Reduce Electricity Demand Research Articles

Residential Electricity Consumption in the State of Kuwait

To mitigate climate change in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, it is vital to understand how energy is being consumed in the different sectors. The GCC countries rely heavily on fossil fuel to meet the increasing demand for electricity especially from the residential sector. Consumption of fossil fuels has several impacts on the environment including the increase of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change. Several measures exist to reduce electricity demand from the residential sector. These measures range from regulatory, technology, economic and information measures. To achieve successful adoption of these measures, a holistic understanding of the drivers and impacts of the growing trend of residential electricity consumption is required. This paper aims to understand the drivers and impacts resulting from the increase in the residential electricity consumption in Kuwait, one of the GCC countries. A Driving forces-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) framework is applied. Several indicators related to the socio-economic factors, energy consumption, energy intensity and carbon intensity are calculated using quantitative data for the period from 2000 to 2015. The results of analysis show that the increase in the residential electricity consumption is mainly driven by population growth and economic development. This has resulted in an increase in the fossil fuel consumption and the consequent CO2 emissions. This paper recommends conducting a residential electricity consumption survey to provide data required to inform decision making on energy saving in Kuwait. This recommendation is also extended to other GCC countries where a regional database can be developed to share experiences related to reducing residential electricity consumption

Simulation of Annual Functionality of Roof Turbine Ventilator

Ventilation systems using renewable energy enable to reduce electricity demand. However, their operation directly depends on the stability of the renewable energy source. In this study, the wind driven roof turbine ventilator (RTV) is analysed. As a rule, this equipment is selected based only on the average annual wind speed and there exists a lack of date related to functionality of RTV. The case study presented in the paper seeks to assess functional operation of the RTV within the whole year. Simulations, performed with TRNSYS software, are based on the empirical equation for the ventilation flow rate extracted by the tested turbine ventilator. Results provide the number of RTV operational hours and share (%) of the time, when the RTV operates. Most of the time RTV operates at partial required load, however, there are periods when air flow rates are excessive and this should be considered as storage potential. The presented results could help to determine more accurately functional operation of RTV in the selected room/building and estimate demand for additional ventilation solutions as well energy storage potential.

The Role of Demarketing in Reducing Electricity Demand

The current study aims to examine the influence of demarketing in reducing the demand for electricity in Jordan. According to (Kotler and Levy. 1971) the demarketing is based on three strategies (general demarketing strategy, selective demarketings strategy and ostensible demarketing strategy). The philosophy of demarketing based on creating better and healthier environment for community and it represents an important tool to determine the consumption of a certain product permanently or temporarily.Demarketing considered an important tool that is used to limit demand or consumption, or rationalize its use, of a certain product or service, permanently or temporarily (fuel electricity, water, etc.) due to the rarity of these resources and their importance, economically, to countries. It is used to limit the use of some products that damage public heath, society, and community (like smoking, alcohol, controlled medication and narcotics, etc.). This paper shows the benefit from the general demarketing to influence the demand of electricity.The researchers depended on secondary resources represented by the available literature. In addition, the researcher depended on designing a questionnaire composed of 27 questions that were implemented on a sample of 592 consumers. The information collected was based on a primary exploration study with the purpose of constructing and designing a study model.Many factors were inserted within study model has been developed according to literatures related to the subject. Thus, this study questionnaire consisted of six dimensions, which are the general demarketing strategy, (advertising, campaigns, perception, price, solar energyand and reference group) and the demand of electricity. The development of six hypotheses was based on the dimensions of the study.All six hypotheses were accepted as well as the seventh hypothesis, concerning the relationship of the link between the components of the study model. The statistical analysis has shown that the positive correlation between components consisted of strong correlation (positive relationship) between each component of demarketing and the reducing the demand for electricity. Researchers faced number of difficulties while conducting this study. Many consumers do not agree with the questionnaire, there is no clear understanding of the concept of reverse marketing, and there are not many studies that deal with this field. The importance of this study is reflected through the effective role of demarketing that can play in influencing the reducing of demand for electricity, and improve them, towards rationalization of electricity consumption.

