Demand Response (DR) programs involve large energy users reducing their energy demand when requested to help alleviate pressure on the electricity grid. By participating in a program, your business can access additional revenue, lower your electricity bills and help to maintain grid stability.
At Shell Energy, we offer access to four types of Demand Response. Suitability and benefits of each program depends on your energy load and patterns, equipment and system automation, and response capabilities.
Many of our large energy customers access more than one program to maximise value. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can tailor the right solution for your business.
At Shell Energy, we recognise that not all businesses can respond immediately to a Demand Response event. To help you understand what programs might work for your business, consider which of the following capabilities applies to your business:
Frequent Response is for large energy users that can respond within 30 minutes and on a regular basis (1-3 times per month). This means you will have automated systems that can very quickly adjust your energy consumption upon request.
Programs requiring frequent response, are:
Infrequent Response is for large energy users that can respond within 120 minutes – 2 days on an irregular basis (<6 per year).
Programs that require infrequent response are:
Shell Energy offers eligible customers access to the following four types of programs available in the National Electricity Market. Contact Shell Energy and we can advise you which programs are suitable for your business and the value that can be created from your participation.
Under this program, your business will be asked to reduce energy taken from the grid, by utilising on-site generation or curtailing equipment when electricity prices are high to help relieve pressure on prices.
By reducing your demand, you will also generate new revenue and reduce your energy bill.
Occurs: Year-round, but mostly from December to March
Frequency: Moderate frequency, 5 to 20 times per year
Time of Day: 1pm to 7pm Australian Eastern Standard Time
Response Time: <30 minutes
Emergency Demand Response, usually provided as part of the Reliability and Energy Reserve Trader (RERT) function, can be employed during peak demand periods to help combat the threat of blackouts caused by generation or network constraints and extreme weather events.
The RERT function is conferred on the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to maintain power system reliability and security. Your business may be called upon by Shell Energy, under its RERT Agreement with AEMO, to reduce energy usage during times of very high demand. As well as receiving payments, your participation can help to avoid costly power outages on the network.
Occurs: Year-round, but mostly from November to March
Frequency: Low frequency, 1 to 3 times a year
Time of Day: 9am to 9pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (min 3 hours / max 6 hours per event)
Response Time: <120 minutes
Australia’s electricity grid needs to have a frequency range close to 50 hertz (Hz) so that generators can operate safely.
The Ancillary Demand Response program is used by AEMO to prevent grid collapses (black outs) when system frequency deviates from 50 Hz. This calls for eligible businesses to provide a fast injection or reduction in energy to return the grid to its safe range.
This program is also known as Frequency Control Ancillary Services, or FCAS.
Occurs: Year round
Frequency: High frequency, 10 – 20 times per year
Time of Day: When scheduled
Response Time: <5 minutes
When the network is under strain, such as when power lines are nearing capacity, this program requires your business to reduce energy use to help maintain network reliability.
Opportunities vary by State and the specific location of your electrical connection to the grid, so reach out to us to find out how you might participate in this program.
Occurs: Typically October to April
Frequency: Typically <6 times a year
Time of Day: Typically 11am to 8pm Australian Eastern Standard Time
Response Time: 120 minutes – 2 days
Participation in some programs can require very fast response times. For example, with Ancillary Demand Response (FCAS), users are required to respond within six seconds to five minutes. This response time is only possible with automation and controls on your energy-intensive systems.
At Shell Energy, we work with leading controls and optimisation solution providers to automate and control your on-site energy consumption. When your systems are automated, your energy use can be automatically adjusted. This lets you take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
We delivered a Wholesale Demand Response project for a client in the Victorian hospitality and entertainment sector, achieving $360,000 of additional revenue during the summer.
Our client in the property sector, GPT Group, earned over $100,000 in program payments over a summer period through effective use of automation and controls.
We worked with the GPT Group to reconfigure generators in three of their office buildings so they could run their chillers on back-up generators.
By having this back-up capacity, the GPT Group was able to more easily reduce energy demand from the grid and participate in opportunities without affecting building performance.
An engineering feasibility assessment was performed to determine the project costs and benefits, and we supported the implementation.
HVAC LoadFlex aims to transform existing chiller plants into revenue generating assets that improve building environmental ratings and deliver benefits beyond demand response. Shell Energy worked closely with the GPT Group to develop a Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC) LoadFlex solution, which has been modelled to achieve ongoing annual savings of $328,388 across five sites, with a simple payback period of just over one year.
We initially conducted feasibility studies to confirm the business case and technical viability for implementing HVAC LoadFlex solutions at these sites.
This process involved conducting site visits, collecting and analysing historical chiller performance data, determining the technical viability, and assessing the commercial benefits. Shell Energy worked with GPT Group on project implementation and as a result, are delivering ongoing benefits.
Our team of experienced engineers work with customers to improve energy productivity at complex sites by delivering feasibility studies and implementing automation to help you better manage your electricity demand and respond to energy events.
We have been creating environmental certificates for our customers for over a decade. Certificates can help you recover some of your energy project costs and meet your sustainability targets sooner.
Shell Energy is Australia’s largest dedicated supplier of business electricity, which means we know how our customers consume energy. We apply this knowledge to optimise your business’s load for efficiency and commercial benefit.
For Demand Response, we work with leading controls and optimisation solution providers to automate and control your on-site energy consumption.
Unify your business’ separate energy efficiency projects for greater reduction of emissions and energy costs with a Smart Energy Hub.
Want to navigate the electricity market without being locked into a fixed-price contract? Talk to us about our progressive purchasing contract options.
These programs involve large energy users reducing their demand for energy taken from the grid when requested to help maintain grid reliability. This demand reduction may occur by reducing use, or utilising on-site power generation such as backup generation, or discharging energy stored in batteries. Businesses receive performance-based payments for their participation.
Demand Response events are activated when there is significant pressure on the electricity system due to very high demand or supply constraints.
These events often occur during Australian summers, when power plant outages happen, when network lines are nearing capacity and/or when electricity prices are high. Learn more about these programs and events in our Energy Insights article.
To be eligible to participate in Shell Energy’s DR programs, your business must meet the following criteria:
Shell Energy will send a dispatch request to participating customers when participation is required.
In some instances, participants will receive advance notice of the event. Depending on the terms of the agreement, customers may choose not to participate.
At the time of an event, a Shell Energy Demand Response customer will receive emails, phone calls and texts from us to alert them to the opportunity. To participate, the business may do one or more of the following to reduce demand on the network:
If our dispatch system is integrated with your controls systems, we can manage your participation remotely, so you never miss an opportunity.
After each event, we issue performance-based payments to participating customers. Payments can be made directly to you, or on your monthly Shell Energy retail electricity invoice.
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Or, you can call us on 13 23 76 during Australian business hours.
