Consumer-aware load control to provide contingency reserves using frequency measurements and inter-load communication

We consider the problem of smart and flexible loads providing contingency reserves to the electric grid based on using local frequency measurements. The impact on consumers must be minimized at the same time. A recent paper by Zhao et al. proposed a solution to this optimization problem that was based on solving the dual problem in a distributed manner: local measurements and information exchanged with nearby loads are used to make decisions. In this paper, we provide a distributed algorithm to solve the primal problem. In contrast to the “dual algorithm” (DA) of Zhao et al., the proposed algorithm is applicable when consumer disutility is a convex, but not necessarily strictly convex, function of consumption changes; for example, a model of consumer behavior that is insensitive to small changes in consumption. Simulations show the proposed method aids the grid in arresting frequency deviations in response to contingency events. We provide a proof of convergence of the proposed algorithm, and we compare its performance to that of DA, when applicable, through simulations.