Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization

Summary: Household thermal demand supply through electricity could reduce emissions, but also compromise the operation of electricity distribution networks. In this work, suitable electricity tariff designs and household thermal management are investigated, individually and in combination, as ways t...

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Main Authors: Andrea Vecchi, Michael John Brear
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:iScience
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225008922
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author Andrea Vecchi
Michael John Brear
author_facet Andrea Vecchi
Michael John Brear
author_sort Andrea Vecchi
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Household thermal demand supply through electricity could reduce emissions, but also compromise the operation of electricity distribution networks. In this work, suitable electricity tariff designs and household thermal management are investigated, individually and in combination, as ways to enhance network operability, support electrification, and improve system-level performance. Optimization results from eight combinations of building type, vintage, and climates in Australia show considerable social benefits resulting from the measures explored. Electricity tariffs that include a demand charge contain peak loads without increasing household costs. Furthermore, emission and cost savings from looser thermostat setpoints and building pre-heating/cooling are demonstrated. These are also found to reduce the upfront investment in household electrification to levels comparable with current, dual-fuel (electricity and natural gas) practices. Subject to the degree of occupants’ acceptance and policy adoption, a significant potential to mitigate, and even avoid, anticipated network strain, while tackling pressing affordability and decarbonization challenges is demonstrated.
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spelling doaj-art-4ea33be66a3447f09a673f105abfeab72025-08-20T03:10:27ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-06-0128611263110.1016/j.isci.2025.112631Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonizationAndrea Vecchi0Michael John Brear1Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Corresponding authorMelbourne Energy Institute (MEI) and Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaSummary: Household thermal demand supply through electricity could reduce emissions, but also compromise the operation of electricity distribution networks. In this work, suitable electricity tariff designs and household thermal management are investigated, individually and in combination, as ways to enhance network operability, support electrification, and improve system-level performance. Optimization results from eight combinations of building type, vintage, and climates in Australia show considerable social benefits resulting from the measures explored. Electricity tariffs that include a demand charge contain peak loads without increasing household costs. Furthermore, emission and cost savings from looser thermostat setpoints and building pre-heating/cooling are demonstrated. These are also found to reduce the upfront investment in household electrification to levels comparable with current, dual-fuel (electricity and natural gas) practices. Subject to the degree of occupants’ acceptance and policy adoption, a significant potential to mitigate, and even avoid, anticipated network strain, while tackling pressing affordability and decarbonization challenges is demonstrated.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225008922Energy policy
spellingShingle Andrea Vecchi
Michael John Brear
Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization
iScience
Energy policy
title Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization
title_full Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization
title_fullStr Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization
title_full_unstemmed Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization
title_short Using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization
title_sort using electricity tariffs and thermal comfort management to promote residential energy decarbonization
topic Energy policy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225008922
work_keys_str_mv AT andreavecchi usingelectricitytariffsandthermalcomfortmanagementtopromoteresidentialenergydecarbonization
AT michaeljohnbrear usingelectricitytariffsandthermalcomfortmanagementtopromoteresidentialenergydecarbonization