Review of peak load management strategies in commercial buildings

Abstract

Peak load management strategies are useful to commercial building operators for saving on energy costs and also to electricity grid operators for helping to balance power supply and demand. Peak load demand reduction can be achieved through demand-side management that facilitates the planning and implementation of demand response strategies and maintains an acceptable indoor environment. This paper tracks the development of peak load management in the literature and presents an overview that combines the following demand-side management domains: demand response programs, strategies and techniques, load forecasting models, and occupant comfort. Demand response programs are presented through examples from different jurisdictions that show the application of price and incentive-based pricing mechanisms. Demand response strategies and techniques suitable for peak load reduction in commercial buildings are identified and explained through illustrative examples using data from an office building in Ottawa, Canada. Load forecasting models commonly used to predict a building's load profile are discussed and compared regarding their prediction accuracy and data requirement. An overview of the impact of implementing demand response strategies on the indoor environment is presented with recommendations to optimize peak load reduction while maintaining building occupants' comfort. This overview highlights the relationship between demand-side management domains through illustrative examples, and provides a practical reference that facility managers and building operators can use for implementing their demand response strategies with minimal impact on the indoor environment.