Demand Side Management module. The Demand Side Management module will manage and communicate with industrial/public users whose demand can be shifted in time according to some restrictions and using storage/reserve systems (user’s flexibility). This module will have the double role of providing the optimal control with the energy requirements of the loads and distribute the output demand profile (that leads to the optimal balance of generation and demand) among the deferrable load devices. MUSE GRIDS has considered for demonstration purposes two types of shifting loads: electric vehicles and smart electric thermal storage (SETS) devices. In both cases there exists flexibility in the demand requirements in terms of a total amount of energy that should be provided before a time limit. Local control is in charge of the calculation of these energy needs, while DSM module will perform the synchronization of the optimal calculated profiles for the whole system with the individual devices. Other DSM strategies have been also deployed making use of batteries, thermal storage or thermal inertia but their control is not responsibility of this module as cannot be considered as loads. Those equipment/strategies are used for balancing generation and demand but do not have any restriction in their use a part of their operation limits and system boundary conditions.
