Assessment of Commercial Building Lighting as a Frequency Regulation Resource

Alexandra Karpilow,Gregor Henze,Walter Beamer

doi:10.3390/en13030613

Abstract

This paper evaluates the potential for automated lighting control as a resource for frequency regulation of the electric grid system in the context of current energy policies, economic incentives, and technological trends. The growing prevalence of renewable energy has increased the need for ancillary services to maintain grid frequency and stability. While demand side resources like heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, as well as water treatment plants are already evaluated as regulation service providers, the potential application to electrical lighting systems has largely been ignored. Yet, aggregations of lighting systems that are retrofitted with intelligent controls could conceivably contribute to frequency regulation services with little impact on user comfort. To further explore the feasibility of lighting potential, this paper explores (1) how lighting control systems are limited by visual comfort perception and acceptability, (2) how such limitations impact the performance of the lighting system as an frequency regulation resource, and (3) how the market potential of lighting systems as demand side resources compares in different regional transmission organizations. Finally, the impact of developing technologies on the application of lighting systems for frequency regulation is discussed.

Highlights

To address this need for frequency regulation (FR), flexible demand side resources that are not critical and can be changed with little impact on the users can be adjusted to match the supply from the generators
While demand response (DR) is normally viewed as a load shedding approach during times of grid stress, FR provision by demand side resources can be viewed as a form of DR
The average across these metrics must exceed 75% to qualify as an FR resource

Summary

Introduction

Operators must balance demand and supply of power quickly to maintain an overall grid frequency of 60 Hz, for the case of the United States of America (U.S.). While bulk generators are committed to operate according to day-ahead predictions, second-to-second variations in consumer demand and intermittent generation need to be compensated for, in order to regulate the frequency and maintain electric grid stability. To address this need for frequency regulation (FR), flexible demand side resources that are not critical and can be changed with little impact on the users can be adjusted to match the supply from the generators.

Methods

Results

Conclusion