Load Scheduling and Flexibility Quantification of Residential Users

Demand response (DR) can mitigate the supply and demand imbalance incurred by the large-scale penetration of renewable energy. As a major participator of DR, residential sector tends to possess more flexibility with the development of smart appliances (SA) and home energy management (HEM) system. Awareness of residential users’ flexibility is vital for the deployment of residential loads in DR program. However, the volatility and diversity of massive small loads present a challenge to the aggregation and analysis of residential users. Therefore, this paper proposes a load scheduling and flexibility quantification method for residential users considering the difference of users’ consumption behavior and the diversity of residential loads. Optimal load scheduling is conducted and DR potential of flexible loads is evaluated using the proposed flexibility model. This approach provides insight into more accurately evaluating the flexibility of residential loads.