**Omid Abrishambaf 1, Pedro Faria 1,\* and Zita Vale <sup>2</sup>**


Received: 7 February 2020; Accepted: 10 March 2020; Published: 16 March 2020

**Abstract:** System operators have moved towards the integration of renewable resources. However, these resources make network management unstable as they have variations in produced energy. Thus, some strategic plans, like demand response programs, are required to overcome these concerns. This paper develops an aggregator model with a precise vision of the demand response timeline. The model at first discusses the role of an aggregator, and thereafter is presented an innovative approach to how the aggregator deals with short and real-time demand response programs. A case study is developed for the model using real-time simulator and laboratory resources to survey the performance of the model under practical challenges. The real-time simulation uses an OP5600 machine that controls six laboratory resistive loads. Furthermore, the actual consumption profiles are adapted from the loads with a small-time step to precisely survey the behavior of each load. Also, remuneration costs of the event during the case study have been calculated and compared using both actual and simulated demand reduction profiles in the periods prior to event, such as the ramp period.

**Keywords:** aggregator; demand response; ramp period; real-time simulation
