Page 39 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2019 publication

Summer 2019 European Energy Innovation 39

Co-funded by the Horizon 2020 programme COMMUNICATION

of the European Union

Towards Energy-Positive
Neighborhoods with Demand
Response

RESPOND will deploy and demonstrate an interoperable, cost-effective and user-centered
demand response (DR) solution for energy positive neighborhoods.

Nowadays, society must be This led to projects such as exactly will the implementation of
sustainable at every level, including RESPOND, that follow a long-term Demand Response in residential
residential buildings. To address this strategy for a Cleaner Planet and a areas mean?
issue, the European Commission more sustainable energy system
relies on projects like RESPOND, for all. • Implementing cooperative demand
which aims to implement the management to maximize the use
innovative Demand Response (DR) The main focus of the project is the of common energy resources.
programs in residential areas. introduction of Active Residential
Demand Management as a tool to • Improve building occupants'
The DR concept can be defined as contribute to a more sustainable commitment to energy demand
the intentional modification of normal society. and consumption.
consumption patterns by end-use
customers in response to incentives And how should we implement Active • Improve the comfort of building
from electricity grid operators. It is Demand Management programs in occupants, reducing energy
designed to lower electricity use residential areas? consumption.
at times of high wholesale market
prices or when system reliability The aim is to go beyond the usual • And ensuring system integration
is threatened. Demand response energy management protocols in and interoperability.
requires consumers to either actively residential areas and achieve a
respond to signals from the operator sustainable energy system in the long That will result in energy and cost
or, in what may be a more appealing term. Although the implementation of savings for stakeholders along the
option, to make use of automated Demand Response in the residential entire energy supply chain, and,
solutions to enter into contracts with sector is still in its early stages, there if combined with local renewable
service providers. is an enormous untapped potential. energy production and storage, it will
This will lead to better operational also lead to a significant reduction
You may have heard of the DR energy management, a change in in peak demands, resulting in energy
concept in the industrial sector, consumer behavior and savings and cost savings for electricity grid
where energy demand is high and improvement. operators. l
cost savings are being sought.
Moreover, this is not the only Through the implementation of Contact details:
significant sector when it comes to Demand Response programs, a Andreu Pagès
energy demand. number of initiatives that give R&D Project Manager at DEXMA
energy consumers the opportunity Email: apages@dexma.com
Energy consumption in residential to intentionally change their Website: http://project-respond.eu
areas across Europe accounts for consumption habits can be Under Grant Agreement Nº: 768619
40% of the total Union's energy promoted. This change in consumer
demand. That is why the European behavior may be the result of energy
Commission has set itself the target price variation during peak demand.
of reducing its energy consumption
by 32.5% in 2030. As for the RESPOND Project, what

www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu