Demand

DSM

Demand side management was considered as a potential solution to the problem of matching electricity production and consumption levels. 'Peak clipping' and 'trough filling' methods were investigated. To fully investigate all DSM options would have justified a project in itself so domestic DSM options were only considered. Passive DSM methods such as offering different tarrifs for daytime and nighttime use, and promoting energy efficent appliances were considered. Active DSM methods were also considered. These methods mainly centred around using 'smart plugs' to actively control baseload household appliances that were considered suitable. These appliances were likely to have been fridges and freezers.

The tariff system was dismissed as an effective method was likely to prove confusing to many energy consumers. The energy efficency promotion was dismissed as it is already actively employed throughout the energy industry and consumption changes would have been extremely difficult to predict.

It was thought that the active smart plugs would play a large part in the project and an experiment was conducted to estimate energy savings of using such techniques. Over a period of 24 hours the electricty consumption of a typical family fridge and freezer was measured. It was found that the freezer used an average of 40W and the fridge and average of 20W. Calculations showed that 1 million households in Scotland with a fridge and a freezer would be required to participate in such a scheme simply to make a 1% difference in the peak consumption level. Therefore, the idea was dismissed.