Demand side management and distributed on site actions benefits

Global warming and energy demand are nowadays becoming one of the major issues of the third millennium, mainly because human activities seem to have a clear impact on the raise of CO₂ emissions as never it has been experienced in the past. Among the different factors affecting CO₂ emissions, energy demand from buildings constitutes one of the most important actors. Energy Management (EM) actions can reduce the energy consumption of the system and minimize peaks-level, by using a distributed control over every house. These local actions can greatly contribute to reduce the impact on the global CO₂ emissions. An evaluation of the potential energy saving and CO₂ emissions reduction on buildings and neighbours has been carried out, when a renewable energy system is locally installed. The exploitation of a combined solar and photovoltaic system and the integration of suitable energy management actions were deeply investigated. Savings up to 10% on grid losses in the Medium-Voltage (MV) and Low-Voltage (LV) electrical system is obtainable. A wide-spread application of EM (Energy Management) in houses and buildings could permit benefits for the transmission system and a considerable reduction of CO₂ emission. The results here pointed out suggest the possibility of postponing the development and strengthening of electrical system. The consequent economic relevant benefit could persuade economic lobbies about the importance of EM through connected household appliances. In the paper a grid simulator has been defined with the specific inputs and parameters for modelling the distribution system, both for MV and LV. Results at neighbour and country level are very suitable and verify the relevant role of the CPS (Combined Photovoltaic Solar system) in the whole electric grid.