Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ENFLATE (ENabling FLexibility provision by all Actors and sectors through markets and digital TEchnologies)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-04-30
The European Commission aims to decarbonise the energy system, encouraging the electrification of heat and transport, as well as integrating more renewable energy sources. To accommodate the green transition, deploying digital solutions that enable the provision of flexibility to the grid by different energy sectors and facilitate demand response is needed. To this end, ENFLATE is developing a collaborative platform of tools, enabling consumer-driven business models for energy services, exploiting their multi-vector flexibility potential and integrating them with other non-energy services. These solutions will be deployed across 6 demonstration campaigns in Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland demonstrating:
(i) consumer-centric flexibility market designs;
(ii) TSO-DSO-consumer coordination for cross-sector flexibility provision; and
(iii) non-energy services for healthcare and mobility.
The expect impact areas of the project are:
• Grid Flexibility: Reduce the need for grid upgrades by using flexibility marketplaces as a way for DSOs to make their grids more flexible.
• Grid Stability: Mitigate system voltage issues and congestion through innovative digital tools.
• Non-energy services: Integrate energy and non-energy services developing ML algorithms that combine energy optimisation with indoor environmental conditions monitoring.
• Carbon Reduction: Through tools, such as the flexibility management tool and the energy optimisation tool, facilitate better TSO-DSO- consumer coordination and reduce RES curtailment, while optimising the energy use in transport and healthcare.
• Citizen Engagement:Engage citizens utilising localised outreach approach.
(i) consumer-centric flexibility market designs;
(ii) TSO-DSO-consumer coordination for cross-sector flexibility provision; and
(iii) non-energy services for healthcare and mobility.
The expect impact areas of the project are:
• Grid Flexibility: Reduce the need for grid upgrades by using flexibility marketplaces as a way for DSOs to make their grids more flexible.
• Grid Stability: Mitigate system voltage issues and congestion through innovative digital tools.
• Non-energy services: Integrate energy and non-energy services developing ML algorithms that combine energy optimisation with indoor environmental conditions monitoring.
• Carbon Reduction: Through tools, such as the flexibility management tool and the energy optimisation tool, facilitate better TSO-DSO- consumer coordination and reduce RES curtailment, while optimising the energy use in transport and healthcare.
• Citizen Engagement:Engage citizens utilising localised outreach approach.
The main achievements so far are:
•Development of the software services of ENFLATE data management layer & end user interface.
•Interconnection of ENFLATE data management layer with other EU platforms.
•Flexibility market platforms are integrated and running.
•Procurement of the necessary hardware equipment and its installation in participating households.
•Development of the Battery EMS in Láchar, a flexibility management tool and NTL detection algorithm, as well as testing of the health assessment tool with selected elderly users.
•Validation of the developed energy model and installation of key flexibility assets in Kungsbacka.
•Performing a nudging behavioural experiment in Kungsbacka.
•Design of advanced AI-driven tools and ML methods for energy and environmental optimization services, as well as EV routing and battery management services.
•Development of the software services of ENFLATE data management layer & end user interface.
•Interconnection of ENFLATE data management layer with other EU platforms.
•Flexibility market platforms are integrated and running.
•Procurement of the necessary hardware equipment and its installation in participating households.
•Development of the Battery EMS in Láchar, a flexibility management tool and NTL detection algorithm, as well as testing of the health assessment tool with selected elderly users.
•Validation of the developed energy model and installation of key flexibility assets in Kungsbacka.
•Performing a nudging behavioural experiment in Kungsbacka.
•Design of advanced AI-driven tools and ML methods for energy and environmental optimization services, as well as EV routing and battery management services.
The results of the project that go beyond the state of the art are focusing on the following innovative areas (IAs):
IA#1 – Platforms for flexibility valorisation: The project designed and developed a secure and collaborative interoperable data management layer that facilitates the exchange of data utilizing the concept of the data space. ENFLATE data management layer is also able to connect to already existing platforms (developed in other research projects) following the guidelines set by the BRIDGE initiative. This solution enables the utilization of flexibility from different energy carriers, while facilitates the seamless coordination of different actors in the value chain.
