New Initiatives

The following projects are being developed currently. If you are interested in more information please contact the Chairman, Hans Nilsson

Advanced Lighting Programmes

Lighting Programmes have been a major aspect of DSM activities for a long time. In climate related work and in work related to rural electrification in the third world, it has been observed that the DSM-programmes for lighting could serve as models for new work on lighting and for dissemination of other technologies.

It is important that the three Implementing Agreements shown in the table below (ECBCS – Energy Conservation and Building Community Systems, SHC – Solar Heating and Cooling, and DSM) and the IEA secretariat work together in a fashion that enables dissemination of results and that the results be used as input to be further distilled in an ongoing process. The table proposes a division of labour in the case of lighting:

Issue ECBCS SHC DSM IEA Secretariat
Technologies and applications Candidate technologies for programmes * Useful policy mechanisms,
* Blocking institutions
Programmes and measures for aggregated dissemination Features of technologies  
Policies and Measures Important technology gains and trends Market organisation development

[Blue zones mark areas of responsibility]

DSM Participation in System Operations

A new Task is under development that would bring together Experts and people from different countries to contribute to the implementation of the demand side in electricity system operation.The intent is to hold four Forums to develop and identify routes to implementing demand side participation in system operation for all types of customers, both large and small, and to create market places for tools enabling Demand Side Operation.

The suggested objectives are: (1) to determine, quantify and value the requirements of system operators to enable the demand side to participate in system operation and determine levels of payment; (2) estimate the total potential for different types of demand to participate in system operation and the reliability and predictability of that participation; (3) the stating of technical solutions and experiences which have proved their viability in different systems. The intent is also invite developing countries to attend and to collect information on their needs and experiences to contribute to the Forum results. The results of each Forum will be documented and a report produced.

Each Forum and follow up report would be a Subtask within the Task framework: (1) Subtask 1 is proposed to contrast and compare experiences of system operators and regulators regarding the requirement of demand in order for it to participate in system operation and estimate levels of payment available; (2) Subtask 2 is proposed to contrast and compare experiences of customers regarding their ability and willingness to include their demands in system operation and estimate levels of motivation required; and (3) Subtask 3 is proposed to identify mechanisms and technical solutions to meet requirements of system operators and customers in their demand side participation.

Initially four Forums are proposed, each one and a half days long. The proposed Forums will be aimed at all the agents and institutions wishing to sell, buy or develop demand side management solutions within the market. Expected participants are; (1) clients such as system operators, regulators and other entities responsible for energy efficiency; (2) commercial agents such as distribution utilities, transmission utilities, ESCO’s, suppliers, aggregators and consultants; (3) demand providers such as large, medium and small residential, commercial and industrial customers; and (4) demand side participation infrastructure providers such as communication companies, security companies, demotic companies, efficient appliance companies and managed appliance companies.

DSM and Climate Change - now approved as Task XVIII

On a global basis, electricity production is estimated to contribute about 25% of the human-induced increase in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the IEA DSM Programme has not so far carried out any work on the impact of DSM on emissions.

Currently, DSM and emission mitigation measures are implemented quite independently. DSM measures are implemented primarily to assist and improve the operation of electricity systems. Any impacts (positive or negative) of DSM measures on climate change are very much a minor consideration, if they are considered at all; Efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production have focussed on improving the efficiency of both electricity generation and end-use. However, emission mitigation measures focussed on increasing end-use efficiency, have usually not considered any benefits to the electricity system (e.g. peak load reduction) that might be gained through implementing the measures.

The objective of the proposed new Task will be to reconcile these two different approaches so as to identify areas and circumstances in which DSM can contribute to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Ideas for topics which could be covered:

  • Analysis of the impacts of different types of DSM on greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Identification of circumstances in which DSM may help to mitigate emissions and of situations in which DSM may contribute to increasing emissions;
  • Modifying DSM programs so they contribute to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Modifying emission mitigation programs so they deliver benefits to electricity systems.

 DR and Efficiency Portfolio standards

 A proposed task about setting mandatory levels for Demand Response on utilities to set against peak demand.

Smaller customer energy services

A new subtask for Task XI (though might become new task in its own right).

Branding energy efficiency

An attempt to tackle the perceived poor response to energy efficiency  campaigns, which generally have low recognition. Is there a way of raising the image and generating trust in the concept and 'brand' of 'Energy Efficiency'. Linking products, services, providers, programmes which all deliver energy efficiency.