Smart energy demand management. A collaborative approach towards consumers' active participation

Secured provision of energy is vital for the sustainable development in all aspects. In this regard, smart grids are considered as a solution towards the sustainable energy provision as they enable efficient and reliable production, distribution, transmission, and consumption of electricity. However, smart electricity grid system is a complex system of systems that requires sophisticated collaboration tools and intelligent techniques along with active participations from all its connected users. Dynamic role and proactive participation of consumers through the integration of distributed renewable energy resources are highly anticipated for the long-term sustenance of these grids. By understanding the value and the necessity of consumers’ active participations, this research work focuses on the demand-supply collaboration among proactive participants for effectively managing the energy demands. The main goal of this research study is to analyze the impacts of integrating the various renewable energy resources in the collaborative network. Along with this goal, the main objective is to explore the role of different participants in the collaborative network under the domestic/residential environment. A quantitative research methodology is adopted to demonstrate and numerically explain the impact of consumers’ engagements and their demand flexibility towards energy demand management. The key results highlight that consumers should be induced to change their consumption patterns in conjunction with the dimensions of smart energy demand. In addition to this, they should be provided with properly designed collaboration platforms that can yield mutual benefits (financial, personal, behavioral), and provision of such platforms would assist them to create higher demand flexibility. Accordingly, active participation of prosumers and consumers would create a positive impact on locally managing the energy supply and demand. This active participation would also allow them to exchange or sell their demand flexibility among the connected members in the energy networks.