Harvesting energy from renewable resources, such as wind and sun, is our priority. Wind power installed capacity in the UK and Nordic systems is increasing dramatically in recent years. However, one cannot precisely predict renewable energy output: if wind stops blowing, turbines don’t produce electricity. Moreover, we expect to receive power whenever we switch on or plug in electrical appliances. Since electricity cannot be stored efficiently, reserves must be available to continuously match the difference between generation and consumption. The number of occasions in which not enough reserves are available is growing because of renewable generation, increasing the risk of blackout. Conventional generators (e.g. gas-fired power stations) can control their power output to keep the frequency as close as possible to 50 Hz. This poster concentrates on flexible use of industrial plants, which can vary their electricity consumption and act as reserves whenever an imbalance arises. However, since flexibility is only a by-product of the plant, special care is devoted to assure stable and safe operation of the main industrial production: for instance, a plant that uses electricity to liquefy metal at high temperatures may reduce its power consumption for some time, provided that the metal doesn’t solidify. Industrial load flexibility is the largest unexploited resource in power system reliability: frequency control schemes must be revisited in light of load participation. The aim of this research is to prove that flexibility of industrial plants allows for more renewable energy integration while preserving supply stability
