smart griD IN DENmARK 2.0 - Energinet.dk

14 | smart grid IN DENMARK 2.0The BRPs will probably gather a sufficient volumeof flexibility products via their own aggregator functions,via other commercial aggregators or directlyvia local production units.The aggregator role is also expected to be key tomobilising and activating DER and customers. Viathe active marketing of good business offers andconcepts, the aggregators must make it interestingfor private players to be flexible in their electricityconsumption and/or own production. Moreover, eitherthey themselves or their business partners willsupply systems to the private players to ensure thatthey will not necessarily have to take any active stepswhen a flexibility product is activated. It is importantthat the flexibility can be activated without the activeinvolvement of the customer, but always takingaccount of the customer’s preferences and comfortrequirements.Today, the aggregator role is already being performedby some BRPs in relation to, for example, smallerCHP units which supply different types of ancillaryservices. However, in future, this role will involve farmore customers and appliances which can be activated,and the assumption is that new players willemerge as a result. These might specialise in, forexample, recharging electric vehicles or controllingheat pumps, with their business solely concentratingon the special properties of selected technologies.EXAMPLE – AN AGGREGATOR OFFERS TOCONTROL A CUSTOMER’S HEAT PUMP¼ In tomorrow’s power system, an aggregatorcan, for example, be a player who specialisesin controlling heat pumps for customersand activating the flexibility whichthe heat pump can deliver.¼ A customer with a heat pump wants tomaintain an indoor temperature whichsatisfies his comfort requirements (forexample 20-22°C during the day and 16-18°C at night). The heat pump uses 3,000kWh of electricity a year, and the customerpays DKK 2/kWh, corresponding to anannual cost of DKK 6,000.¼ The aggregator offers to supply the electricityand assume control of the heatpump while guaranteeing a temperaturewhich lies within the customer’s comfortzone. The customer pays DKK 5,500 ayear for the service and thus saves DKK500 relative to what he paid previously.¼ Using controls and automation, the aggregatorswitches off the heat pump forshort periods when electricity prices arehigh without the temperature in the housefalling outside the customer’s comfortzone, and reduces the annual cost ofpowering the heat pump by DKK 500 ayear. The aggregator also switches theheat pump on and off when it benefits thepower system, earning a further DKK 250by selling these services on market terms.The aggregator has thus reduced the costof operating the heat pump to DKK 5,250a year. He receives payment of DKK 5,500from the customer and thereby earns DKK250 a year.¼ This is a fictive example, but it shows thatboth the customer and the aggregatorstand to gain from the heat pump’s flexibleelectricity consumption being utilisedby the power system. The customeris offered an attractive solution (maintaininga comfort zone temperature anda cheaper electricity bill), which makes itinteresting for him to offer his flexibility tothe market (by handing over control of theheat pump to the aggregator).