Experimental determination of demand side management potential of wet appliances in the Netherlands

•Experimental determination of residential peak shift potential of wet appliances.•Shifting demand results in peak reduction of 10%.•Photovoltaic self consumption accounts for 6% demand reduction.

The potential of demand side management (DSM) of wet appliances (washing machine, dishwasher and tumble dryer) in households with photovoltaic (PV) systems is studied experimentally focusing on evening peak demand reduction and increase in PV self-consumption. In a sample of 100 Dutch households the electricity demand is monitored for one year at high time resolution. It is found that the dishwasher has the best DSM potential, with a median average peak reduction potential up to 35 W per household on average for all appliances, while PV self-consumption for the median household can be increased with 68 kWh/year per appliance. The tumble dryer and washing machine's potentials are 30 W and 25 W per household, respectively, for the mean average peak reduction, and 38 kWh and 28 kWh, respectively, per household per year for increase in PV self-consumption per appliance. Further, the median peak reduction potential of a single group of wet appliances ranges from 1% to 5% of the power demand in peak hours, while combined they could add up to 10% of the total peak. The median increase in PV self-consumption is in the range between 1.5% and 4% for separate appliances, while the median total could provide an increase up to 129 kWh per household per year if a household possesses and utilizes the potential of all appliances, which is about 6% of the annual household demand. In conclusion, DSM potential for wet appliances is limited.