Consumption changes to play role in reliability

August 08, 2011

A new report from Honeywell says that more than a fifth of the nation’s energy demand over the next decade will be met by consumers and other energy users making smarter use of energy. In fact, says the report, changes in consumption are likely to reduce demand by more than 100 gigawatts (a gigawatt is 1,000 megawatts) each year.

Honeywell claims that the savings will result from a combination of approaches on the part of both consumers and their power providers, including permanent reductions, reducing energy use during peak periods, and technology that allows power users to easily control their own use. The company cites projections from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission saying that utility demand response programs could grow from the current five percent of nationwide requirements to 14 percent by 2020.

“The smart grid is not just about making utility equipment and networks more intelligent,” said Honeywell Building Solutions President Paul Orzeske. “The other side of the coin is providing energy users with the technology that allows them to participate in the dynamic exercise of balancing supply and demand.” That means power suppliers and their customers will work together to find ways to reduce consumption and avert the need to build new generation.