Demand Side Management Potential in Brazil with Focus on Demand Response

Abstract

Due to the expansion in the Brazilian energy matrix of intermittent and non-dispatchable sources, such as wind energy, and a decreasing representation of hydro power plants reservoir, which can allow greater control of energy resources, it is necessary to implement additional tools to assist the control between generation and load, bringing greater reliability to the electric power system. In this context, the Demand Side Management (DSM) becomes an ally, since it is possible to obtain the load control during periods of load peak and variability, being a quickly available resource. This paper presents the motivation for introduction of DSM in Brazil and the worldwide panorama of this program usage, as well as obtaining, through simulations, the operational savings deriving from consumption reduction offers, minimizing the dispatch of thermal power plants with high costs. The operational savings observed in the simulated operating week was of around $ 140 thousand, and could reach even higher values, as the consumer market increases its participation in demand reduction offers, contributing not only to reduction in operating costs, but also to the security of electric power system.