Frozen Freedom: Unleashing Grocery Store Demand Flexibility: Preprint

Conference · Mon Oct 28 00:00:00 UTC 2024

OSTI ID:2475783

Stubbs, Sarah; Wheeler, Grant; Bonnema, Eric; Saha, Avijit

Grocery stores consumed approximately 3% of total electricity used by commercial buildings in the U.S. in 2018 (EIA 2018), representing a unique end-use load profile characterized by the critical use of refrigerated display cases. Exploring demand response (DR) scenarios in grocery stores presents an opportunity to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of surrounding communities. In addition, recent studies demonstrate that implementing control algorithms considering demand flexibility strategies can lead to load and peak reductions in standalone refrigerated display cases. Because small business grocery stores operate on thin margins, the energy bill cost savings DR might provide could make a positive difference toward continued operations. Still, uncertainty remains about the extent of demand flexibility potential controls could provide when coupling refrigeration with whole building operation. To enhance economic viability and grid stability, it is essential to quantify the load flexibility capability of grocery stores. Advanced controls can optimize energy consumption by responding to load shedding, shifting, and DR events, as well as daily Time-of-Use (TOU) rates without compromising food safety. Using both quantitative data and interviews with community-based organizations, we developed a full-size store model and two small store models with controlled refrigerated cases, HVAC, and lighting systems based on actual grocery store properties. Through simulations, we have assessed load flexibility strategies with varied DR events. The results highlight potential for energy and peak reduction with advanced or basic controls. However, interviews and data indicate that more support is needed to make DR strategies consistently accessible to small grocery stores.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 2475783
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-5500-90276; MainId:92054; UUID:45cfea8e-dd02-437e-b54c-21b1f9b5a594; MainAdminId:74023
• Conference Information: Presented at the 2024 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 4-9 August 2024, Pacific Grove, California
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

demand flexibility
ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
grocery stores
HVAC
refrigeration