Ricerc@Sapienza

Electrification of the built environment is foreseen as a main driver for energy transition for more effective, electric renewable capacity firming. Direct and on-time use of electricity is the

Nowadays, Distributed System Operators (DSOs) are facing more and more difficult challenges in meeting the user needs with an increasing overall power demand, at the same time guaranteeing the required level of reliability. A possible solutions is offered by the Demand Response (DR) management, aiming to reduce the total load demand of the distribution system during peak periods in order to maintain the integrity of the network and stability of the whole system.

This study is focused on the definition of an energy aggregator model for domestic users, offering the Demand Response (DR) optimization and additional services. The research project is based on the Italian electricity system analysis pointing out the renewables high contribution, the poor domestic users’ electrification and the need to figure out those issues by a demand flexibility system implementation. Moreover, the characterization of Italian domestic users’ energy loads allowed to identify the suitable strategies to get higher flexibility degree.

This work shows the results of a research activity aimed at characterizing the energy habits of Italian residential users. In detail, by the energy simulation of a buildings sample, the opportunity to implement a demand/response program (DR) has been investigated. Italian residential utilities are poorly electrified and flexible loads are low. The presence of an automation system is an essential requirement for participating in a DR program and, in addition, it can allow important reductions in energy consumption.

This work shows the outcomes of a research activity aimed at the energy characterization of residential users. Specifically, by data analysis related to the real energy consumption of sample buildings, the flexible loads amount has been identified so as to investigate on the opportunity to implement a demand/response (DR) program.

This work aims at exploring the potential contribution of the Italian residential sector in implementing load flexibility for Demand Response activities. In detail, by combining experimental and statistical approaches, a method to estimate the load profile of a dwelling cluster of 751 units has been presented. To do so, 14 dwelling archetypes have been defined and the algorithm to categorise the sample units has been built. Then, once the potential flexible loads for each archetype have been evaluated, a control strategy for applying load time shifting has been implemented.

Microgrids (MGs) development is one of the most pursued solution for the electric grid modernization into smart grids, as an effective approach to achieve the European Funding Program Horizon 2020 targets. In particular, residential grid-connected MGs demand the active role of the customer into the electric market, the fulfilment of Demand Response (DR) services, and a local control of the distribution energy balance.