When energy efficiency is not enough: Homeostaticity of energy systems and why electric utilities should care

Today's electrical energy generation and distribution systems are being faced with a number of issues, from violent weather to earthquakes and landslides, including acts of terrorism and vandalism. All these are grave concerns stemming from environmental as well as operational, and societal issues. Therefore, utilities' electric power distribution infrastructure is required to respond to such challenges very rapidly and effectively so as to preserve stability and continuity of operations. This is the true measure of what sustainable energy systems (SES) are all about and homeostaticity of energy systems seeks just that: to bring about a rapid, highly effective and optimally efficient state of equilibrium between energy supply and energy consumption in electric power systems (EPS). In this paper we present the theoretical groundwork and offer a partial example of the prescriptive homeostaticity model for controlling utility-operated microgrids. The paper explains how the engineering of homeostaticity works and how reactive and predictive homeostasis, acting concomitantly, play a key role in these systems dynamics, namely the grid-tied microgrid, the grid and the energy consumers. Reactive homeostasis (RH) is an immediate response of the energy system to a homeostatic stress or perturbation, such as energy deprivation or shortage or an energy imbalance. RH entails feedback mechanisms which enable a reactive compensation when the need arises, reestablishing homeostaticity in the system. Predictive homeostasis (PH), on the other hand, anticipates the contingencies that are likely to occur, and then acts upon them enabling the energy system to respond in a proactive manner to environmental challenges and/or other concerns. Major aspects of the model are briefly explained along with the mechanics of homeostasis applied to SES and expected results.