This paper surveys the opportunities and challenges in an emerging area of research that has the potential to significantly ease the incorporation of renewable energy into the grid as weil as electric power peak-load shaving: data center demand response. Data center demand response sits at the intersection of two growing fields: energy efficient data centers and demand response in the smart grid. As such, the literature related to data center demand response is sprinkled across multiple areas and worked on by diverse groups. Our goal in this survey is to demonstrate the potential of the field while also summarizing the progress that has been made and the challenges that remain.

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Opportunities and challenges for data center demand response

Towards transactive energy systems: An analysis on current trends

Building-to-grid predictive power flow control for demand response and demand flexibility programs

This paper proposes a novel framework suitable for bilevel optimization in a system of commercial buildings integrated to smart distribution grid. The proposed optimization framework consists of comprehensive mathematical models of commercial buildings and underlying distribution grid, their operational constraints, and a bilevel solution approach which is based on the information exchange between the two levels. The proposed framework benefits both entities involved in the building-to-grid (B2G) system, i.e., the operations of the buildings and the distribution grid. The framework achieves two distinct objectives: increased load penetration by maximizing the distribution system load factor and reduced energy cost for the buildings. This study also proposes a novel B2G index, which is based on building’s energy cost and nodal load factor, and represents a metric of combined optimal operations of the commercial buildings and distribution grid. The usefulness of the proposed framework is demonstrated in a B2G system that consists of several commercial buildings connected to a 33-node distribution test feeder, where the building parameters are obtained from actual measurements at an office building at Michigan Technological University.

Bilevel Optimization Framework for Smart Building-to-Grid Systems

Abstract This paper reviews the optimization and control of thermal energy storage systems. Emphasis is given to thermal storage applied to combined heat and power systems, building systems, and solar thermal power systems. The paper also discusses how applications of thermal storage can benefit the chemical industry. Optimization of the design and control of thermal storage systems improves plant performance and improves the management of transient energy loads in a variety of applications. In order to maximize the benefits of thermal storage, it is necessary to include advanced multivariate constrained controls, such as model predictive control. Thermal storage also increases system flexibility, allowing the incorporation of intermittent renewable energy sources. The flexibility of thermal storage will play an increasingly important role as utilities implement smart grid technology with time-of-use electricity pricing. Lastly, thermal energy storage improves system economics by reducing required equipment sizes, improving efficiency, and reducing equipment wear.

Optimization and advanced control of thermal energy storage systems

The paper describes the Smart Grid standards and systems interoperability through Open Automated Demand Response Standards (OpenADR) conformance development process. The process aligns closely with the national and GridWise® Architecture Council’s recommendations for interoperability. Utilizing the activities of standards organizations, user-groups, industry alliances, and the Smart Grid development, the paper looks at the standards development, and certification and testing process. The paper references the Conformance and Interoperability Process Reference Manuals, and requirements of the standards organizations for certification and interoperability of OpenADR standards to address consumers and stakeholders needs. The evaluation framework for OpenADR interoperability will be characterized through the data transport mechanisms, harmonization and co-existence with other standards and systems, and Smart Grid interoperability across different markets. The result is the interoperable information exchange among Smart Grid standards and technology implementations within the national and international standards activities, primarily the interoperability and backward compatibility needs within the California commercial deployments. This process offers significant value to the consumers and builds trust in the system. The service-providers and vendors can provide cost-effective solutions, which reduce the implementation costs and improves the operational efficiency of DR programs and automation.

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Smart Grid Standards and Systems Interoperability: A Precedent with OpenADR

Smart Grid investments and research promise significant benefits to both customers and the grid. One major benefit is data and communications that enable customer-side resources to participate in electricity programs—i.e., transact with the electric grid. The U.S. Smart Grid activities and investments, which account for nearly three billion dollars in publicly documented expenses, build on interoperability standards activity. Standards interoperability for grid transactions can be viewed from two key interfaces—between (1) Smart Grid domain interfaces, and (2) customer-side resources and the electric grid. Conformance testing and certification is key to ensuring that standards are interoperable and secure. This paper describes the conformance development and certification process for a key communications standard—Open Automated Demand Response (OpenADR)—as an interface between customers' systems and electricity service providers, to enable demand response and price transactions. Through this process, we describe the benefits of conformance to support low-cost automated DR (AutoDR) and customer-side transactions within the distribution electric grid. The paper evaluates examples of applications and further developments for emerging transactive energy concepts that can be used to scale existing systems and to leverage the investments and support compliance to any building codes and appliance standards. The conformance process can be the key to realizing interoperability benefits and market acceptance. Conformance is also a key to enabling native DR and price transaction capabilities in customers' systems; a feature that can be replicated for diffusion and can lower DR technology costs by a significant margin.

Rolf Bienert

Papers

Smart Grid Standards and Systems Interoperability: A Precedent with OpenADR

Smart grid and customer transactions: The unrealized benefits of conformance