From Smart Grids to Smart Consumers Robert Brewer [email_address] Collaborative Software Development Laboratory Information and Computer Sciences University of Hawaii Honolulu HI 96822

Pop Quiz! 1) What is your home’s baseline power usage? probably in hundreds of watts 2) What is your home’s peak power usage? probably 2-6 kW (depends on size) 3) How much electricity does average HI home use per day? ~13 kWh 4) How much power does an electric oven use? ~4 kW 5) What is Oahu’s peak power consumption? ~1.2 GW

1) What is your home’s baseline power usage?

probably in hundreds of watts

2) What is your home’s peak power usage?

probably 2-6 kW (depends on size)

3) How much electricity does average HI home use per day?

~13 kWh

4) How much power does an electric oven use?

~4 kW

5) What is Oahu’s peak power consumption?

~1.2 GW

Fossil Fuels Are A Problem IPCC says climate is changing because of us 1m sea level rise this century Ocean acidification Weather more variable (storms, droughts) Oil will run out this century 91% of HI electricity from fossil fuels All ground & air transport is fossil fueled Before it runs out, oil price will skyrocket Hawaii spends $800K/hr for oil imports now

IPCC says climate is changing because of us

1m sea level rise this century

Ocean acidification

Weather more variable (storms, droughts)

Oil will run out this century

91% of HI electricity from fossil fuels

All ground & air transport is fossil fueled

Before it runs out, oil price will skyrocket

Hawaii spends $800K/hr for oil imports now

(Part Of) The Solution Reduce CO 2 emissions from electricity use Reduce electricity use! Use electricity more efficiently Increase renewable energy production Smooth demand curve Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Pact between HECO, State, and Fed DoE Generate 40% of energy locally by 2030 Reduce demand by 30% by 2030

Reduce CO 2 emissions from electricity use

Reduce electricity use!

Use electricity more efficiently

Increase renewable energy production

Smooth demand curve

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative

Pact between HECO, State, and Fed DoE

Generate 40% of energy locally by 2030

Reduce demand by 30% by 2030

HCEI Website http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/

http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/

Utility Challenges Integrating renewable energy is hard Supply & demand must be equal Wind and solar are variable Demand is quite variable throughout day No good way to store energy

Integrating renewable energy is hard

Supply & demand must be equal

Wind and solar are variable

Demand is quite variable throughout day

No good way to store energy

HELCO Wind Integration HRD wind farm output Apollo wind farm output System frequency Wind speed Limited wind farm output Frequency stabilized April 2007 Slide from Art Seki of HECO, REIS presentation 9/24/2009

More Utility Challenges Reducing electricity use is hard Feedback is slow (monthly bill in kWh) Fossil fueled electricity is (relatively) cheap Price doesn’t reflect true costs Prime time electricity is more expensive GHG emissions are not really free

Reducing electricity use is hard

Feedback is slow (monthly bill in kWh)

Fossil fueled electricity is (relatively) cheap

Price doesn’t reflect true costs

Prime time electricity is more expensive

GHG emissions are not really free

Daily Demand Curve 1 Electricity demand has an evening peak

Electricity demand has an evening peak

Varying demand requires utility to spin up and down generation throughout the day Daily Demand Curve 2

Varying demand requires utility to spin up and down generation throughout the day

Solution: Smart Grid Broad term used for many goals Make grid more reliable Accommodate distributed generation Support time of day pricing Make grid more efficient Resilient in face of attack or disaster Enable active consumer participation

Broad term used for many goals

Make grid more reliable

Accommodate distributed generation

Support time of day pricing

Make grid more efficient

Resilient in face of attack or disaster

Enable active consumer participation

Smart Grid Implementations Strong utility focus Smart metering (2-way networked meters) Allows variable pricing &“demand response” Smart appliances to shift load off-peak Fault isolation via power line monitoring Pumped hydro for renewable energy storage Modeling renewable sources We focus on consumer end More info about energy usage & impact ($, CO2) Enable “smart” energy decisions

