ABSTRACT
This introduction chapter presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of the book. The book focuses on peak demand of longer duration, which recur over time. Demand starts from the observation that understanding when peak energy demand occurs. In essence, peak energy demand has significant implications for system balancing, utilities pricing and future grid development. The book sets out to understand peak energy demand, with specific emphasis on peak electricity demand and measures that policy-makers, utilities and consumers can use to tackle peak demand, namely through Demand Side Response (DSR). In essence, there is a lot of power in practice theory as a way to conceptually interpret the phenomenon of peak demand. Peak demand originates from a high level of synchronisation of activities happening in different households. High synchronisation can be seen as many people doing the same things at the same time.
