Analyses of the effects of customer flexibility on the distribution grid

This article describes implementation of a linear programming (LP) optimization method for distribution of household appliances, with the goal of minimizing hourly load while considering customer comfort preferences. The presented method is intended to be used by customers to explore their flexibility potential. Specifically, the article demonstrates how the method can be used to shift the load to off-peak hours or to be adjusted to the generation of their own photovoltaic (PV) units. The solution is applied across four categories of residential consumers, resulting in a reduction of hourly peak load ranging from 30 % to 60 %. For prosumer households, whose consumption is adjusted to their PV generation, the reduction range is 16 % to 30 %. Furthermore, the impact of the optimized use of appliances on the operation of a distribution grid is examined in the paper. The results show improved voltage ranges and voltage profiles, as well as decrease in energy losses in all observed cases, for households with and without installed PV units.