Optimal hybrid renewable microgrids via energy demand control using media platforms in South Korea

In this study, media platforms were leveraged for the first time to control energy demand at peak intervals. A questionnaire-based face-to-face social survey was conducted in Korea to measure the impact of media content on consumers’ energy behavior during peak times. The experimental results were used in a mathematical model to define four energy demand scenarios: the base, cut, intensely shifted, and moderately shifted demand. The demand scenarios were used to simulate optimal hybrid renewable microgrids in 17 sites in Korea with (Plan A) and without (Plan B) hydrogen production facilities. Considering a 6% margin of error, the social experiment demonstrated that 8.08%–18.93% of the electricity demand in Korea can be decreased by the aware contribution of residents at peak intervals. Consequently, the reduced mismatch between electricity demand and supply can save $980,900–$2,714,670 of the net present costs of the hybrid renewable microgrids. Moreover, the shares of renewable energy sources under optimum conditions were used to create new maps of Korea in three and five clusters in Plans A and B, respectively. Considering the significance of cultural factors in social responses to media content, it would be best to expand this survey into international settings.