Demand-side energy simulation, assessment and optimization

As utility companies use various mechanisms of Demand Side Management (DSM) to regulate and modify consumer demand for energy, manufacturing plants also look for ways to improve the quality/cost ratio by saving energy cost. Several approaches are available for a plant to save energy, one of which is to reschedule the operation hours of electrical devices and take advantage of incentives and favorable pricing offered by utilities. This paper attempts to develop a load schedule optimization model for plants to minimize the cost incurred by energy consumption. Many practical factors are considered in the model, such as electrical device clustering, night schedule extra labor charge, devices with fixed operation schedules, etc. A discussion of solutions to the optimization model is presented. An online tool for energy assessment and load optimization is also briefly introduced.