemSi is an important tool for DR programs and models analysis and validation, both in what concerns the business and economic aspects and the technical validation of their impacts in the network.
Consumers can be characterized individually or in an aggregated basis. The simulation requires knowledge about load data and about the contracts between clients and their electricity suppliers. These contracts may include flexibility clauses that allow the network operator to reduce or cut the load of specific clients and circuits. On the other hand, the response of each client to the used tariff scheme is also characterized, allowing the analysis of the impact of alternative DR schemes.
Figure 1 presents the DemSi functional diagram. The simulation of a scenario requires information concerning network characterization, consumers’ profile, and DR programs models. The gray blocks in figure 1 are the ones that do not change when the conditions of simulation (models, network, etc.) change.
PSCAD requires a large amount of parameters for the modeling of the network elements and for the resources connected to it. In this way, the network data (including DG and loads’ electrical characteristics) are an important basis for the success of the simulations to be run. The data concerning load response characterization, as well as the event data, are necessary for the DR programs and models simulation.
The simulation timeline is composed by a sequence of periods with a single event or multiple events occurring over time. In the beginning of the simulation, all the variable parameters, including the system voltage, are defined according to the considered initial state. Every change in the system causes instability in the simulation, and therefore some simulation time is given for the system to be in a stable state. After this stabilization time, the network state is saved and the first DR event is simulated. A stabilization period succeeds the DR event trigger; after this, the new state of the system, seen as the results of the event, is saved. This sequence is repeated for the number of periods of the simulation. After saving the results of an event, the network state for the next period is charged.
During the simulation, the different software tools used communicate and transfer data among them. The simulation starts in PSCAD and every time a new network state needs to be charged and/or saved this is done using the MATLAB connection to save/use data to/from Microsoft Excel datasheets. The sequence of software data transferences is represented by numbers in the middle block of figure 1. 4
DemSi, the DR programs simulator presented in this paper, is of crucial importance to enable decision-support by the players acting in DR programs. DemSi presents characteristics that distinguish it from the already existing DR tools, what makes it a valuable contribution to the DR field. A very relevant feature is the realistic technical validation of DR solutions, based on PSCAD, which ensures DemSi applicability to real world problems. Moreover, DemSI provides the means for this analysis to be undertaken from different points of view of several players.
This work is supported by FEDER Funds through COMPETE program and by National Funds through FCT under the projects FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER: PEstOE/EEI/UI0760/2011, PTDC/EEA-EEL/099832/2008, PTDC/SENENR/099844/2008, and PTDC/SEN-ENR/122174/2010.