Browsing by Author "Boait, Peter John"
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Item Open Access Accommodating renewable generation through an aggregator-focused method for inducing demand side response from electricity consumers(Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2013-05-30) Boait, Peter John; Ardestani, B. M.; Snape, J. RichardThe ability to influence electricity demand from domestic and small business consumers so that it can be matched to intermittent renewable generation and distribution network constraints is a key capability of a smart grid. This involves signalling to consumers to indicate when electricity use is desirable or undesirable. However simply signalling a time dependent price does not always achieve the required demand response and can result in unstable system behaviour. We propose a demand response scheme in which an aggregator mediates between the consumer and the market and provides a signal to a “smart home” control unit that manages the consumer’s appliances using a novel method for reconciliation of the consumer’s needs and preferences with the incentives supplied by the signal. This method involves random allocation of demand within timeslots acceptable to the consumer with a bias depending on the signal provided. By simulating a population of domestic consumers using heat pumps and electric vehicles with properties consistent with UK national statistics, we show the method allows total demand to be predicted and shaped in a way that can simultaneously match renewable generation and satisfy network constraints, leading to benefits from reduced use of peaking plant and avoided network reinforcement.Item Metadata only Balancing electricity supply with distribution network constraints(Congrès International des Réseaux Electriques de Distribution (CIRED), 2013-07) Boait, Peter John; Pakka, V. H.The need for electricity demand to adapt to distribution network constraints and intermittent supply from renewable generators is widely recognised. However addressing both these goals simultaneously with a single demand side management scheme is difficult within a deregulated industry framework. This paper describes a scalable method by which electricity suppliers can shape demand from domestic and SME consumers, particularly that arising from adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles. A process is proposed by which Distribution Network Operators notify a maximum power profile for each connection to the supplier, who then uses it to shape demand from each consumer so that DNO limits are satisfied as a priority, and demand responds to supply availability as far as possible.Item Open Access Can fuel cell micro-CHP justify the hydrogen gas grid? Operating experience from a UK domestic retrofit(Elsevier, 2019-04-15) Boait, Peter John; Greenough, R. M.Fuel cell based micro combined heat and power (micro CHP) has been the subject of numerous simula- tion studies. We report on actual practical performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) micro CHP in a UK dwelling over the 2017–18 heating season and compare its performance with a Stirling engine micro CHP which it replaced. Results show that the PEMFC micro CHP achieves a much higher an- nual electricity output over a year, with household self-consumption and operating economics dependent on electric vehicle charging. Empirical models derived from this operating experience show that the value of this technology is less sensitive to building parameters, occupancy, and climate change when compared to engine-based micro CHP. We consider the potential role of this technology in the decarbonisation of heat, and highlight the benefit of reliable electricity generation injected into low voltage distribution to mitigate winter demand peaks from heat pumps. A comparative analysis of the primary energy efficiency of different methods of meeting domestic energy demand using natural gas with carbon capture shows that a mixed solution to decarbonisation of heat, combining heat pumps, PEMFC micro CHP, and hydro- gen boilers, should not degrade energy efficiency substantially by comparison with an all-electric solution and could be more acceptable to consumers.Item Metadata only CASCADE: An Agent Based Framework For Modeling The Dynamics Of Smart Electricity Systems(Emergent Publications, 2013) Rylatt, R. M.; Gammon, Rupert; Boait, Peter John; Varga, L.; Allen, P.; Savill, M.; Snape, J. Richard; Lemon, Mark; Ardestani, B. M.; Pakka, V. H.; Fletcher, G.; Smith, S.; Fan, D.; Strathern, M.The Complex Adaptive Systems, Cognitive Agents and Distributed Energy (CASCADE) project is developing a framework based on Agent Based Modelling (ABM). The CASCADE Framework can be used both to gain policy and industry relevant insights into the smart grid concept itself and as a platform to design and test distributed ICT solutions for smart grid based business entities. ABM is used to capture the behaviors of diff erent social, economic and technical actors, which may be defi ned at various levels of abstraction. It is applied to understanding their interactions and can be adapted to include learning processes and emergent patterns. CASCADE models ‘prosumer’ agents (i.e., producers and/or consumers of energy) and ‘aggregator’ agents (e.g., traders of energy in both wholesale and retail markets) at various scales, from large generators and Energy Service Companies down to individual people and devices. The CASCADE Framework