Linking it All Together-An Intelligent Demand Side

Whilst significant attention is focussed on the supply side of the electricity system-from large-scale renewable generation, to new transmission technologies, significant benefits can also be achieved by improving the demand-side of the electricity system. This paper introduces CSIRO's work on intelligent demand side energy systems. This work is focussed on distributed energy control systems-decentralised control techniques that coordinate the actions of devices such as electricity loads or generators. The core principle behind these techniques is to add intelligence to local device controllers, and aggregate multiple such controllers together to achieve system-wide benefits. The paper introduces a control technique that brings significant advantages over the first-generation distributed energy or demand management systems currently being trialled. It introduces the basic operating principles of these systems, and reviews the challenges involved in realising these techniques in practical applications.