Integrated approaches to demand side management and energy security

The world’s power and energy systems are undergoing significant changes as countries try to become more secure, sustainable, and reliable. Absorbing renewable energy while keeping up with energy demand growth in developing countries is a challenge that often leads to energy shortages, mostly due to limited infrastructure. This thesis examines how integrated demand-side management can address these challenges by combining demand response, energy efficiency, and distributed energy resources with energy storage. A mixed-methodology approach is employed in this research. A literature review is conducted on peer-reviewed papers and certified articles to build a model. Also, real-world case studies of both successful and underperforming programs are conducted to examine how demand-side management works in practice. The research indicates that demand-side management contributes to making the power grid more stable by creating a smoother load curve through peak load reduction and the integration of renewable energy. Demand response programs encourage customers to participate, and energy-conservation measures result in a permanent decrease in consumption. Using distributed renewable energy resources, coupled with storage, operating under circular economy principles, can provide demand-side flexibility, reduce lifecycle costs, and address many environmental concerns. Case studies related to value stacking in the energy market indicate economic and financial viability for both customers and operators. The thesis identifies technical, regulatory, financial, and behavioral barriers and proposes relevant solutions to address these challenges. The study concludes that demand-side management is more than just a way to manage energy; it also has the potential to facilitate decarbonization, enhance energy security, and improve economic efficiency.