is formed of three main subdivisions that link models of electricity supply and demand, the electricity market and power fl ow. It can also model the variability of renewable energy generation caused by the weather, which is an important issue for grid balancing and the profi tability of energy suppliers. The development of CASCADE has already yielded some interesting early fi ndings, demonstrating that it is possible for a mediating agent (aggregator) to achieve stable demandfl attening across groups of domestic households fi tted with smart energy control and communication devices, where direct wholesale price signals had previously been found to produce characteristic complex system instability. In another example, it has demonstrated how large changes in supply mix can be caused even by small changes in demand profi le. Ongoing and planned refi nements to the Framework will support investigation of demand response at various scales, the integration of the power sector with transport and heat sectors, novel technology adoption and diffusion work, evolution of new smart grid business models, and complex power grid engineering and market interactions.Item Metadata only Demand management for isolated mini-grids supplied by renewable generation(IEEE, 2014-05-30) Boait, Peter John; Snape, J. RichardFor isolated mini-grids powered by renewable generation, balancing electricity supply and demand is a considerable challenge. This paper reviews the scope and practical methods for active demand management as part of the solution to this problem. It highlights the wide range of possible methods and their applicability and limitations for different mini-grid technologies and operating environments. The need for suitable tools to design and plan demand management schemes is identified and initial results from applying agent-based modelling to a mini-grid operational issue are presented.Item Metadata only Demand Management for Off-Grid Electricity Networks(Springer, 2014-06) Boait, Peter JohnFor isolated mini-grids powered mainly or wholly by renewable energy-based generation, balancing electricity supply and demand is a considerable challenge. This chapter reviews the scope and practical methods for active demand management as part of the solution to this problem. It highlights the wide range of possible methods and their applicability and limitations for different mini-grid technologies and operating environments. The need for suitable tools to design and plan demand management schemes is identified.Item Metadata only Electrical load characteristics of domestic heat pumps and scope for demand side management(Congrès International des Réseaux Electriques de Distribution (CIRED), 2011-07) Boait, Peter John; Stafford, A.Domestic heat pumps are a key part of the UK Government’s decarbonisation strategy and are expected to form a substantial part of national electrical demand by 2050. This paper reports on the practical performance and electrical load characteristics of a group of ten heat pumps over an annual cycle. The variation of electrical load with ambient temperature and domestic hot water usage is explored and useful opportunities for demand side management are identifiedItem Open Access Enhancing energy efficiency through smart control: paths and policies for deployment(ECEEE, 2013-06) Snape, J. Richard; Boait, Peter JohnSmart devices and controllers are often proposed as an effective way to both minimise and optimise the timing of energy consumption in order to minimise the peaks in demand. A key component of the Smart Grid vision is the widespread use of such devices, advanced as a way to mitigate the intermittency of renewable energy generation which in turn is crucial to the decarbonisation of electricity supply. In this paper, we focus on the use of smart controllers and the adoption of distributed renewable generation at household level as part of the transition from a conventional electricity grid to a Smart Grid. We utilise an Agent Based Model to investigate the effectiveness of both smart controllers and distributed generation in reducing household energy consumption, alone and in combination. We also investigate the possible paths to adoption of such devices and the interdependence of the case to adopt one on the other. Electricity consumption patterns for households in the model are heterogeneous and generated in accordance with data for the UK and initial adoption rates for distributed generation are calibrated from UK National data. We illustrate the potential for smart controllers to alter demand patterns over time both with and without distributed generation. We show the effect of order of adoption of devices at the householder level on the energy consumption of their building, but also on consumption at a larger scale and highlight issues for policy makers designing policies intended to incentivise a transition towards smart control of energy demand.Item Open Access ESCoBox: A set of tools for mini-grid sustainability in the developing world(MDPI, 2017-05-03) Advani, Varun; Wade, Neal; Greenwood, D.; Davison, P.; Gammon, Rupert; Boait, Peter JohnMini-grids powered by photovoltaic generators or other renewable energy sources have the potential to bring electricity to the 17% of the world’s population, mainly in rural areas, that are currently un-served. However, designing and managing a mini-grid so that it is reliable and economically sustainable is difficult because of the high variability of demand