Heatwaves, cooling and young children at home: Integrating energy and health objectives

This paper examines the practices advised by health authorities and performed by parents to cool infants during hot weather. The aim is to explore how health and energy efficiency imperatives can be better integrated for households. Consumption of home air conditioning is increasing around the world alongside policy concerns about energy poverty, climate change and peak demand. This paper analyses online sources containing advice to parents about temperature, hot weather and infant health. The content of this ‘know-what’ for parents was considered alongside experience-based ‘know-how’ (Royston, 2014) as described by parents in 44 interviews and home tours in Australia. Air conditioning is frequently positioned by health authorities as superior to low or no energy practices. However, understandings of infant care during hot weather are diverse and unsettled − both amongst parents and authorities. The absence of health sector consensus leaves space for energy policymakers to engage with the health sector to develop integrated cross-sectoral policy approaches. Continued circulation of adaptive, less energy-intensive hot weather practices is needed. Arresting the trajectory towards widespread reliance on air conditioning can help household finances, reduce electricity demand during hot weather, and avoid leaving parents ill-equipped when high demand or unexpected events compromise electricity supply.

Long-term CO2 Emission Reduction from Renewable Energy in Power Sector: The case of Thailand in 2050

This paper presents CO2 mitigation potential in the power sector of Thailand regarding to the Power Development Plan (PDP 2015) and Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP 2015). Renewable energy and advanced technology have the potential to play an important role in providing clean energy. The Long-range Energy Alternative Planning (LEAP) model is used to analyze future electricity demand, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions reduction in the long term planning during 2010-2050. Regarding to those plans, implementations of renewable energy and advanced technology are proposed for mitigation options. The mitigation scenarios offer sustainable potential of renewable technologies and advanced technologies such as solar, wind, biomass, nuclear, hydropower, hydrogen fuel cell, tidal, geothermal and fossil-fuel power plants with carbon capture storage (CCS). Four mitigation scenarios are modeled along with the BAU scenario. The Mitigation 1 (MIT01) scenario is the base-case mitigation scenario based on the target of PDP2015, which target of renewable energy is 19,634 MW in 2036. In the Mitigation 2 (MIT02) scenario, the technologies in the MIT01 plus new technologies such as hydrogen fuel cell, tidal and geothermal are implemented. Clean fossil fuel technologies with CCS, for example natural gas and coal technologies, are applied in the Mitigation 3 (MIT03) scenario. In the Mitigation 4 (MIT04) scenario as the peak CO2 scenario. Results show that, in the BAU scenario, electricity demand and CO2 emissions from the power sector will increase to 52,770 ktoe and 345,959 kt-CO2eq, respectively in 2050. By adopting mitigation options, total CO2 emissions in 2050 can be mitigated by 69.66% in MIT04, following by 50.83% in MIT02, 47.22% in MIT03, and 41.71% in MIT01 when compared to the BAU scenario. Moreover, regarding to the MIT04, Thailand can meet its peak CO2 emission by 2036.

Refining estimates of air conditioning energy consumption in Asian countries: stock volume and energy efficiency labeling and standard

In order to evaluate how the standard and labeling program for energy efficiency reduces energy demand in an economy, we must know how many appliances work and the total energy consumption capacity developed before and after the introduction of the program. This paper calculates the stock of air conditioners and its total electricity consumption capacity based on GfK market survey and collected data by authors. The results show that Japan has experienced a substantial reduction of electricity demand from air conditioning overall in the economy. However, Thailand and China maintain their average electricity consumption levels, but are unable to reduce total demand. A study of the energy efficiency standard-labeling mechanism development and market outcomes reveals that Thailand and China fail to continuously improve energy efficiency, although the mechanism curbed the increasing inefficiency. This implies that China’s and Thailand’s mechanisms need to raise the upper bound of the distribution of energy efficiency.

How does daylight saving time affect electricity demand? An answer using aggregate data from a natural experiment in Western Australia

Daylight saving time (DST) affects the lives of more than 1.6 billion people worldwide, with energy saving being the original rationale for its implementation. This study takes advantage of natural experiment data from September 2006 to March 2013 in Western Australia in which DST was observed from December 2006 to March 2009, to estimate the effect of DST on electricity demand. Using the difference-in-differences (DD) approach, we find that DST has little effect on overall electricity demand and electricity generation costs. However, it has a strong redistributional effect by reducing electricity demand substantially in the late afternoon and early evening. This redistributional effect of DST may be of particular interest for policymakers who are interested in controlling high demand and the short term energy market price.

Modeling and simulation of a photovoltaic/thermal air collector assisting a façade integrated small scale heat pump with radiant PCM panel

Integration of photovoltaic/thermal air-based systems into office façade retrofit projects using small scale decentralized heat pumps with low temperature short term storage using a radiant phase change material panel (RPCMP) is presented for a south facing office building perimeter zone. The concept can be applied in building façade retrofits, where both façade and mechanical systems are to be replaced. A numerical study is carried out for a case study building in Saskatoon, Canada. A numerical model is developed and the concept is theoretically compared to an all-air system for several consecutive design days. Electric power demand reduction of 14,5% for these design days can be achieved, if the façade integrated photovoltaic system would be supplying energy to the perimeter zone for heating and plug load applications. A reduction in heating coil heating power demand of 11.3% is achieved for the mentioned design days when compared to an all-air system.

