Bangladesh Load Control RFQ

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Request for Qualifications

Air Conditioning Load Control Pilot
Catalyzing Clean Energy in Bangladesh

I am working with the electric utilities here in Bangladesh on developing a set of DSM measures to help manage peak demand. There is frequent load shedding during the peak and thus a strong desire on the part of the utilities and the regulator to manage demand. One of the DSM measures we are looking at is the use of load control switches. Specifically, the peak consists in large part of commercial A/C and so we are interested in implementing a pilot project with commercial users to cut their A/C  compressors for short time periods in exchange for a financial incentive. I'm well aware that this approach has been around for decades in the US but it is a brand new concept here in Bangladesh.

As this will be a pilot, one of the things we want to do is carefully track the KW reductions resulting from the switches so that we can provide good estimates of the impacts in anticipation of system-wide implementation. I've been looking at options for remotely tracking KW (and kWh) reductions, but I wonder if you or any of your members might have some suggestions in this regard. Currently, utility customers' demand is not formally tracked, although that is going to change. The utilities, which mainly have old electrostatic meters, have recently initiated AMR programs. We might be able to piggyback on those programs and select customers for our pilot that already have AMRs and then install some kind of 2-way communication system and use the zigbee protocol to communicate between the switch and the meter, although zigbee seems to be used primarily in the residential sector. This is a developing country, so we can't get too fancy with untested technologies and internet-of-things kinds of approaches. So this is where I could use some advice your or PLMA members on the off-the-shelf approaches that would be appropriate.

I'm not yet sure what size the pilot project will be. It will depend to some degree on cost. We expect the procurement some time in 2016 and I can let you know more about that if you think PLMA members may be interested.

Best regards,

Michael Philips
Senior Advisor, Demand Side Management
Deloitte
Catalyzing Clean Energy in Bangladesh
House No. 14 (2nd Floor), Road No. 32
Gulshan 1, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh
Office: +880 2-8837-447
Mobile: +880 1-796-584-415
U.S. Mobile: +1 (301) 613-3116
[email protected]
skype: mphilipseii
www.cleanenergy-bd.org