Residential Demand Response Through Distributed Ice Thermal Energy Storage

Residential space cooling is a major contributor to peak electricity demand during summer periods and responds directly to real-time thermal needs. This behavior results in coincident peak loads that stress electricity generation and distribution infrastructure. Although utilities increasingly promote demand-side management programs such as time-of-use (TOU) pricing, cooling demand remains largely inelastic during extreme temperatures. This limits the efficiency of price-based control strategies. This paper investigates the potential of distributed Ice Thermal Energy Storage (ITES) to support residential demand response by shifting space cooling loads away from grid peak hours. A simulation framework was developed in EnergyPlus to model a$\text{3 0}$-house suburban community incorporating heterogeneous building geometries, internal gains, and occupancy schedules. Varying ITES penetration levels ($\text{2 0 \% - 1 0 0 \%}$) were evaluated and compared against a baseline community equipped with conventional heat pumps. Results show that full ITES adoption reduces peak demand by over 10 kW (17 %) without affecting total cooling energy consumption. A detailed load duration curve analysis shows significant peak flattening and shortened peak duration, with high ramp rate reductions. A tariff sensitivity analysis showed that financial savings were roughly$\text{1 0 \%}$if Time of Use (TOU) tariff was compulsory as compared to 4.9 % when optional. Additional simulations incorporating an Energy Management System (EMS) demonstrate further gains in load flexibility across diverse climate zones.