Aggregation of Thermostatically Controlled Loads for Fast Power System Services: From Theory to Practice

In electric power systems, mismatch between scheduled generation and demand leads to deviations from the nominal grid frequency, thereby posing risks to the reliability of the electric power system. The significant uncertainty introduced to the grid due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar, can exacerbate these frequency deviations. To mitigate that, additional flexible resources, such as load aggregations, are required to maintain the reliability of the system. Thermostatically Controlled Loads (TCLs) are excellent candidates for providing flexibility to the grid due to their thermal inertia and ubiquity across the distribution system. However, coordinating large amounts of such loads is a challenging task.