Fast demand response as an enabling technology for high renewable energy penetration in isolated power systems

Abstract

Isolated power systems (IPSs) up to 20MW capacity are often based on diesel generators. Due to the high cost of diesel fuel supply, as well as environmental concerns, IPSs should ideally include a large proportion of renewable energy generation. We report on the implementation of a simple, finegrained and fast demand response (DR) technology to enable high wind penetration in an IPS. This solution is based on centralized two-way communication and control of residential and commercial loads. DR can be dispatched and confirmed within 1 second. The technology has been installed and successfully tested in an IPS on an island in Australia.