demand response

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the deliberate adjustment of electricity consumption by end users in response to signals from the grid operator or electricity market, typically to reduce demand during periods of high system stress or high prices, or to increase consumption when surplus low-cost generation is available; demand response programmes compensate participating households, businesses, and industrial consumers for their flexibility, and can involve automatic control of appliances and equipment or manual curtailment by large industrial users; demand response is an important tool for balancing electricity grids with high proportions of variable renewable generation, deferring the need for expensive peak-generation capacity and storage, and reducing the risk of blackouts during extreme weather events