IA#2 – Market designs exploiting flexibility existing at the edge of the grid: Building upon the knowledge gained in previous R&I projects, ENFLATE defined the market designs and specified the required data exchange interfaces for setting up two flexibility marketplaces: an integrated marketplace for flexibility and a blockchain-based decentralized flexibility marketplace for small-scale DERs.
IA#3 – Consumer-centric cross-sector energy flexibility services: An integrated flexibility marketplace was implemented allowing heat pumps and EVs to provide their flexibility in the market. A platform that optimizes the electricity consumption of building thermal loads in a multi-energy district was developed. An energy systems optimization model structure was developed, while a literature review to understand flexibility in energy systems. Moreover, the regulatory landscape in the demonstration countries and rest European countries was examined, identifying the barriers hindering cross-sector integration in flexibility provision. A ‘state of play’ matrix was created showcasing the steps needed to be taken to unleash the full flexibility potential of end-consumers.
IA#4 – Cross-industry energy services and innovative business models: The project analysed the business models adopted in Europe regarding concepts that are relevant with the ENFLATE innovations that will be demonstrated. Based on the results of this analysis ENFLATE business models were designed, with a consumer-centric approach in cooperation with TSOs, DSOs, and owners of assets. These business models also incorporate the provision of non-energy services focusing on healthcare and mobility.
IA#5 – Data-driven approaches to incentivize active participation of consumers in flexibility markets: ENFLATE assessed the consumer engagement approaches proposed in other R&I projects and analysed existing barriers to customer engagement in flexibility markets and mapped the characteristics of flexibility service providers that are involved in the project’s demonstration activities to design the ENFLATE consumer engagement framework. In addition, a set of non-energy services were designed with the aim to make flexibility provision more attractive for consumers.
IA#1 – Platforms for flexibility valorisation: The project designed and developed a secure and collaborative interoperable data management layer that facilitates the exchange of data utilizing the concept of the data space. ENFLATE data management layer is also able to connect to already existing platforms (developed in other research projects) following the guidelines set by the BRIDGE initiative. This solution enables the utilization of flexibility from different energy carriers, while facilitates the seamless coordination of different actors in the value chain.
IA#2 – Market designs exploiting flexibility existing at the edge of the grid: Building upon the knowledge gained in previous R&I projects, ENFLATE defined the market designs and specified the required data exchange interfaces for setting up two flexibility marketplaces: an integrated marketplace for flexibility and a blockchain-based decentralized flexibility marketplace for small-scale DERs.
IA#3 – Consumer-centric cross-sector energy flexibility services: An integrated flexibility marketplace was implemented allowing heat pumps and EVs to provide their flexibility in the market. A platform that optimizes the electricity consumption of building thermal loads in a multi-energy district was developed. An energy systems optimization model structure was developed, while a literature review to understand flexibility in energy systems. Moreover, the regulatory landscape in the demonstration countries and rest European countries was examined, identifying the barriers hindering cross-sector integration in flexibility provision. A ‘state of play’ matrix was created showcasing the steps needed to be taken to unleash the full flexibility potential of end-consumers.
IA#4 – Cross-industry energy services and innovative business models: The project analysed the business models adopted in Europe regarding concepts that are relevant with the ENFLATE innovations that will be demonstrated. Based on the results of this analysis ENFLATE business models were designed, with a consumer-centric approach in cooperation with TSOs, DSOs, and owners of assets. These business models also incorporate the provision of non-energy services focusing on healthcare and mobility.
IA#5 – Data-driven approaches to incentivize active participation of consumers in flexibility markets: ENFLATE assessed the consumer engagement approaches proposed in other R&I projects and analysed existing barriers to customer engagement in flexibility markets and mapped the characteristics of flexibility service providers that are involved in the project’s demonstration activities to design the ENFLATE consumer engagement framework. In addition, a set of non-energy services were designed with the aim to make flexibility provision more attractive for consumers.