Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BeFlexible (BOOSTING ENGAGEMENT TO INCREASE FLEXIBILITY)
Período documentado: 2022-09-01 hasta 2024-02-29
The EU’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions needs a swift and significant transformation of its energy system. The rise in renewable energy and distributed generation is revolutionizing electricity markets, demanding new market designs and operational adaptations. The Clean Energy for all Europeans package has introduced legislation that emphasizes the role of active consumers and energy communities, requiring Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to enhance coordination and flexibility.
To achieve a low-carbon future, our electricity grid is evolving from centralized generation to local distribution, with Distributed Generation and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) playing a pivotal role. As consumers become 'prosumers'—both users and providers of electricity—a fair marketplace must be established to ensure competitive prices and high service standards. Digitalization, smart infrastructure, and real-life piloting are crucial for implementing new market designs and flexibility solutions.
BeFlexible project focuses on increasing energy system flexibility, fostering cooperation among DSOs, TSOs, and other energy actors. It aims to validate and demonstrate flexibility services, interoperable data exchange platforms, and system architecture frameworks that support new business models aligned with a stable regulatory framework. This project is essential for an integrated EU energy market that provides secure and affordable energy while meeting consumer needs.
To achieve a low-carbon future, our electricity grid is evolving from centralized generation to local distribution, with Distributed Generation and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) playing a pivotal role. As consumers become 'prosumers'—both users and providers of electricity—a fair marketplace must be established to ensure competitive prices and high service standards. Digitalization, smart infrastructure, and real-life piloting are crucial for implementing new market designs and flexibility solutions.
BeFlexible project focuses on increasing energy system flexibility, fostering cooperation among DSOs, TSOs, and other energy actors. It aims to validate and demonstrate flexibility services, interoperable data exchange platforms, and system architecture frameworks that support new business models aligned with a stable regulatory framework. This project is essential for an integrated EU energy market that provides secure and affordable energy while meeting consumer needs.
During the current period, we've established a foundational framework by proposing innovative changes to the regulatory landscape. This includes new remuneration strategies, the integration of energy communities, and the role of aggregators. We've also explored regulatory experimentation and the procurement mechanisms for system services, alongside designing a flexibility-centric energy and cross-sector value chain framework. Key performance indicators and business use cases have been developed and tested in demonstrators. Stakeholder consultations have led to the creation of flexibility archetypes and value propositions tailored to each market actor, employing a human-centered design approach. Engagement strategies have been refined using Actor-Network Theory and a hybrid collaboration method, ensuring effective implementation across Demo Pilots.A comprehensive legal and ethical framework has been formulated, with a focus on data privacy and management, underpinned by a robust Data Management Plan. This ensures compliance with legal standards and ethical best practices throughout the project's lifecycle.
29 System Use Cases conforming to the IEC 62559-2 template and spanning four domains were delineated, and primary requirements for cloud-based DERMS and Open ADMS have been identified.A Reference Architecture for a Cross-sector Interoperable Network of Platforms has been developed, integrating data-driven architecture analysis with pilot use case assessments. Technical specifications, data models, and the Grid Data and Business Network (GDBN) platform are currently being drafted and implemented.
The main achievements on the project’s 3 Demos have include:
• South-mid EU demo: Coordination schemes, market designs, stakeholder benefits, and validation plans have been defined. Communication processes for demos have been established, and the development of technical specifications for hardware and software tools is ongoing.
• North EU demo: Focus has been on market and aggregation prototypes, with operational flexibility markets delivering significant standby flexibility results. A benchmark evaluation has also been conducted.
• South-west EU demo: Services for consumers and the grid have been defined, with technical requirements and implementation plans documented. Customer engagement efforts are underway, with agreements secured with several participants.
Diagnostic interviews with Demo leaders have begun to map customer profiles and engagement strategies, marking the initial phase in developing the data architecture. Upcoming tasks include providing demo leaders with a customized toolkit, developing methodologies for testing value propositions, and establishing an architecture for assessing social Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
29 System Use Cases conforming to the IEC 62559-2 template and spanning four domains were delineated, and primary requirements for cloud-based DERMS and Open ADMS have been identified.A Reference Architecture for a Cross-sector Interoperable Network of Platforms has been developed, integrating data-driven architecture analysis with pilot use case assessments. Technical specifications, data models, and the Grid Data and Business Network (GDBN) platform are currently being drafted and implemented.
The main achievements on the project’s 3 Demos have include:
• South-mid EU demo: Coordination schemes, market designs, stakeholder benefits, and validation plans have been defined. Communication processes for demos have been established, and the development of technical specifications for hardware and software tools is ongoing.
• North EU demo: Focus has been on market and aggregation prototypes, with operational flexibility markets delivering significant standby flexibility results. A benchmark evaluation has also been conducted.
• South-west EU demo: Services for consumers and the grid have been defined, with technical requirements and implementation plans documented. Customer engagement efforts are underway, with agreements secured with several participants.
Diagnostic interviews with Demo leaders have begun to map customer profiles and engagement strategies, marking the initial phase in developing the data architecture. Upcoming tasks include providing demo leaders with a customized toolkit, developing methodologies for testing value propositions, and establishing an architecture for assessing social Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
The BeFlexible project enhances regulatory frameworks for DSO remuneration and roles of new actors like energy communities and aggregators. It reviews flexibility enablers, particularly baselining and submetering, informed by stakeholder consultations. The project proposes a framework for joint design of acquisition mechanisms for system services, aiming to avoid inefficiencies like double payments. It contributes to the flexibility integration discourse with new business models and a value chain focused on flexibility. Thirteen Business Use Cases (BUCs) have been developed, promoting flexibility across various domains. The Grid Data and Business Network (GDBN) platform supports the flexibility value chain and is undergoing enhancements for demonstration in the BeFlexible project, such as registration, data exchange, contracts management; and interoperability. Discussions on its exploitation potential, especially for local energy communities, are ongoing. This section underscores the need for dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable energy markets, and the project's contributions to policy frameworks for the energy transition.