Preparations for demand response on a municipal level

The balance of supply and demand in the electric grid is easier to manage with electricity storages built into the system, in Austria, typically pumped storage hydro power stations are used for this purpose. This article discusses necessary preparations for implementing an alternative to conventional electricity storages, by using private, public, and commercial infrastructure of a rural municipality in Lower Austria. The water supply system, waste water system, thermal-, and pumping processes are prepared to being managed as one virtual energy storage, while maintaining user comfort for inhabitants. Implementing this proposed system is the first attempt to analyze the effectiveness and the user acceptance of automated demand response in Austria. Possible targets for demand side management have been identified, measured, modeled, and equipped with demand response technology. The proposed system aims to show that successful demand response is possible with little investment and without compromising the customer comfort.