Researchers working at the Energy Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have updated Intelligent Load Control (ILC) technology that automatically manages electricity loads in buildings, particularly at times when the power grid needs help with meeting broader demand.

ILC’s updated features include a bi-directional element that allows building operators to increase a building’s electricity use. The feature makes it possible to take advantage of low electricity costs to increase energy use and accomplish tasks such as pre-cooling a building or charging a battery. The feature is expected to produce cost savings for building operators and also make use of excess electricity on the grid.

The laboratory developed ILC to coordinate building device operations, such as heating and cooling units. It is currently used to control building peak energy use or to respond to utility company requests to change consumption.

The features released in version 2.0 could make ILC a component of the energy system of the future, in which buildings and their devices coordinate and negotiate with the power grid. Researchers said that such coordination, on a large scale, may help balance supply, demand and costs, and make it possible to more effectively incorporate clean energy resources.

ILC was created as part of the PNNL-led Clean Energy and Transactive Campus project, an effort initially funded by the Department of Energy and Washington State. In a PNNL facility, ILC technology demonstrated that building devices can be managed to reduce electricity load during peak use periods and achieve desired consumption targets.

During peak power load management in buildings at PNNL, the technology demonstrated quick and successful prioritization of heat pump operations to counter periods of increased consumption and meet desired targets. The technology has shown it can reduce peak consumption by up to 15% within one hour.

The technology is deployed in multiple buildings at PNNL and the University of Toledo. It will be the subject of a planned field test with a yet-to-be-named utility in 2020.