Controllers implement dynamic demand

15 October 2008 Power Electronics / Power Management

UK-based company RLtec specialises in demand-side energy management (dynamic demand) systems.

What dynamic demand does is fine-tune the demand side of the utility energy equation, making subtle, second-by-second adjustments to power drawn by certain commercial and domestic appliances to keep the grid in balance.

In effect, dynamic demand can turn fridges, electric heaters, water geysers and airconditioning units into ‘virtual power stations’. This could not only go a long way to alleviating the energy supply problems currently plaguing South Africa, it could also have a positive environmental impact by displacing coal-fired power stations without any discernable effect on the nation’s power supply. To use the UK as an example, RLtec says that if all of the nation’s fridges were fitted with dynamic demand, they could decommission a 750 megawatt power station which currently acts as a backup supply, without any loss of performance.

The UK government has already done its sums, and it estimates that dynamic demand has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 2 million tons of CO₂ equivalent a year. It can also reduce the costs associated with energy balancing by around £80 million a year, which is good news for consumers facing rising energy bills.

Dynamic demand is not a complicated technology to introduce. It does not require major upheavals to the grid, planning permission, major construction work or a radical overhaul of electricity use. All it requires is for smart devices to be fitted to certain electrical appliances whose power supply is not time critical.

If a light bulb loses power the effect is immediately noticeable. But because refrigeration, cooling and heating units store a certain amount of power to keep the temperature under control, they can take a drop in power consumption and still maintain their performance.

To employ dynamic demand, white goods manufacturers implement a control unit containing RLtec’s technology in new appliances with electronic control, although the technology can also be fitted into appliances without electronic control units. The company is targeting South Africa as a prime candidate for this technology, and sees water geysers as an ideal application.

For more information visit www.rltec.com

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