Load Aggregator-Based Integrated Demand Response for Residential Smart Energy Hubs

In order to attract more flexible resource to take part in integrated demand response (IDR), this can be realized by introducing load aggregator-based framework. In this paper, based on residential smart energy hubs (S.E. Hubs), a two-level IDR framework is proposed, in which S.E. Hub operators play the role of load aggregators. The framework includes day-ahead bidding and real-time scheduling. In day-ahead bidding, S.E. Hub operators have to compete dispatching amount for maximal profit; hence, noncooperative game approach is formulated to describe the competition behavior among operators. In real-time scheduling, the dispatching model is formulated to minimize the error between real-time scheduling amount and bidding amount. Moreover, in order to reduce the influence of IDR on residential users, 4 categories of users’ flexible loads are modeled according to load consumption characteristic, and then these models are considered as the constraints in real-time scheduling. A case study is designed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed two-level IDR framework. And simulation results confirm that smart grid, S.E. Hub operators, and residential users can benefit simultaneously.