Validation of a Flexibility Assessment Methodology for Demand Response in Buildings

Abstract

Abstract Flexibility in Buildings is an integral part of the solution to address the electrical grid’s challenges of grid balancing and renewable generation hosting capacity. One of the main barriers to greater participation of commercial and residential buildings in demand response schemes is the complexity and cost associated with assessing the flexibility of buildings. To overcome these barriers, an early stage flexibility assessment methodology was developed to provide stakeholders with actionable information in a concise and relevant way, so they can effectively evaluate the flexibility of their building and negotiate with aggregators for demand response participation. This paper validates the early stage flexibility assessment methodology in multiple buildings, demonstrating its ease of implementation and scalability. The validation was conducted at five pilot sites, in different geographical regions, activating a range of flexible sources through experiments on site.