Demonstration of Peak-Load Shifting with Optimal Residential Thermal Energy Management

The high penetration of renewable energy resources (RES), in particular the rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems in power systems, causes rapid ramps in power generation to supply load during peak-load periods. In smart residential buildings, variations in rooftop PV power causes a mismatch between generation and load demand. This paper deals with shifting heat pumps loads to either the lower electricity price period or whenever PV generation is available. A strategy is proposed for managing heat pump operation based on real-time pricing tariff to minimize the operation cost of a smart building by controlling the room temperature. Simulation results demonstrate the cost benefits and effectiveness of the proposed thermal energy management strategy.