Modelling of electricity savings in the Danish households sector: from the energy system to the end-user

In this paper, we examine the value of investing in energy-efficient household appliances from both an energy system and end-user perspectives. We consider a set of appliance categories constituting the majority of the electricity consumption in the private household sector, and focus on the stock of products which need to be replaced. First, we look at the energy system and investigate whether investing in improved energy efficiency can compete with the cost of electricity supply from existing or new power plants. To assess the analysis, Balmorel, a linear optimization model for the heat and power sectors, has been extended in order to endogenously determine the best possible investments in more efficient home appliances. Second, we propose a method to relate the optimal energy system solution to the end-user choices by incorporating consumer behaviour and electricity price addition due to taxes. The model is non-exclusively tested on the Danish energy system under different scenarios. Computational experiments show that several energy efficiency measures in the household sector should be regarded as valuable investments (e.g. an efficient lighting system) while others would require some form of support to become profitable. The analysis quantifies energy and economic savings from the consumer side and reveals the impacts on the Danish power system and surrounding countries. Compared to a business-as-usual energy scenario, the end-user attains net economic savings in the range of 30–40 EUR per year, and the system can benefit of an annual electricity demand reduction of 140–150 GWh. The paper enriches the existing literature about energy efficiency modelling in households, contributing with novel models, methods, and findings related to the Danish case.

The potential and reality of the solar water heater programme in South African townships: Lessons from the City of Tshwane

The South African solar water heater (SWH) programme is part of national policy to improve the country's electricity security, an innovative strategy to provide indigent households with free solar water heaters. The study assesses the effects of the government programme for poor townships on reduction of household electricity consumption, decline in energy poverty, and reduction in CO2 emissions; and estimates the impact of SWH on reducing electricity demand nationwide. It reports results from fieldwork carried out in the City of Tshwane to measure both quantitatively and qualitatively the success of the project's deployment in townships. Although households register average savings of 27% on their monthly electricity bills and off-peak electricity demand has reduced significantly in the area, a variety of problems prevented the project from attaining the desired level of impact. Difficulties encountered include technical faults with the heaters combined with nonavailability of maintenance; a rise in water consumption; lack of community engagement leading to apathy; and dearth of owner training leading to underuse. The gap between inflated estimates and real savings is discussed. Expanding the programme could generate jobs but significant challenges remain.

Does Daylight Savings Time Save Energy? Evidence from Ontario

Daylight Savings Time was adopted for the purposes of reducing energy consumption, but recent studies have cast some doubt on whether it still serves this purpose effectively. This study estimates the effect of Daylight Savings Time on electricity demand in Ontario, Canada. It uses a quasi-experimental approach, by leveraging the fact that the transition to DST occurs on a different day in each year. The results suggest that Daylight Savings Time reduces the demand for electricity by about 1.5 percent in Ontario. The reductions in electricity consumption is concentrated during the evening period. The reduction in electricity demand appears to persist for at least several weeks following the transition to Daylight Savings Time.

Spatial matching of large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power generation with utility demand in Peninsular Malaysia

Deployment of large-scale grid-connected photovoltaics (PV) power plants requires very reliable technical evaluation to reduce electricity demand and achieve efficient utilization of electricity generated from PV. At lower PV penetration levels, it is likely that the energy mix could under-supply utility demand, thus requiring extra units of generators, while at higher penetration levels it may oversupply demands, thus wasting generator capacity. Thus, determining the optimum installed capacity, technical limits, and economic benefits of large-scale PV systems are the main issues for both power utilities and decision makers. This study describes the development and validation of an alternative method (called the generation-demand matching model, GDMM) for evaluating the large-scale implementation of grid-connected PV power plants in Peninsular Malaysia relative to its interface with the traditional power grid system. The method explicitly provides a detailed assessment of the temporal and spatial factors that facilitate the match between PV generated electricity and electricity demand. These evaluation factors are analyzed using simulations of PV performance located at optimal sites. Optimal sites along with physical constraints were mapped using geographic information systems (GIS) for visualization and representation by location. PV electricity generation at different levels of penetration was predicted hourly for a year using time series analysis. This allowed comparison of electricity generation with electricity demand to evaluate the impacts of increasing levels of PV penetration. A novel feature of the proposed method is its combination of topographical and topological map data with metric data. The ability of the new method to accurately predict the performance of PV compared to PVWatts demonstrates the robustness of the method in evaluating the technical limits of PV systems in conventional power systems.