Strong utility focus

Smart metering (2-way networked meters)

Allows variable pricing &“demand response”

Smart appliances to shift load off-peak

Fault isolation via power line monitoring

Pumped hydro for renewable energy storage

Modeling renewable sources

We focus on consumer end

More info about energy usage & impact ($, CO2)

Enable “smart” energy decisions

Consumer Options Changing HECO is hard Homeowners have options Install solar hot water heater Upgrade to more efficient appliances Install PV panels Change their behavior Behavior changes will be key Only option for renters & office dwellers

Changing HECO is hard

Homeowners have options

Install solar hot water heater

Upgrade to more efficient appliances

Install PV panels

Change their behavior

Behavior changes will be key

Only option for renters & office dwellers

The Goal How do we help people become “smarter”? Design and implement simulations of “highly transparent” energy generation and usage. Design and implement consumer-facing information repositories and interfaces Learn: What kinds of information do consumers need, at what time and in what way, in order for them to make “smart” energy choices?

How do we help people become “smarter”?

Design and implement simulations of “highly transparent” energy generation and usage.

Design and implement consumer-facing information repositories and interfaces

Learn:

What kinds of information do consumers need, at what time and in what way, in order for them to make “smart” energy choices?

What is a “smart” choice? A “smart” consumer energy choice is a conscious trade-off between the “3 Cs”: What choice has the least cost ? Run the A/C when energy is cheapest What choice generates the least carbon ? Run the A/C when the carbon intensity of the grid is lowest What choice is most convenient ? Start the A/C before I get home

A “smart” consumer energy choice is a conscious trade-off between the “3 Cs”:

What choice has the least cost ?

Run the A/C when energy is cheapest

What choice generates the least carbon ?

Run the A/C when the carbon intensity of the grid is lowest

What choice is most convenient ?

Start the A/C before I get home

Implications No grid can ever be “smart” enough to eliminate the need for “smart” consumers. Technological support for smart consumption is a non-trivial problem, involving: getting the right information on energy storage, analysis, presentation, delivery social, privacy implications Results will shape smart grid development What consumers need from utilities Design of future smart appliances

No grid can ever be “smart” enough to eliminate the need for “smart” consumers.

Technological support for smart consumption is a non-trivial problem, involving:

getting the right information on energy

storage, analysis, presentation, delivery

social, privacy implications

Results will shape smart grid development

What consumers need from utilities

Design of future smart appliances

Sidebar: Why Hawaii? Each island grid is isolated (for now) Complicates running grid Simplifies analysis since everything is local Abundance of renewable sources Solar, wind, geothermal, wave, biofuel Heavy reliance on fossil fuels Prices are high, volatile, and going up Connection to ‘āina Familiarity with limited resources/space

Each island grid is isolated (for now)

Complicates running grid

Simplifies analysis since everything is local

Abundance of renewable sources

Solar, wind, geothermal, wave, biofuel

Heavy reliance on fossil fuels

Prices are high, volatile, and going up

Connection to ‘āina

Familiarity with limited resources/space

Research Direction: Residential Residential energy conservation Usage in identical homes can differ by 2x Behavior changes needed to meet HCEI goals First step is providing feedback Monthly bills are poor feedback mechanism Realtime feedback devices now available TED 5000 provides web interface and portable display Many studies show feedback alone leads to 5-15% energy conservation

Residential energy conservation

Usage in identical homes can differ by 2x

Behavior changes needed to meet HCEI goals

First step is providing feedback

Monthly bills are poor feedback mechanism

Realtime feedback devices now available

TED 5000 provides web interface and portable display

Many studies show feedback alone leads to 5-15% energy conservation

HECO Bill

TED Display (Before Coffee)

TED Display (After Coffee)

Beyond Simple Feedback Bring in environmental data What is the grid carbon intensity right now? What will it be in an hour? A day? Does this actually motivate conservation?

Bring in environmental data

What is the grid carbon intensity right now?

