The paper points out the importance of demand response in the smart grid, summarized the present research results of home energy gateway at home and abroad, and designed the home energy gateway based on that and the current difficult situation of demand response implementation. Home energy gateway enables conversion of existing communication technologies and protocols, real-time communication with grid, intelligent control of household electrical equipment, access of local energy (electric vehicles) to participate in demand response, prepare for the implementation of demand response in the smart grid.