New control methods in demand side management to improve the security of supply in the UK’s electricity network

Distribution networks across the UK are expected to connect substantial embedded generation in near future as .One of the key means to combat climate change. The majority of embedded generation are expected to be renewables that have intermittent nature with poor persistence. This would pose serious problem to the security and quality of supply that distribution network operators (DNOs) have license obligation to comply, (distribution network operators do not generally hold reserve, but take load shedding as the consequential action of not sufficient reserve). Existing solutions include: 1) Backing up intermittent generation by partially loaded plant or storage devices, they tend to be expensive and well research; 2) better managing demand so that they can follow changing patterns of generation. Demand side management is an old topic, traditionally they are used to smooth demand curve to maximise the efficiency of conventional generation where they can be controllable and predictable. As the characteristic of future generation changes, new demand side mechanism needs to be sought, allowing the demand to follow the intermittent generation and is the subject of this research. The paper firstly looks into the potential demand manipulation that can be achieved from existing control mechanism and its associated value to the security of supply The paper then investigates the potential contribution to network security from greater demand side management and the requirement for additional control mechanism to achieve the full potential d benefit. Finally, the benefits to the system security will be quantified to a system with varying degree of intermittent generation.