Potential and Limitations for Industrial Demand Side Management

The growing share of variable renewable power such as wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) emphasize the importance of demand side management. In a couple of years consumers have to adapt their consumption more to available generated power in order to maintain grid stability and to reduce their electricity costs. In this study the potential and limitations for demand side management in about 15 different companies in Sweden has been investigated. A brief description of some of the company's production process is given, with focus on electrical consumption. Suggestions on different demand side management possibilities are presented as well as limitations. The suggestions are given for different time horizons, from load shifting between hours, to weeks and years. Potential savings achieved with demand side management have also been evaluated based on historical electricity prices from different countries.