Palm biodiesel prospect in the Indonesian power sector

Abstract The recent low oil prices tend to render the acceleration of renewable energy (RE) development in the world. Only few sectors of RE can still keep growing with this situation. One of the inexhaustible renewable energy sources in Indonesia is palm trees which produce palm oil that can be further processed into biodiesel that can potentially generate power and electricity as well as promote rural economic development. This paper investigates the use of palm biodiesel in Indonesian power sector, especially in the region of Java, Madura, and Bali (JAMALI). Projection on electricity demand, environmental impact, and emissions reduction over the next 20 years were established into two scenarios. The first situation examines recent energy policy, while the second situation promotes substitution of diesel fuel that is still consumed in the JAMALI power generating system. The effect of palm biodiesel on emissions such as CO2, CO, SO2, NOx, PM, and VOCs were calculated for each scenario. An externality study, resource analysis of palm oil plantations, and the economic feasibility of palm biodiesel were also conducted to accomplish the environmental analysis. The analysis shows the urgency for development of policies that support massive scale of biodiesel production.

THE LESSON FROM DEMAND RESPONSE IN JAPAN

This study aims to contribute to Japanese policy recommendations with using the concept of ‘Nudge’ aimed at encouraging DR adoption that is scheduled for the wholesale electricity market starting in April 2017. Because consumers have bounded rationality, if the concept of Nudge is added to DR, there is a possibility of expanding the participation in DR more widely. In this paper, we reviewed Japanese electricity demand reduction efforts (the voluntary program) and demonstrated projects with using the nudge concept. The study found that the concept of nudge was useful in both DR trials. However, there was also the problems in these projects. The problem with the voluntary program was that when the consumer believed there was sufficient electricity, they were less willing to cooperate. The problem with the demonstration projects was the relatively low participation rate. Therefore, what the government needs to do is to assist consumers in understanding the importance and the necessity of DR, and in this education process, the Japanese government could use the nudge concept by reflecting on lessons from experiences in Japan and abroad. Keywords: Demand response, Nudge, Policy

Multi-Objective Optimization for Smart House Applied Real Time Pricing Systems

A smart house generally has a Photovoltaic panel (PV), a Heat Pump (HP), a Solar Collector (SC) and a fixed battery. Since the fixed battery can buy and store inexpensive electricity during the night, the electricity bill can be reduced. However, a large capacity fixed battery is very expensive. Therefore, there is a need to determine the economic capacity of fixed battery. Furthermore, surplus electric power can be sold using a buyback program. By this program, PV can be effectively utilized and contribute to the reduction of the electricity bill. With this in mind, this research proposes a multi-objective optimization, the purpose of which is electric demand control and reduction of the electricity bill in the smart house. In this optimal problem, the Pareto optimal solutions are searched depending on the fixed battery capacity. Additionally, it is shown that consumers can choose what suits them by comparing the Pareto optimal solutions.

Efficient Use of Behavioral Tools to Reduce Electricity Demand of Domestic Consumers

Abstract Purpose: The present study investigated the main literature on the subject of methods and policies for reducing the electricity demand of domestic consumers, in order to identify the place of behavioral tools. Methodology: We used secondary sources, performing a literature review, together with analysis and synthesis. Findings: Policy makers prefer to use tools offered by neoclassical economics, such as various forms of taxation, fines and financial incentives in order to make domestic electricity consumers save electricity, on the assumption that consumers will make rational decisions while maximizing their personal benefit. However, studies conducted in recent years in the field of behavioral economics, which are based on the assumption that consumers’ decisions are not rational and are affected by cognitive biases, showed that the use of behavioral tools, such as detailed online information (feedback),social comparison information, information on varying rates (dynamic pricing) and general information (advertising campaign), are tools that are not less appropriate than the ones the neoclassical economics offers, mainly because electricity is an invisible product and consumers are unable to assess it by normal cognitive measures. Using an interdisciplinary combination of behavioral tools that come from a variety of approaches taken from a wide variety of different academic fields, it is possible to receive efficient results in the endeavor of reducing electricity demand. Implications: Although the neoclassical economics still remains the fundamental theory used by policymakers, it is recommended to consider behavioral economics as a complementary approach to the neoclassical economics, and combine behavioral tools in the policymakers’ toolbox, especially when those tools do not require a significant financial investment, thus efficiently maximizing the reduction of electricity demand among domestic consumers. These theoretical results will be used for designing future empirical researches on the efficiency of behavioral tools in changing the pattern of electricity consumers’ behavior.

