High concentration of heat pumps in suburban areas and reduction of their impact on the electricity network

One of the challenges of the near future for a more renewable Dutch electricity infrastructure is the embedding of high concentrations of heat pumps in currently built domestic residences. In the Dutch situation demand of electricity occurs simultaneously with demand of heat, high electricity peak loads in the low voltage network are expected. This study focuses on domestic residences with high peak loads at substations when heating is provided merely by heat pumps with additional electric resistance heating. Two scenarios are studied: the event of a black start in the electricity system and high electricity demand on a day with a very low outdoor temperature. The simulation is performed with agents representing up to 100 dwellings based on Multiagent control by means of the PowerMatcher concept. In the PowerMatcher concept software agents are used as representatives of the power producing and/or consuming installations. The results demonstrate significant peak load reduction can be achieved at the expense of only a small decrease of comfort. The cost reduction calculation of the electricity network using Multiagent systems is presented. An estimation of this reduction, which is very location specific, includes the substation, the low voltage network, the transmission station and the medium voltage transport network.