Demand Side Management Potential of Refrigeration Appliances

The refrigeration component of electricity consumption will continue to rise due to global warming and the increasing need for refrigeration in various sectors. Refrigeration is vital to address food storage and shortage as well as food security issues. Demand side management (DSM) is often effected through energy conservation and efficiency as well as peak clipping and load shifting measures. This paper looks into demand side management potential of refrigeration appliances considering temperature, load profile and appliance characteristics. Model-based simulation of temperature evolution is compared with measurement values. Results show a potential 17% reduction in annual energy requirements and costs from applying the proposed switching control on fridges and freezers with consideration of required temperature thresholds, and point towards the potential of using this approach for demand side management.