What will it be in an hour? A day?

Does this actually motivate conservation?

Grid Carbon Intensity

Social Media Share usage data with friends Is peer pressure effective? Long term? Do public commitments motivate? Important privacy implications Compare usage to “comparable” homes How to find comparable homes? If my usage is lower, do I splurge? Crowdsourced suggestions Massive dataset could yield suggestions Replace fridge, adjust thermostat Link would-be conservers with mentors

Share usage data with friends

Is peer pressure effective? Long term?

Do public commitments motivate?

Important privacy implications

Compare usage to “comparable” homes

How to find comparable homes?

If my usage is lower, do I splurge?

Crowdsourced suggestions

Massive dataset could yield suggestions

Replace fridge, adjust thermostat

Link would-be conservers with mentors

StepGreen Website

Google PowerMeter Images from http://www.davidnaylor.co.uk/ and http://earth2tech.com/

Back To Smart Grid Do people really want HECO controlling their appliances? Knowing their habits? Fine grained consumer control too much hassle Could use “agent” to mediate Agent uses sensor data to model consumer behavior Consumer sets their prefs in terms of 3 C’s Agent talks to utility Receives requests to reduce usage Receives variable pricing data Makes decisions on what to do

Do people really want HECO controlling their appliances? Knowing their habits?

Fine grained consumer control too much hassle

Could use “agent” to mediate

Agent uses sensor data to model consumer behavior

Consumer sets their prefs in terms of 3 C’s

Agent talks to utility

Receives requests to reduce usage

Receives variable pricing data

Makes decisions on what to do

Research Direction: Office Office energy conservation Occupants have little control Often occupants don’t see or pay power bill First step is providing feedback Building-wide feedback displays available Hard to see individual impact Per-office metering is costly and invasive Can per-floor metering provide middle ground?

Office energy conservation

Occupants have little control

Often occupants don’t see or pay power bill

First step is providing feedback

Building-wide feedback displays available

Hard to see individual impact

Per-office metering is costly and invasive

Can per-floor metering provide middle ground?

Local Collaboration Focus on microenvironments (floors of bldg) Provide explicit support to reduction process Support via community websites Set up community website per floor to share power reduction strategies Forums Wiki pages Public commitments among floor occupants What impact does website have on power savings? What kind of community develops?

Focus on microenvironments (floors of bldg)

Provide explicit support to reduction process

Support via community websites

Set up community website per floor to share power reduction strategies

Forums

Wiki pages

Public commitments among floor occupants

What impact does website have on power savings?

What kind of community develops?

Website Mockup

Current Work WattDepot Research infrastructure for energy data storage and analysis OSCAR Oahu Smart Consumer Analysis & Research Saunders Hall Energy Competition Understanding impact of incentives, communication on conservation Community Outreach Collaborations with Hawaii organizations

WattDepot

Research infrastructure for energy data storage and analysis

OSCAR

Oahu Smart Consumer Analysis & Research

Saunders Hall Energy Competition

Understanding impact of incentives, communication on conservation

Community Outreach

Collaborations with Hawaii organizations

WattDepot Integrates power data from diverse sources From utility generation to consumer usage Implemented as RESTful web service PUT http://host/wattdepot/sources/saunders/sensordata/2009-07-28T09:00:00.000-10:00 GET http://host/wattdepot/sources/kahe02/power/2009-12-13T18:00:00.000-10:00 Status Dynamically fetch meter data Can chart data via Google Visualization API In use by ICS 413/613 for projects

Integrates power data from diverse sources

From utility generation to consumer usage

Implemented as RESTful web service

PUT http://host/wattdepot/sources/saunders/sensordata/2009-07-28T09:00:00.000-10:00

GET http://host/wattdepot/sources/kahe02/power/2009-12-13T18:00:00.000-10:00

Status

Dynamically fetch meter data

Can chart data via Google Visualization API

In use by ICS 413/613 for projects

WattDepot Features Can represent aggregations of meters Floors of a building All PV generation on campus All power plants on Oahu Performs data interpolation when needed Meter data comes at irregular times Necessary for aggregation Provides values calculated from data Power, energy, carbon Open source http://wattdepot.googlecode.com/

