Software agents for matching of power supply and demand: a field-test with a real-time automated imbalance reduction system

The context and operation of a real-time electricity market portfolio imbalance reduction system, IRS, is described. In the IRS-approach, software agents are used as representatives of power producing and/or consuming installations. Via market algorithms a strategy is calculated to ensure, that their operational schemes are coordinated in order to reduce real-time market portfolio imbalance. The algorithms in this PowerMatcher-approach, use a bottom-up electronic market mechanism. Implementation in an experimental configuration for a real-world field-test is discussed. In the test, real-time, 1-minute interval measurements of generated or consumed power are used to operate installations in such a way as to minimize imbalance in a commercial portfolio of a program responsible party. Building such a system, controlling primary user processes on one hand and operating on the electricity market on the other hand, appears to be feasible with mainstream ICT-components. IRS also appeared to offer opportunities for embedding DG-RES generators more smoothly in the portfolio. Supply uncertainty of two wind parks is automatically compensated for by demand elasticity of a district heat-net with CHP and of the cooling load in a meat factory.