Electricity demand response tools: current status and outstanding issues

Abstract

The present social and economic scheme is characterized by a growing concern for the environment. Particularly, in the electricity context, the limits of electricity grids and the persistent (and moreover perversely asymmetric) growth of energy demand, which rises more intensely in peak periods, raise the need for innovative tools to allow a sustainable development of power systems. Among the ones that can be currently envisioned, electricity demand response is undoubtedly “the great white hope”. The present paper is the result of intense data collection, study and analysis of countless international experiences underway or planned in electricity systems around the world. The primary aim, in light of this analysis, is to review the most relevant developments while reflecting on the issues still outstanding that will necessarily have to be addressed if progress is to be made along these lines.