Load Decomposition and Profiling for “Smart Grid” Demand-Side Management Applications

Abstract. Active and reactive power demands measured in Scottish Medium Voltage (MV) distribution networks are used in this paper to correlate variations in demands with the short-term and long-term variations of temperature. The methodology is illustrated on the example of the total network demands (sum of the demands at all monitored bulk load supply points), with the analysis presenting several metrics and indicators for quantifying and correlating temperature-demand dependencies during the course of one calendar year. The paper also presents a simple approach for decomposing aggregate network demands into the temperature-dependent loads (e.g. thermal heating or cooling loads) and temperature-independent loads, providing an important information for the application of the “smart grid” functionalities, such as demand-side management, or balancing of variable energy flows from renewable generation.