Hybrid coupled networks for thermal-electric integrated smart energy Districts

Project Information

HYPERGRYD

Grant agreement ID: 101036656

DOI

10.3030/101036656

Project closed

EC signature date 30 August 2021

Start date 1 October 2021

End date 31 March 2025

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 5 987 875,00

EU contribution

€ 5 987 874,50

Coordinated by

ARMENGOL & ROS CONSULTORS I ASSOCIATS SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - HYPERGRYD (Hybrid coupled networks for thermal-electric integrated smart energy Districts)

Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The HYPERGRYD project addresses the need for a full decarbonization of the energy system in Europe by focusing on the coupling of the thermal and electric sectors and accelerating the transition towards the 4th and 5th generations of District Heating and Cooling (DHC). The project aims to overcome the challenges faced by existing district heating systems, such as the lack of cooling options and the unpreparedness for the transition to advanced DHC generations. Additionally, the implementation of 5th generation DHC systems is limited due to high investment requirements and the need for accurate planning.
The project's overall objectives are to develop replicable, scalable, and cost-effective solutions that integrate Renewable Energy Sources-based (RES-based) technologies with thermal grids and their connection to electrical grids. This involves the development of key hardware components and innovative ICT services to handle the increased complexity of systems at various levels, from building to Local Energy Community (LEC) levels and beyond. HYPERGRYD aims to accelerate the sustainable transformation, planning, and modernization of DHC towards the 4th and 5th generations.
The solutions developed within HYPERGRYD will be implemented and tested in four different Live-in Labs across three countries (Italy, Austria, Poland). The project's impact is focused on increasing the penetration of RES in DHC grids, achieving primary energy savings, demonstrating environmental sustainability, driving market transformation towards smart district systems, and helping overcome regulatory obstacles related to the adoption of RES.
By leveraging the synergistic integration of RES, power-to-heat technologies, innovative storage systems, and ICT tools, HYPERGRYD aims to contribute to the decarbonization of the overall energy system and enable a more sustainable and efficient district heating and cooling infrastructure.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the final twelve-month stretch HYPERGRYD shifted from component prototyping to full-stack validation. The consortium commissioned the key thermal enablers in two Living Labs (KEZO and EURAC): the modular R-290 heat-pump with integrated phase-change-material cartridges delivered stable domestic-hot-water cycles with seasonal COPs up to five, while the hybrid sorption store provided weekly buffering under 30 – 50 °C/12 – 16 °C operating windows. Bench-scale trials of the steam-engine micro-CHP at RANOTOR reached 8 kWₑ and 12 kWₜ at 100 bar/350 °C with round-trip efficiency above 65 %, although brazing leaks in the steam buffer and late burner fittings deferred system-level integration to the post-project phase.
On the digital side, the cloud-native Digital-Twin Platform-as-a-Service was stress-tested across four sites (Austria, Italy and Poland). Coupling BIM-GIS asset models, real-time data acquisition and a local-energy-market engine, the platform kept day-ahead load-forecast errors below six percent while orchestrating hybrid storage and heat-pump dispatch. The BIM-GIS toolkit now feeds simulation inputs directly to the SAInt multi-physics solver and the GET exergo-economic optimiser; complete Digital Twins for the SONNE and ENVIPARK labs were finalised and validated in Deliverable 5.3.
Demonstration work in Work Package 5 confirmed primary-energy savings up to 32 percent, renewable-heat penetration above 65 percent and greenhouse-gas cuts of 38 percent relative to baseline operation. All eight WP5 deliverables were submitted on schedule. The ICT branch completed every planned task: five WP4 deliverables and both milestones attest that the Platform’s services are ready.
Dissemination and exploitation accelerated in RP3. Communication channels logged 11 576 website visits and 538 LinkedIn followers, while the “Women in DHC” campaign broadened stakeholder reach to 180 community members. Five bankable business models and three memoranda of understanding were signed, positioning the Digital-Twin MVP for commercial pilots. Deviations—chiefly the CHP component backlog—were contained through contingency rescheduling and additional lab work, with no impact on contractual objectives or budget. In sum, by month 42 the hardware stands at TRL-5 and the software at TRL-6, fully demonstrated in real environments and supported by a validated KPI framework.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Progress beyond the state of the art
The HYPERGRYD project develops several RES-based technologies to adapt for next-generation of DHC by allowing multi-directional flow, improved RES interconnection and ancillary services. The project develops smart tools such as a SED-based novel predictive control algorithm, exergoeconomic tool for 4th and 5th generation DHC, with BIM-GIS included, simulation of thermal-electric coupled grids by using state estimation algorithms, LEM with API standard able to work with different classes of hardware and Energy Management Systems. The project uses IoT sensors, edge computing and real-life operating conditions for ML optimization (forecast, cost-benefits operation), enabling the deployment of RES hybrid systems for retrofitting of the existing systems at both supply and demand level.
Expected results
Technologies: performance improvement (efficiency, storage density), space optimization, flexible operation with different temperatures for both heating and cooling mode.
Tools, Services and Platform: Seamless data flow of the tools into the DT. Full-blown interoperability with HW/SW system components.
Communication and dissemination: Users’ engagement and participation in LILs’ activities.
Exploitation: Use project activities as a vehicle to attain the maximum post-project uptake, wide dissemination to reach the general, establish novel H/C implementation strategies and business models in the daily business of DHC networks across Europe and beyond.
Overall: Demonstration of 60% of RES penetration in the DH demand for the 4th generation, and 80% of RES penetration for the 5th generation scenarios; demonstration of 55% of CO2 emissions reduction in 4th generation, and 70% for the 5th generation scenarios.
Potential impacts
The HYPERGRYD project is expected to have several potential impacts including:
Replicability: HYPERGRYD increases the penetration of RES in the DHC grids by leveraging the synergistic integration of RES, power-to-heat technologies, innovative storage systems and ICT tools (4G and 5G DHC). The project investigates a balanced mix of consolidated and innovative technologies able to increase the overall system’s flexibility both from production side and consumption side, guaranteeing relevant reduction of costs.
Socio-economics: Thanks to advanced ICT technologies and integrating heat storages, the penetration of RES in DHC grids and the recovery of waste heat will be increased. The aim is to enable primary energy savings of 11.8 PWh/y for 4G DHC grids and of 9.9 PWh/y for the 5G DHC grids.
Environment: HYPERGRYD demonstrates the environmental sustainability of DHC grids with a RES penetration of 60% in the 4G and 80% in the 5G as a roadmap for decarbonization.
Market Transformation: HYPERGRYD drives the transition from a centralized energy system based on fossil fuels to smart district systems based on local RES. End-users will become aware of flexible energy trading opportunities by means of innovative ICT tools.

GSY design of the heat pump digital twin © Grid Singularity Pte Ltd

development of the heat pump with DHW storage

Software-in-the-loop validation setup for heat pump edge control and monitoring

HYPERGRYD Platform Viewer Tab

3D rendering of the prototype of CHP unit

HYPERGRYD ICT Tools/Services Integration Flowchart

HYPERGRYD overall concept

3D rendering of the sorption storage prototype

HYPERGRYD concept and technologies

HYPERGRYD tools, services and platform

ENCOORD ENVI model

Overview of the Exergoeconomic Optimization Tool