The study proposes a predictive home energy management system with a customizable bidirectional real-time pricing mechanism 

Consumer motivation to participate in residential demand response (DR) has historically been low due to inflexible electricity pricing mechanisms that do not account for individual use. A new predictive home energy management system (PHEMS) addresses this issue with a real-time pricing mechanism. This system customizes electricity prices based on end-user energy consumption, thereby motivating consumers to actively participate in DR. Going ahead, it holds the potential to enhance engagement and efficiency in residential energy management.

Image title: New predictive home energy management system (PHEMS) system can promote sustainable energy consumption behaviors 

Image caption: The novel bidirectional PHEMS system developed by researchers from Chung-Ang University from South Korea, comes with a customizable real-time pricing mechanism tailored to end-user energy consumption. It can enhance energy efficiency and encourage sustainable consumption habits. 

Image credit: https://openverse.org/image/fab07129-62a0-42b6-ac1d-e9c72efd65b2 

License type: CC BY 2.0

Usage restrictions: Credit the creator

With a continuous rise in the global population, energy consumption and its associated environmental and economic costs are also increasing. One effective approach to manage these rising costs is by promoting the use of smart home appliances, leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to connect devices within a single network. This connectivity can enable users to monitor and control their real-time power consumption via home energy management systems (HEMS). Energy providers can, in turn, utilize HEMS to gauge residential demand response (DR) and adjust the power consumption of residential customers in response to grid demand.

Efforts to promote residential DR, such as by offering monetary incentives under the real-time pricing (RTP) model, have historically struggled to foster lasting behavioral change among consumers. This challenge stems from unidirectional electricity pricing mechanisms, which diminish consumer engagement in residential DR activities.

To address these issues, Professor Mun Kyeom Kim and Hyung Joon Kim, a doctoral candidate from Chung-Ang University, recently conducted a study published in the IEEE Internet of Things Journal. Their study, proposing a predictive home energy management system (PHEMS), was published online on March 27, 2024, and in print on July 15, 2024. Prof. Mun Kyeom Kim led the study, introducing a customized bidirectional real-time pricing (CBi-RTP) mechanism integrated with an advanced price forecasting model. These innovations provide compelling reasons for consumers to participate actively in residential DR efforts.

The CBi-RTP system empowers end-users by allowing them to influence their hourly RTPs through managing their transferred power and household appliance usage. Moreover, PHEMS incorporates a deep-learning-based forecasting model and optimization strategy to analyze spatial-temporal variations inherent in RTP implementations. This capability ensures robust and cost-effective operation for residential users by adapting to irregularities as they arise.

Experimental results from the study demonstrate that the PHEMS model not only enhances user comfort but also surpasses previous models in accuracy of forecasting, peak reduction, and cost savings. Despite its superior performance, the researchers acknowledge room for further development. Prof. Mun Kyeom Kim notes, "The main challenge with our predictive home energy management system lies in accurately determining the baseline load for calculating hourly shifted power. Future research will focus on enhancing the reliability of PHEMS through improved baseline load calculation methods tailored to specific end-users."  

Reference

About Chung-Ang University 

Chung-Ang University is a private comprehensive research university located in Seoul, South Korea. It was started as a kindergarten in 1916 and attained university status in 1953. It is fully accredited by the Ministry of Education of Korea. Chung-Ang University conducts research activities under the slogan of “Justice and Truth.” Its new vision for completing 100 years is “The Global Creative Leader.” Chung-Ang University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, which encompass a law school, management program, and medical school; it has 16 undergraduate and graduate schools each. Chung-Ang University’s culture and arts programs are considered the best in Korea.

About Professor Mun-Kyeom Kim 

Mun-Kyeom Kim received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Seoul National University. He is currently a Professor at the School of Energy System Engineering at Chung-Ang University in Korea. Over the past 15 years, he has authored 93 research articles, cited nearly 1,500 times. His research interests include AI-based smart power networks, low-carbon net-zero grid design, smart integrated AC/DC power systems, real-time energy management, big-data-based renewable energy forecasting, autonomous distributed energy systems, and multi-agent-based smart city intelligence.

Website: https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/researcher-profile?ep=934