Use of Heating Loads for Grid Frequency Control

Power generation from the renewable energy sources is usually intermittent and uncontrollable which challenges the grid frequency stability. The smart control of loads is an effective means to mitigate the challenge. A decentralized control of heating loads -- industrial melting pots (MPs), was developed which dynamically changes the power consumption of loads in response to grid frequency. A thermodynamic model of MPs was developed and validated based on site measurements by Open Energi. An aggregation of MP models with the control was integrated with a simplified Great Britain power system model. Results showed that MPs are able to provide frequency response in a way similar to generators, which provide a means for the system operator to quantify the benefits of demand response.