that arises from the small population of consumers. We describe an integrated set of four tools to assist mini-grid operators to predict and manage demand. These comprise a decision support tool to predict peak and average demand from a consumer population, a demand disaggregation tool that allows the key statistical properties of connected electricity-consuming appliances to be identified, a battery condition modeling tool which allows the impact on battery life of a planned operating regime to be predicted and a demand control sub-system which limits the operating time of high demand appliances to intervals when they can be supported. Results from application of the tool set to mini-grids in Kenya and The Gambia are presented. We conclude that accessible, usable and low cost tools of this form can improve mini-grid sustainability.Item Open Access Estimation of demand diversity and daily demand profile for off grid electrification in developing countries(Elsevier, 2015-11-18) Boait, Peter John; Gammon, Rupert; Advani, VarunThe potential for small self-contained grid systems to provide electricity for currently unserved regions of the developing world is widely recognised. However planning and managing the electrical demand that will be supported, so that a mini-grid system is not overloaded and its available resource is used as fully as possible, is actually more difficult than for a large scale grid system. This paper discusses the mathematical reasons why this is the case, and describes a practical software tool for mini-grid demand estimation and planning that is complementary to the widely used HOMER software. This software tool is made available for download on an open source basis. Finally a conclusion is offered that mini-grid systems should aim to serve at least 50 households so that demand variability is more manageable and economies of scale can be realised.Item Metadata only Exergy based control of electricity demand and microgeneration(2007-03-01) Rylatt, R. M.; Boait, Peter John; Wright, A. J.Item Open Access Exploring Smart Grid Possibilities: A Complex Systems Modelling Approach(De Gruyter, 2015-08-26) Rylatt, R. Mark; Snape, J. Richard; Allen, P.; Ardestani, B. M.; Boait, Peter John; Boggasch, E.; Fan, Denis; Fletcher, G.; Gammon, Rupert; Lemon, Mark; Pakka, V. H.; Savill, M.; Smith, Stefan; Strathern, M.; Varga, LizSmart grid research has tended to be compartmentalised, with notable contributions from economics, electrical engineering and science and technology studies. However, there is an acknowledged and growing need for an integrated systems approach to the evaluation of smart grid initiatives. The capacity to simulate and explore smart grid possibilities on various scales is key to such an integrated approach but existing models – even if multidisciplinary – tend to have a limited focus. This paper describes an innovative and flexible framework that has been developed to facilitate the simulation of various smart grid scenarios and the interconnected social, technical and economic networks from a complex systems perspective. The architecture is described and related to realised examples of its use, both to model the electricity system as it is today and to model futures that have been envisioned in the literature. Potential future applications of the framework are explored, along with its utility as an analytic and decision support tool for smart grid stakeholders.Item Open Access Finding the Optimum Orientation for PV Systems Matched to the Timing of the Demand Profile(2017-12-07) Alshahrani, Jubran; Boait, Peter John; Alshahrani, AbdullahElectricity consumption in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has grown by about 7% annually in the last two decades due to population and economic growth. The consumption of the residential sector accounts for over 50% of the total energy generation largely due to the consumption of the buildings’ air conditioning. This factor contributes significantly to a situation where peak electricity demand occurs in early afternoon. Thus, this paper presents one of the possible ways of managing electricity peak demand by proposing deployment of PV panels with slope and orientation that are optimized with respect to the timing of the demand profile in order to contribute most effectively to national electricity generation capacity. As a case study, numerical results are presented for Riyadh city in KSA.Item Open Access Informed control of domestic energy systems.(De Montfort University, 2008) Boait, Peter JohnItem Open Access Levelling of heating and vehicle demand in distribution networks using randomised device control(Congrès International des Réseaux Electriques de Distribution (CIRED), 2013-07) Boait, Peter John; Ardestani, B. M.; Snape, J. RichardRising demand from electrical heating and vehicles will drive major distribution network reinforcement costs unless 24-hour demand profiles can be levelled. We propose a demand response scheme in which the electricity supplier provides a signal to a “smart home” control unit that manages the consumer’s appliances using a novel approach for reconciliation of the consumer’s needs and desires with the incentives supplied by the signal. The control unit allocates demand randomly in timeslots that are acceptable to the consumer but with a probability biased in accordance with the signal provided by the supplier. This behaviour ensures that demand response is predictable and stable and allows demand