Commercial buildings are significant electricity consumers.
Shopping malls, office buildings, hotels and other facilities rely on substantial amounts of electricity every day to support air-conditioning, ventilation, lighting, refrigeration, lifts and other essential operations.
However, not all electricity consumption needs to remain completely static.
Some building loads can potentially be adjusted in response to electricity system conditions, provided that this can be done without compromising the building’s operational requirements.
This is where Demand Response can play a role.
From electricity consumer to flexible energy participant
Demand Response allows suitable electricity consumers to modify their consumption in response to market or system requirements.
For a commercial building, this could involve adjusting selected controllable loads during relevant periods.
The objective is not simply to reduce electricity consumption.
Instead, it is about identifying where operational flexibility exists and determining how that flexibility can be managed intelligently.
The role of BESS and smart management
attery Energy Storage Systems can provide an additional layer of flexibility.
Unlike conventional building loads, which may have operational constraints, a BESS can be charged or discharged according to an energy-management strategy, subject to its technical and operational limitations.
This can potentially allow a commercial site to combine several energy-management objectives, such as:
- Managing peak electricity demand
- Increasing flexibility during relevant system conditions
- Supporting participation in demand-side programmes
The appropriate solution will differ from building to building.
A successful energy-management strategy therefore begins with understanding the building’s load profile, operating patterns and available flexibility.
The opportunity for commercial buildings
As Singapore’s electricity system continues to evolve, flexibility will become increasingly valuable.
Commercial buildings have an opportunity to participate in this transition by making better use of their existing electrical infrastructure and identifying loads or energy assets that can be managed intelligently.
CCE’s focus is on helping organisations explore this opportunity through a combination of energy management, battery storage and demand-side flexibility.
The future of commercial energy management may not simply be about consuming less electricity.
It may be about consuming it more intelligently.
