An Evaluation of Recent Models in Demand Side Flexibility: The Case of Thermal Comfort Systems in Office Buildings (ST-16-C038)

Building based demand side flexibility has been identified as critical for successful integration of renewable energy resources in electrical power grids with little or no possible instability and loss of reliability. Also, it has been indicated that thermal comfort systems in buildings are an integral part of demand side flexibility. A number of models have been proposed for harnessing thermal comfort systems in buildings as demand side flexibility. These models have mostly been evaluated for application in residential buildings. In a pioneer attempt, this paper uses year-long practical comfort and energy performance case study data to evaluate some recently proposed demand side flexibility models in office buildings. The data was collected using process based energy consumption meters and whole building comfort sensors installed in the building.   Next, potential flexibilities were then estimated using practical data along the frameworks proposed by identified demand side flexibility models. Evaluation of these models were then done based on metrics that emphasise practicability and cost effectiveness. Analysis is within the context of electricity supply chain in the Netherlands and assumes for cost effectiveness participation of office buildings in the Amsterdam Power eXchange (APX) day-ahead auction and the Dutch balancing energy market under the proposed framework for flexibility management by European based CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Smart Grid Coordination Group. Evaluation results suggests additional proposals on constraints and practical considerations when using these models for non-residential buildings like offices.