Optimizing Load Profiles in Industrial Microgrids through Demand-Side Management: Enabling Photovoltaic Integration for Moroccan Industry

International audience The industrial sector in Morocco faces persistent challenges linked to high electricity costs and limited flexibility in adopting renewable energy solutions. This paper presents a proof of concept for the application of demand-side management (DSM) through rule-based load shifting in a grid-connected industrial microgrid. Using real Moroccan industrial load data disaggregated into four categories, along with simulated photovoltaic (PV) generation from National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) irradiance data and the national time-of-use (TOU) tariff, the study evaluates the impact of DSM on key performance indicators (KPIs). Results show that rescheduling 60% of fully flexible and 40% of partially flexible loads during high PV availability leads to measurable improvements in summer: grid energy imports decrease by 2.2%, renewable penetration and utilization increase by 1.47%, and grid costs are reduced by 3.1%. In winter, where PV penetration is intrinsically low, DSM achieves only modest benefits, primarily through tariff-driven cost savings (1.84%) and peak shaving. These findings establish a practical baseline for Moroccan industry, showing that DSM can yield measurable savings under real tariff conditions while underlining the need for battery energy storage systems (BESS) to extend renewable benefits into low-irradiance periods and further enhance economic and operational performance.