'Demand for Wind' is a research and development project which seeks to investigate the ability of demand side management to address the variability in large scale and small scale wind power generation. This paper describes the innovative work carried out by the following project partners: Econnect Ventures, specialists in the development of grid integration technologies for renewable energy; Good Energy, the 100% renewable energy supplier; University of Durham, the Energy Research Group in the School of Engineering. This paper presents the Demand for Wind concept and the work carried out to date on the practical system, including results from household trials, the live web technology, and planned further work.

Demand Side Management (DSM) is about participation of electricity users in the management of electricity networks. Econnect's experience in demand side management is obtained through the application of Distributed Intelligent Load Controllers (DILCs) to off-grid networks where the benefits are obtained by users through higher system reliability. On grid networks the benefits are increasing efficiency, opportunity for greater renewable energy and (on some grids) improved reliability. If demand side management is to be applied on grid networks users must accept the potential for load disconnection. The reasons for non-acceptance and proposals to increase acceptance are discussed. Comparisons are drawn between off-grid and on-grid scenarios.

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