A critical review of control schemes for demand-side energy management of building clusters

Abstract

The proliferation of smart meters, energy storage systems (ESS), and renewable energy systems (RES) creates a unique opportunity for the building sector to enhance the efficacy of demand-side energy management. The objective of this review is to capture the trends, strategies, and lessons learned from studies focused on building-to-grid interactions at the cluster level, including residential and mixed-use neighborhoods, microgrids, and multi-unit residential buildings. In approximately 75% of the 82 reviewed studies, ESS such as electric vehicles or batteries were used to reduce the peak load of the building cluster and capture excess renewable energy generation. All the reviewed studies ensured that computers and televisions were non-controllable loads to ensure occupant needs while HVAC, washing machines, and dishwashers were targeted as controllable loads to help reduce and shift energy peaks. A 20% and 30% reduction in total energy cost and peak energy consumption respectively were achieved under the various control schemes, with approximately 50% of the studies using price-based strategies to shift energy consumption away from peak hours. Most importantly, the reviewed studies achieved these reductions while ensuring or maximizing occupant comfort, thus presenting buildings as a great opportunity to help manage energy consumption for the grid.