Peak Load Scheduling in Smart Grid Communication Environment

Abstract

In this paper, we consider an Energy Consumption Scheduler (ECS) unit inside a smart meter. The function of ECS is to flatten the peaks in the load curve of residential type users. The ECS dually communicates with the user as well as power utility in smart grid real time communication environment. Each user has a specific power capacity limit for their appliances operation. The ECS keeps check and balance condition whenever a user exceeds its power capacity limit. Also the most urgent appliance operations are given priority based on their internalpreemption state. By adopting ECS unit, the total peaks in the load curve are reduced up to 33.3%. Also the user's payment to the power utility becomes less due to efficiently managing their appliance operations. Additionally, the cost of per unit energy generation is also reduced by avoiding the peak power plants. Matlab/Simulink is used as a simulation tool for the realization of this model.