A control system (algorithm) interfaced with domestic appliances (washing machines, TV-sets and so on), the house and the electricity distribution grid (service provider) able to automatically manage the electronic devices according to several policies, integrating user habits, requirements from the service provider, time of the day and so on. For example in case of network maintenance the system can postpone the dishwasher from morning to afternoon, automatically, while the user is at work, at the same time fulfilling the requirement to get the service complete by 6pm. In the same way it is possible for the user to turn on all his appliances (oven, dishwasher, washing-machine) and the system will take care of the overload limit by scheduling them based on previously set preferences.
Published in Chapter:
Electronic and ICT Solutions for Smart Buildings and Urban Areas
Luca Tamburini (University of Trento, Italy), Maurizio Rossi (University of Trento, Italy), and Davide Brunelli (University of Trento, Italy)
Copyright: © 2015
|Pages: 28
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-8282-5.ch009
Abstract
Nowadays, residential hybrid energy systems are moving from being a pure theoretical exercise to real applications for new urban areas. The growing interest related to the needs of reducing pollution, the phasing out of fossil fuel resources and the need to safeguard the environment, have led to a large number of studies and solutions to reduce fuel consumption and to manage energy sources in a better way, leading to an innovative concept of the city where smart infrastructures are in place. In this chapter we introduce the concept of hybrid energy systems, namely buildings that can exploit both renewable energy sources and the grid. On top of it, a system manager schedules the usage of electrical appliances to minimize the electricity bill while providing peak shaving and load balancing services to utilities and service providers.