Demand-side management in less energy-intensive industries: A systematic mapping study

The industrial sector is a significant energy consumer amidst the ongoing energy transition to renewable energy resources. With the rising penetration of volatile renewable sources, the need for managed electricity consumption, i.e., demand-side management intensifies. However, the participation of incentivized programs is mostly limited to single consumers with a vast electricity consumption. Recent regulatory changes have allowed independent aggregators to participate in the reserve and ancillary market, enabling smaller end-users to contribute. With the numerous demand-side management contribution possibilities, including energy efficiency and demand-response measures, the objective of the study is to systematically categorize demand-side management applications across different industrial sectors and stages. Furthermore, the study aims to analyze interconnections between these objectives, which are predominantly addressed in isolation within the existing research literature. Highlighting the potential in industrial electricity consumption optimization contributes to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals 7, 9, and 13. To structure the application possibilities within the less-energy intensive industry, a systematic mapping study was conducted covering developments from 2012. An initial search was conducted on several literature databases, and structured selection and data extraction were applied. Cited and referenced studies were screened until no more relevant publications were found. Studies show a wide range of application possibilities and were structured and compiled into an application map. Trends show the increasing inclusion of storage devices in recent publications. Application of energy-flexible and energy-efficient objectives shows synergetic effects. A notable lack of studies focusing on ancillary markets within the less energy-intensive industries was discovered.