Sofia and Montana, Bulgaria

Dealing with large consumers. Implicit DR schemes (“price-based”): In this scheme, consumers being exposed to electricity or network prices that vary according to time of use and their actions are based on that information. Consumers in Implicit DR schemes have no commitments to act in contrast with the Explicit schemes but react and receive a benefit in the form of reduced electricity costs. Having knowledge of the individual power consumption of the different kinds of equipment (disaggregation process) in the data centers, better informed decisions could be taken to achieve higher energy efficiency/lower overall consumption. Stakeholders included in such schemes are: the TSO (Elektroenergien Sistemen Operator JSC), the DSO/MarketOperator (Elektrohold JSC) and the cloud service provider (Abilix Soft Ltd). The Revenue streams can be from a) reduced electricity costs/energy efficiency through adaptation of own power consumption behavior, based on price signals, b) increase of energy flexibility market share, c) provision of demand-side flexibility services, d) reduction of energy related costs/economic benefits through participation in demand-response programs.

Explicit DR schemes (“incentive-based”): The outcomes of demand/response actions, as well as load shifts, are traded in the capacity, wholesale, or balancing markets. After triggers from balancing services, pricing changes, or network constraints are implemented, consumers receive direct payments for these services to move their consumption (upwards or downwards). A business model like this could work for datacenters that also offer EV charging stations. Datacenters have excellent grid connections. Parking lots are also common. It is just a matter of time before DCs begin offering EV charging services, especially given the rise in EV adoption in Bulgaria. The relevant stakeholders include:a) TSO (Elektroenergien Sistemen Operator JSC), the DSO/MarketOperator (Elektrohold JSC), and the cloud service provider (Abilix Soft Ltd). The Revenues Streams can be from: a) reduced electricity costs/energy efficiency through adaptation of own power consumption behaviour, based on price signals, b) provision of demand-side flexibility services, and c) reduction of energy related costs/economic benefits through participation in demand-response programs.

- Implicit DR schemes (“price-based”): Customers are exposed to electricity or network rates that fluctuate depending on the time of use, and their actions are adjusted because of this information. Contrary to explicit schemes, implicit DR programs do not impose any obligations on consumers; instead, they allow them to react and benefit from lower electricity prices.
- Explicit DR schemes (“incentive-based”): The results of demand/response actions and load shifts are traded within the balancing, capacity, or wholesale markets. Direct payments are made to consumers for these services to change their consumption (upwards or downwards) in response to triggers from balancing services, pricing changes, or network constraints. Explicit DR is a valuable operational tool for System or Grid Operators to adjust loads and resolve congestion or System stability issues.
The relevant stakeholders for the above business models include a) the TSO (Elektroenergien Sistemen Operator JSC), the DSO/MarketOperator (Elektrohold JSC), and the cloud service provider (Abilix Soft Ltd). Revenue streams can be derived from: a) reduced electricity costs, b) direct payments for these services to shift their consumption (upwards or downwards), c) provision of demand-side flexibility services, d) reduction of energy related costs/economic benefits through participation in demand-response programs.

- Implicit DR schemes (“price-based”): In this scheme, consumers being exposed to electricity or network prices that vary according to time of use and their actions are based on that information. Consumers in Implicit DR schemes have no commitments to act in contrast with the Explicit schemes, but react and receive a benefit in the form of reduced electricity costs.
- Explicit DR schemes (“incentive-based”): The results of demand/response actions and load shifts are “sold” within the balancing, capacity or wholesale markets. Consumers receive direct payments for altering their consumption (upwards or downwards) in response to triggers from balancing services, pricing changes, or network limits. For System or Grid Operators, explicit DR is a useful operational tool for adjusting loads and resolving congestion or System stability issues.

The relevant stakeholders include: a) TSO (Elektroenergien Sistemen Operator JSC), the DSO/MarketOperator (Elektrohold JSC), and the cloud service provider (Abilix Soft Ltd). Revenue streams can bbe derived from: a) reduced electricity costs, b) direct payments for these services to shift their consumption (upwards or downwards), c) provision of demand-side flexibility services, d) reduction of energy related costs/economic benefits through participation in demand-response programs.

REEFLEX focuses primarily on the case of Participation of Data Centers in Demand-Response programs
- Implicit DR schemes (“price-based”): According to this plan, users are exposed to electricity or network charges that fluctuate dependent on the time of use, and their decisions are based on that information. In contrast to explicit schemes, implicit DR systems do not need consumers to take any action on their part; instead, they simply react and profit from lower electricity prices.
- Explicit DR schemes (“incentive-based”): The results of demand/response actions and load shifts are “sold” within the balancing, capacity or wholesale markets. Consumers receive direct payments for these services to shift their consumption (upwards or downwards) after triggers activated from balancing services, price fluctuations or network constraints. Explicit DR is a valuable operational tool for System or Grid Operators to adjust loads and resolve congestion or System stability issues.

The relevant stakeholders include: a) TSO (Elektroenergien Sistemen Operator JSC), the DSO/MarketOperator (Elektrohold JSC), and the cloud service provider (Abilix Soft Ltd). Revenue streams can bbe derived from: a) reduced electricity costs, b) direct payments for these services to shift their consumption (upwards or downwards), c) provision of demand-side flexibility services, d) reduction of energy related costs/economic benefits through participation in demand-response programs.