Impact of System Conditions on Demand-Side Flexibility Potential in Industrial Production

Multiple factors are causing an increasing need for flexibility in the power system. Lately, industrial demand-side flexibility has attracted attention as a potential solution to this problem. However, the complexities of industrial systems cause resistance to the exploitation of their potential. Modeling and identifying the factors that increase the flexibility of such systems could foster techniques for optimal utilization. Therefore, in this paper, a model for energy-aware industrial production is used in a study case to explore the impact of system conditions on the value of flexibility. This exploration is carried out by varying system parameters and solving a two-step optimization problem. Results show that the motivation of industrial users to consume flexibly depends on their production profit margins. Moreover, increments of storage capacities exhibit a saturation in the flexibility value they can capture.