Evaluation of commercial building demand response potential using optimal short-term curtailment of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning loads

Mismatches in power supply and demand due to infrastructure design and commercial development result in negative economic impacts and societal disruption. These impacts are exacerbated by unusually hot weather as well as energy infrastructure failures. Demand reductions by large commercial and industrial customers are increasingly sought by electrical utilities as a means to control severe supply-demand mismatches. Large electricity consumers have used thermal storage systems, on-site electricity generation, shifting of production processes, and short-term curtailment as means to manage and control their demand during peak demand times. Utility notification may be sent to request a reduction of load for a given duration when demand reaches a specified percent of available supply. This paper examines the interconnected nature of the building heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems as they apply to short-term demand response (DR) by conducting a reference case investigation into optimal control of building cooling systems for DR.