Demand response in smart grids

This paper provides an overview of the role, past, present and future, of demand-side management and demand-side response in electric grids. We address the fundamental principles and objectives behind the use of demand-side-based resources in power systems. We present its inherent challenges and some proposals destined to tackle them in the emerging smart grid paradigm. Resume : Cet article dresse un portrait du role, passe, present et futur, des moyens de gestion et de pilotage des charges dans les reseaux electriques. Nous y adressons leurs principes de base et leurs objectifs en tant que ressources dans les reseaux. De plus, nous presentons les defis inherents au developpement de ces ressources et certaines strategies et technologies mises de l’avant pour les surmonter dans un contexte d’emergence des reseaux intelligents (smart grids). Acknowledgments: This work has been supported in part by the Fonds de recherche du Quebec – Nature et technologies, Quebec (Quebec) Canada and by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Ottawa (Ontario) Canada. Les Cahiers du GERAD G–2015–45 1