A Framework for Consumer Electronics as a Service (CEaaS): A Case of Clustered Energy Storage Systems

Abstract

With advanced technology such as the Internet of Things, traditional consumer electronics are progressing not only toward personal devices but also sharable appliances that provide more coordinated management and intelligence. Under these conditions, the concept of consumer electronics as a service (CEaaS) has been introduced. In this paper, a framework for CEaaS is described. Specifically, an architecture and operational technology are suggested for a clustered energy storage system (ESS) that is shared among multiple households as a case of CEaaS. In multi-dwelling units that are common in urban areas, a clustered ESS installed in a shared space is considered because it is difficult to have sufficient space to install and operate an ESS at home. To operate a clustered ESS that is shared and virtually integrated among individual houses, the proposed architecture is designed in two phases: benefit maximization for all households, and benefit rebalancing for each household. Simulations show that clustered ESS operation based on the proposed architecture outperforms a conventional individual ESS operation in various conditions considering the characteristics of the household and appliances.