Air-conditioning replacement to enhance the reliability of renewable power systems under extreme weather risks

The increasing demand for residential heating and cooling significantly affects power systems, especially during extreme weather events. The replacement of outdated room air-conditioning (RAC) with a high-efficiency model demonstrated considerable potential in alleviating this effect. In this study, the impacts of extreme warm, cold, and drought events on power demand and supply are explored. By simulating residential heating and cooling loads in southern Chinese cities and integrating these loads into a provincial power dispatch model, we confirm the positive role of RAC replacement in carbon mitigation and power system cost reductions. It also enhances the power system reliability, especially facing extreme weathers. Specifically, RAC replacement may reduce peak power demand by up to 12.2% for advanced high-efficiency units. Compared with the battery storage system, RAC replacement has better cost and emission reductions, given the same budget. This research highlights the pivotal role of improving residential energy efficiency in the transition toward a green power system in China, especially the pronounced benefits of RAC replacement in enhancing energy resilience when facing extreme weather risks.