Can represent aggregations of meters

Floors of a building

All PV generation on campus

All power plants on Oahu

Performs data interpolation when needed

Meter data comes at irregular times

Necessary for aggregation

Provides values calculated from data

Power, energy, carbon

Open source

http://wattdepot.googlecode.com/

WattDepot Architecture

WattDepot Sensors

WattDepot Display Clients

OSCAR Simulated dataset of Oahu power generation: Power production by baseline, cycling, peaking plants Carbon intensity of each plant Can also simulate future data Simulated data stored in WattDepot Design of consumer-facing interfaces to support “smart” choices (3 Cs) ICS 413 & 613 class projects will start this

Simulated dataset of Oahu power generation:

Power production by baseline, cycling, peaking plants

Carbon intensity of each plant

Can also simulate future data

Simulated data stored in WattDepot

Design of consumer-facing interfaces to support “smart” choices (3 Cs)

ICS 413 & 613 class projects will start this

Saunders Energy Competition 5 floors in Saunders Hall compete Series of rounds Scheduled for early 2010 Different incentives and communication media each round “ Ambient” displays show floor power usage Per-floor websites for collaboration Winner gets some $ savings returned Hypotheses Ambient displays & websites aid conservation Incentives help in short term, but not long

5 floors in Saunders Hall compete

Series of rounds

Scheduled for early 2010

Different incentives and communication media each round

“ Ambient” displays show floor power usage

Per-floor websites for collaboration

Winner gets some $ savings returned

Hypotheses

Ambient displays & websites aid conservation

Incentives help in short term, but not long

Other HI Energy Orgs 1 Blue Planet Foundation Goal: end fossil fuel use in HI in a decade Founded by Henk Rogers, local tech leader Produced Hawaii Home Energy Makeover show Worked on making 2 homes more efficient Aired in October Planning energy conversation contest < 50 homes Tracking progress via website

Blue Planet Foundation

Goal: end fossil fuel use in HI in a decade

Founded by Henk Rogers, local tech leader

Produced Hawaii Home Energy Makeover show

Worked on making 2 homes more efficient

Aired in October

Planning energy conversation contest

< 50 homes

Tracking progress via website

Other HI Energy Orgs 2 Kanu Hawaii Local non-profit org Working on sustainability, compassionate community, economic resilience Kanu website allows members to make commitments on variety of topics Has grant to study power meters & audits Determine their effectiveness in HI Deployed to hundreds of homes

Kanu Hawaii

Local non-profit org

Working on sustainability, compassionate community, economic resilience

Kanu website allows members to make commitments on variety of topics

Has grant to study power meters & audits

Determine their effectiveness in HI

Deployed to hundreds of homes

Other HI Energy Orgs 3 Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program New home of HECO’s efficiency programs Now separate from HECO, managed by SAIC Planning website where people can compare electricity usage to similar homes Based on monthly data from HECO

Hawaii Energy Efficiency Program

New home of HECO’s efficiency programs

Now separate from HECO, managed by SAIC

Planning website where people can compare electricity usage to similar homes

Based on monthly data from HECO

Deliverables Fall 2009 WattDepot implementation Retrieving data from Saunders (usage & PV), Philip’s house, OSCAR Providing display and simple analyses of data OSCAR implementation Generating simulated Oahu data Dialog with HECO validating simulated data Saunders Energy Competition Experimental design Website prototype

WattDepot implementation

Retrieving data from Saunders (usage & PV), Philip’s house, OSCAR

Providing display and simple analyses of data

OSCAR implementation

Generating simulated Oahu data

Dialog with HECO validating simulated data

Saunders Energy Competition

Experimental design

Website prototype

Questions? Please ask away! Or email me at rbrewer@lava.net

Please ask away!

Or email me at rbrewer@lava.net