Comparison of flexibility factors for a residential building

Buildings that are able to shift their loads without comfort restraints are important for the ongoing transformation of the power supply. This flexibility potential can be expressed in flexibility factors. The usefulness of four factors is investigated based on load control for the heat pump of a small apartment building according to electricity prices (high/low tariffs, spot market prices), CO_2eq emissions share in the grid and a restricted operation period during daytime. The calculation methodology of the presented flexibility factors GSC, RIP, FF and FI is very different. RIP and FF are preferable because they have defined valid ranges which makes them easier to understand. Current electricity prices force the heat pump operation mainly into the night. The optimization of CO_2eq emissions encourages operation mainly during the day. The optimization goals costs or CO_2eq emissions thus lead to opposing heat pump operation times and can currently therefore not both be met simultaneously.