A comprehensive modelling framework for demand side flexibility in smart grids

Abstract

The increasing share of renewable energy generation in the electricity system comes with significant challenges, such as the volatility of renewable energy sources. To tackle those challenges, demand side management is a frequently mentioned remedy. However, measures of demand side management need a high level of flexibility to be successful. Although extensive research exists that describes, models and optimises various processes with flexible electrical demands, there is no unified notation. Additionally, most descriptions are very process-specific and cannot be generalised.In this paper, we develop a comprehensive modelling framework to mathematically describe demand side flexibility in smart grids while integrating a majority of constraints from different existing models. We provide a universally applicable modelling framework for demand side flexibility and evaluate its practicality by looking at how well Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MIP) solvers are able to optimise the resulting models, if applied to artificially generated instances. From the evaluation, we derive that our model improves the performance of previous models while integrating additional flexibility characteristics.

A Generic Data Model for Describing Flexibility in Power Markets

“…Finally, we want to challenge our data model with the checklist developed by Barth et al [24]. As already described in Section 1, in their paper, the authors define flexibility features which represent different attributes of flexibility.…”

“…As already described in Section 1, in their paper, the authors define flexibility features which represent different attributes of flexibility. Table 5 lists the flexibility properties of Barth et al [24] and their corresponding descriptions as well as the way these features are covered by our data model. Table 5.…”

“…Additionally, the authors use different key figures for each cluster, making the model rather unwieldy. Finally, based on an in-depth literature review, Reference [24] presents a more generic approach in their work. They define a catalog of features whose generic optimization models must take into account to describe all possible kinds of flexibility (see Section 6).…”

A Decentralized Local Flexibility Market Considering the Uncertainty of Demand

“…Despite the valuable contribution of considering the uncertainty of flexible loads, the work does not consider the payback effect nor the grid constraints in the optimization process. A detailed framework for demand flexibility modelling is introduced in [18], which as well does not consider the payback effect. In [19], a framework for flexibility trading is introduced that works on two-time frame levels.…”

“…Demand [17] × × √ √ [18] × × × √ [19] × × × × [20,21] × × × × [22] × × × × [23,24] × × × × [25] × × × × [26,27] × × × ×…”