Effects of Voluntary Time-of-Use Pricing on Summer Electricity Usage of Business Customers

Economic inefficiency can be caused by time-invariant retail electricity prices because they do not reflect variations in the cost of providing electricity during the day. Time-of-use (TOU) pricing—higher electricity prices during peak hours and lower electricity prices during off-peak hours—is by far the most common way to achieve more efficient levels of electricity consumption through reducing peak demand. The empirical evidence of the effectiveness of TOU pricing is sparse in the commercial and industrial sectors and there is no consensus in the literature on the statistical significance and magnitude of the effects. Applying a quasi-experimental design, this study evaluates an ongoing experiment of voluntary business TOU pricing plan by a major utility company in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Using the nearest-neighbor matching method, we identify control customers for the voluntary participants of the business TOU pricing. From difference-in-differences analysis, we find a statistically significant reduction in peak-hour electricity demand in response to the TOU pricing. We also find that there is no conservation effect, meaning that the total level of electricity consumption does not change under the TOU pricing.

Levels of consumers’ agency and capacity as predictors for electricity demand reduction in the residential sector

A field study of 50 households in a collective community in Israel provides initial support for the hypotheses about the relations between actors’ agency, capacity and electricity demand reduction. ‘Agency’ refers to actors’ willingness and ability to make their own free choices and ‘capacity’ refers to actors’ ability to perform the choices they made. According to the hypotheses, change is more likely to happen when actors’ levels of agency and capacity are high; unlikely to happen when the levels are low and uncertain when there is a mismatch between levels of agency and capacity (one is high and the other low). In the research, levels of agency and capacity regarding 11 energy saving actions were self-reported and electricity consumption was metered before and during energy saving campaign. Findings show that levels of agency were lower than those of capacity for no-cost actions which require high engagement, while levels of capacity were lower than those of agency for high-cost action which require low engagement. In addition, households with high agency and high capacity reduced their electricity consumption by 9.39 % (on average); those with low agency and low capacity increased their consumption by 6.67 %; and those with a mismatch between agency and capacity reduced their consumption by 1.91 %.

When Life Cycle Thinking is Necessary for Decision Making: Emerging Cleaner Technologies in the Chlor-Alkali Industry

The chlor-alkali industry sector produces chlorine, sodium/potassium hydroxide and hydrogen by the electrolysis of brine. Nowadays, three different electrolysis techniques are applied: mercury, diaphragm, and membrane cell technology. From all these technologies, the European Commission labels the membrane process as the Best Available Technique (BAT) for the chlor-alkali industry. The membrane cell technology has fewer exhausts to the environment and it is relatively more efficient in the use of electric power that mercury and diaphragm. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the overall energy intensity has been reduced, the issue of energy consumption is still a major matter. A promising approach for reducing the electricity demand of chlor-alkali electrolysis is using oxygen-depolarised cathodes (ODC). ODCs are long known and have been successfully used in chlorine production through electrolysis of hydrogen chloride (HCl). The achieved environmental benefit of this technique is a reduction of energy consumption. However, the overall reduction of energy consumption is lower, as some energy is required to produce pure oxygen and because hydrogen is not co-produced, which could otherwise be used in chemical reactions or to produce steam and electricity via combustion or fuel cells. In this sense, the reduced electricity demand does not necessarily imply cleaner chlorine production. For that reason, this work proposes the use of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to determine the environmental performance of the existing electrolysis technologies and to compare it with the ODC technique.

Motivations and barriers to integrating ‘prosuming’ services into the future decentralized electricity grid: Findings from Israel

Technological advances allow electricity consumers to become ‘prosumers’, offering services to the grid, such as generation, demand reduction, load shifting and electricity storage. Well-integrated prosumers improve the resilience and efficiency of the energy system and facilitate the integration of renewable energy, improving energy and climate security. These technologies, however, change how energy services are experienced. Understanding public perceptions is necessary prior to widespread introduction.A 2015 survey (n=509) investigated perceptions of demand reduction, load shifting and energy storage technologies as prosumer activities in Israel. Israelis showed little interest in remote controlled household appliances to facilitate load shifting, preferring to respond personally via smart controls to information communicated by the grid. There was similar low interest in permitting grid access to electricity stored in personal electric vehicle batteries. Financial incentives increased acceptance in both cases to a third of respondents.The survey identified various barriers to acceptance: health and privacy concerns about smart meters; low trust in the institutions overseeing these technologies; perceived low public support to reduce electricity demand; how incentives were framed and no perceived relationship with meeting national energy priorities such as affordability and energy independence. The young and the observant Jewish community showed greatest acceptance of new technologies.