Towards a Task Allocation Algorithm for Frequency Containment Reserves

The negative effects of variable renewable generation in the power systems requires the engagement of the demand-side. In fact, consumers-owned energy resources can be engaged to provide the flexibility to the power grid, thus increasing its reliability. This study presents an algorithm for allocating tasks to distributed consumer owned energy resources, to enable consumers to participate in the automated demand response for frequency control by providing reserves for the frequency containment reserves market. The task allocation algorithm is specified as a set of procedures enabling the coordination of energy resources. In addition, a prototype implementation of the automated demand response system is utilized to evaluate the performance of the task allocation algorithm through simulations. The simulation results shows that the designed algorithm achieves the specified objectives, and fulfills the requirements specified by the transmission system operator for the participation in the provision of frequency containment reserves.