Effects of Home Energy Management Systems for Reduction of Renewables Output Curtailment

A large amount of renewable generation reduces the electric load on conventional power systems especially on a clear day. It results in a decrease in the number of operating thermal power plants. One of the key technologies for ensuring the supply-demand balancing capabilities is the Home Energy Management System (HEMS). In several previous studies, the effects of an HEMS for one house have been evaluated using the optimum operation-scheduling model. In this study, we improved the model for one house in order to calculate electricity consumption for many households and evaluate the total effects of HEMSs in an entire region. Furthermore, we proposed electricity price signals that take into account the thermal power outputs and the required renewable output curtailments. Under the scenarios considering the penetration of household appliances, we evaluated the effects of HEMSs for reducing renewables output curtailment using price signals. As a result, it was found the effects with respect to penetration rate of controllable appliances quantitatively. Moreover, we found the combined effects of the household-use battery and heat pump water heater in this regard.