Findings from an Advanced Demand Response Smart Grid Project to Improve Electricity Reliability in India

Two significant challenges for a reliable supply of electricity in India are increasing demand and generation deficits. Commercial and industrial buildings in India consume approximately 44% of the nation’s electricity. India had a 4.7% supply deficit during the period of April to September 2014.1 A smart grid initiative by Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) evaluated the technical capability and potential for increased reliability and readiness of commercial and industrial buildings for automated demand response (AutoDR). The advanced Smart Grid project included smart meters and an interoperable communication and DR management system with advanced data analytics for automated dispatch and load reduction when the grid is under stress. The project covered an area of more than 250 square kilometers and included about 167 high-end industrial and commercial customers in TPDDL territory. The study identified and characterized each consumer sector’s load duration curve and aggregated power demand. A total of 144 consumers’ 15-minute interval meter data was analyzed to identify the DR potential of each consumer sector using well-established baseline methodologies. The study characterized each customer sector’s load profile and AutoDR measures and evaluated baseline models for the measurement and verification of customer’s AutoDR performance. The study estimates the DR shed performance of AutoDR implementation for each type of consumer in the field study.