to be shaped in a way that can satisfy distribution network constraints.Item Open Access Making Legacy Thermal Storage Heating fit for the Smart Grid(Elsevier, 2016-12-23) Boait, Peter John; Snape, J. Richard; Darby, S.; Hamilton, J.; Morris, R.Thermal storage heaters, charged using overnight off-peak electricity, have been used for domestic space heating in the UK and other countries since the 1980s. However, they have always been difficult for consumers to manage efficiently and, with the advent of a high proportion of renewables in the electricity generation mix, the time of day when they are charged needs to be more flexible. There is also a need to reduce peaks in the demand profile to allow distribution networks to support new sources of demand such as electric vehicles. We describe a trial of a smart control system that was retrofitted to a group of six dwellings with this form of heating, with the objectives of providing more convenient and efficient control for the users while varying the times at which charging is performed, to flatten the profile of demand and make use of locally-generated renewable electricity. The trial also employs a commercially-realistic combination of a static time-of-day tariff with a real time tariff dependent on local generation, to provide consumers with the opportunity and incentive to reduce their costs by varying times of use of appliances. Results from operation over the 2015-16 heating season indicate that the objectives are largely achieved. It is estimated that on an annualised and weather-adjusted basis most of the users have consumed less electricity than before intervention and their costs are less on the trial tariffs. Critical factors for success of this form of system are identified, particularly the need to facilitate hands-on control of heating by thrifty users and the importance of an effective and sustained user engagement programme when introducing the technology, to ensure users gain confidence through a readily-accessible source of support and advice.Item Open Access Management of Demand Profiles on Mini-Grids in Developing Countries Using Timeslot Allocation(IEEE, 2016) Gammon, Rupert; Boait, Peter John; Advani, VarunStand-alone mini-grids provide vital energy access to rural communities across the Developing World where economic constraints necessitate optimal cost-effectiveness without compromising reliability or quality of service. Managing electricity demand to match supply availability – for example, by incentivizing consumers to operate loads at specific times – can contribute to this aim. This paper addresses a method to achieve this, whereby timeslots are sold in which additional power is made available to participating consumers with high-powered, commercial loads, such as grain mills. Using a low-cost microprocessor to control remotely-switchable power sockets by wireless communications, circuits are activated according to the timeslots purchased without interruption of low-power (e.g. lighting and phone-charging) circuits. Informed by site survey data, laboratory tests demonstrated the system to be reliable and effective in maintaining demand closer to supply availability while avoiding overloads. This reduces losses and the need for storage while increasing energy access and return on investment.Item Open Access Managing complexity in the smart grid through a new approach to demand response(Emergent Publications, 2013-07) Boait, Peter John; Babak, M.; Ardestani, R.; Rylatt, R. M.; Snape, J. RichardAdoption of weather-dependent renewable generation of electricity has introduced additional complexity to the challenge of maintaining a dynamic equilibrium between generation and electricity demand. At the same time the need for electricity to power heating and transport in place of fossil fuels will lead to congestion in distribution networks. Part of the solution will be to manage domestic electricity demand using signals between the smart grid and smart home, but this must be done in a way that does not provoke further instability. We use an agent-based model of household electricity consumption and supply to show how the complexity of domestic demand can be shaped allowing it to make a contribution to system stability. A possible role for this method in balancing conflicting interests between electricity consumers, suppliers, and distribution network operators is discussedItem Metadata only Measurement and prediction of demand in the presence of renewable distributed generation(Congrès International des Réseaux Electriques de Distribution (CIRED), 2012-06) Boait, Peter John; Gillie, M; Kim, SuyeonAs the amount of renewable generation on the LV and 11kV distribution networks rises, it becomes difficult for distribution network operators to track the underlying demand for electricity. This paper describes a system under development to deduce renewable generator capacity, generation and consumer demand on individual feeders from current measurement data collected at the primary or distribution transformer. This provides DNOs with a low cost system to understand the true impact of generation on their network, better plan for outages and manage fault conditions. It gives them knowledge of the actual demand on their system, the generation connected and prediction of these values for the hours or days ahead using data already available.Item Metadata only A method for fully automatic operation of domestic heating.(2009) Boait, Peter John; Rylatt, R. M.