Abstract: A control method and system for operating an electrical component from an electrical distribution network maximises the advantage to be gained from the component simultaneously following two power-consumption strategies. The first strategy D(t) is relatively slow-moving, for example increasing consumption when electricity prices are lower, whereas the second F(t) requires fast-moving adjustments, for example when providing a frequency responsive service to counter network power imbalances. The method involves operating the component to follow a strategy with the fast-moving function F(t) superimposed on a baseline power function B(t), with B(t) derived from the slow-moving function D(t). In applying the invention to a binary component (i.e. one that is either “off” or “on”) that is providing the responsive service as part of a group of such components, B(t) is derived both from D(t) and also from past values of F(t).

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a number of load controllers (10), each of which is operatively connected to one or more electrical loads (6) that are connected to a grid, results in a reduction in tracking errors, which arise when aggregated local devices fail to deliver the expected amount of responsive load service. Each load controller (10) monitors the operating frequency of the grid network (8) and is adapted to adjust power consumption of one or more of its electrical loads (6) in response to excursions of the operating network frequency from its nominal value. The load controllers (10) are in communication with a remote controller (14) and aggregated together to provide a responsive load service. The remote controller (14) is adapted to monitor the deviation of grid frequency from its nominal value and to determine adjustments to the responsive load service delivered by the electrical loads of each load controller.

Abstract: A battery energy storage system for use in providing balancing services to an electrical power distribution network is set to monitor the state of charge (SoC) of a storage battery (26). If the SoC is within an optimal range (48), the balancing service is provided solely by charging and discharging the battery. If the battery SoC falls below a predetermined low threshold (52), a first non-battery asset is operated to increase power supplied to the network. Similarly, if the battery SoC rises above a predetermined high threshold (50), a second non-battery asset is operated to provide the balancing service. With this arrangement, requirements on the energy storage capacity of the battery are reduced. For the system to meet balancing service regulatory requirements, the battery need only remain capable of charging or discharging beyond each threshold (50, 52) for a period of time that covers that taken for the respective asset to reach operational capacity.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a number of load controllers (10), each of which is operatively connected to one or more electrical loads (6) that are connected to a grid, results in a reduction in tracking errors, which arise when aggregated local devices fail to deliver the expected amount of responsive load service. Each load controller (10) monitors the operating frequency of the grid network (8) and is adapted to adjust power consumption of one or more of its electrical loads (6) in response to excursions of the operating network frequency from its nominal value. The load controllers (10) are in communication with a remote controller (14) and aggregated together to provide a responsive load service. The remote controller (14) is adapted to monitor the deviation of grid frequency from its nominal value and to determine adjustments to the responsive load service delivered by the electrical loads of each load controller.

Abstract: The responsive load control method manages the allocation and adjustment of service triggering grid frequencies across a population of responsive loads. The responsive load control method is particularly suited to responsive loads that have substantially no duty cycle or which have a long duration (>1 hr) duty cycle. With this responsive load control method provision of the responsive load service is shared fairly amongst the population of contributing responsive loads.

Abstract: A smart responsive electrical load (10) is operatively connectable to an electricity supply network (20). The smart responsive electrical load (10) comprises an electrical power-consuming device (30) and a control arrangement (40) for controlling a supply of electrical power from the network (20) to the device (30). The control arrangement (60, 110, 150, 160, 170) is operable to impose a variable time delay (tp) before supplying electrical power to the device (30) after a request for power to be provided to the device (30). The variable time delay (tp) is a function of a state of the network (20), for example its frequency (f) and/or its voltage amplitude (V). Optionally, the device (30) is a battery charger, for example for use with a rechargeable electric vehicle. Beneficially, the smart responsive load (10) is supplied with electrical power from a population of micro-generation devices (500) operable to provide supply network response.