Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WeForming (Buildings as Efficient Interoperable Formers of Clean Energy Ecosystems)
Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-03-31
The WeForming project aims to change the paradigm of efficiently managing energy in buildings, paying special attention to their interaction with the energy ecosystem (energy networks and markets) by developing, deploying and demonstrating innovative solutions addressing: i) digital operation, management, exploitation and maintenance and ii) efficient, flexible and interactive energy processing for Intelligent Grid-Forming Efficient Buildings (iGFBs), able to operate intelligently, efficiently and interactively in a multi-energy, multi-user, multi-sector, multi-market, and multi-objective environment, without forgetting quality, comfort, health and acceptation. WeForming develops and demonstrate a new generation of iGFBs, which represent a new concept in building’s energy operation, mainly based on a high degree of digitalization and intelligence, as well as on advanced multi-carrier efficient and grid-interactive power/energy processing. WeForming designs an Interoperable Building Reference Architecture (W-IBRA) towards the creation a smart grid dominated by iGFBs acting as active network players, embracing the incorporation of novel business models.
All the above is framed with:
•Software and hardware technological enablers: AI/ML energy applications, RT controller, Digital Twins, multi-energy power processing hub
•Cloud operational Platforms: to optimally manage multi-energy iGFBs & enable the coupling of iGFBs to form smart and active energy districts and facilitating the interaction with energy grids and markets
•Transversal interoperability: data space enabled ecosystem, streamlined access on data sharing (data economy), digital models, iGFB-pedia
•Innovative use cases and business models for intelligent, efficient and grid-interactive buildings : optimal package with the products/services generated by iGFBs
•Participatory, dynamic and effective co-creation framework: includes all the relevant actors of the iGFBs functional chain
•Large scale demonstration: 6 European countries featuring different climatic, regulatory and social conditions towards maximizing mutual learning and knowledge exchange
•Analysing and overcoming non-technical barriers: Enable feasible and sustainable integration potential of iGFBs into smart grids and smart cities
•Facilitate the growth and capacity of iGFBs: market opportunities by ensuring an efficient communication and dissemination, alignment and synchronisation with European relevant initiatives and projects
All the above is framed with:
•Software and hardware technological enablers: AI/ML energy applications, RT controller, Digital Twins, multi-energy power processing hub
•Cloud operational Platforms: to optimally manage multi-energy iGFBs & enable the coupling of iGFBs to form smart and active energy districts and facilitating the interaction with energy grids and markets
•Transversal interoperability: data space enabled ecosystem, streamlined access on data sharing (data economy), digital models, iGFB-pedia
•Innovative use cases and business models for intelligent, efficient and grid-interactive buildings : optimal package with the products/services generated by iGFBs
•Participatory, dynamic and effective co-creation framework: includes all the relevant actors of the iGFBs functional chain
•Large scale demonstration: 6 European countries featuring different climatic, regulatory and social conditions towards maximizing mutual learning and knowledge exchange
•Analysing and overcoming non-technical barriers: Enable feasible and sustainable integration potential of iGFBs into smart grids and smart cities
•Facilitate the growth and capacity of iGFBs: market opportunities by ensuring an efficient communication and dissemination, alignment and synchronisation with European relevant initiatives and projects
• A detailed review of existing iGFB technologies and their associated costs. It identified key communication protocols and standards necessary for integration and interoperability within and between buildings. The results were documented in Deliverable D2.1 submitted in month 6, titled "SOTA Analysis, Barriers, Regulatory Framework, and End-Users’ Requirements
•development of real time controller (RTC) at the building level of W-IBRA to ensure the precise execution of optimal iGFB operation schedules generated by the intelligent applications within the WeForming Operational Framework
•a first integrated version of AI/ML functionalities for intelligent energy asset management within iGFBs. A transformer-based forecasting model has been deployed and validated on high-resolution sensor and smart meter data, enabling accurate short-term energy demand prediction. This capability supports predictive and adaptive control •across building energy systems. In parallel, a hybrid control framework has been initiated, combining model-based stochastic Model Predictive Control (MPC) with Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL). This integration addresses complex, multi-objective optimization challenges across interconnected assets such as PV systems, batteries, heat pumps, and EV chargers.
• Six distinct Digital Twins were identified across the six demonstration sites, each at different stages of development and operationality, covering a wide range of multi-energy, multi-user, multi-sector, multi-market, and multi-horizon simulation processes
•establishment of the necessary semantic infrastructure to support this integration, in particular the review of IFC (Industry Foundation Classes), as the most relevant standard for BIM (Building Information Modelling), followed by an initial assessment of existing digital models towards a harmonized data framework for the future integration with W-IBRA framework.
• Analysing ontologies, and standards relevant to the building–grid interactive interface. Particular emphasis was given to the semantic alignment between Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) schema and the Smart readiness indicator framework (SRI), to identify conceptual gaps related to the controllability, connectivity, and interoperability of iGFBs. These gaps are critical to ensuring seamless integration of iGFB digital models into energy network operations and associated market mechanisms.
•a structured approach to extend the SRI assessment framework by adapting it to reflect the dynamic characteristics of iGFBs
• WeForming Reference architecture the so-called W-IBRA (v1.0 v2.0).
•WeForming data space package entailing (WeForming Middleware, WeForming data space connector and the surrounding components).
• a participatory co-creation protocol, designed to improve collaboration among stakeholders. Co-creation workshops will be conducted during the demo phase at demonstration sites, bringing together groups of users to explore real-world applications, such as energy management apps.
•11 developed viable business models that provide services to or thourgh the grid
• 4 business models developed following Product as a Service scheme, following circularity of the product
•development of real time controller (RTC) at the building level of W-IBRA to ensure the precise execution of optimal iGFB operation schedules generated by the intelligent applications within the WeForming Operational Framework
•a first integrated version of AI/ML functionalities for intelligent energy asset management within iGFBs. A transformer-based forecasting model has been deployed and validated on high-resolution sensor and smart meter data, enabling accurate short-term energy demand prediction. This capability supports predictive and adaptive control •across building energy systems. In parallel, a hybrid control framework has been initiated, combining model-based stochastic Model Predictive Control (MPC) with Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL). This integration addresses complex, multi-objective optimization challenges across interconnected assets such as PV systems, batteries, heat pumps, and EV chargers.
• Six distinct Digital Twins were identified across the six demonstration sites, each at different stages of development and operationality, covering a wide range of multi-energy, multi-user, multi-sector, multi-market, and multi-horizon simulation processes
•establishment of the necessary semantic infrastructure to support this integration, in particular the review of IFC (Industry Foundation Classes), as the most relevant standard for BIM (Building Information Modelling), followed by an initial assessment of existing digital models towards a harmonized data framework for the future integration with W-IBRA framework.
• Analysing ontologies, and standards relevant to the building–grid interactive interface. Particular emphasis was given to the semantic alignment between Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) schema and the Smart readiness indicator framework (SRI), to identify conceptual gaps related to the controllability, connectivity, and interoperability of iGFBs. These gaps are critical to ensuring seamless integration of iGFB digital models into energy network operations and associated market mechanisms.
•a structured approach to extend the SRI assessment framework by adapting it to reflect the dynamic characteristics of iGFBs
• WeForming Reference architecture the so-called W-IBRA (v1.0 v2.0).
•WeForming data space package entailing (WeForming Middleware, WeForming data space connector and the surrounding components).
• a participatory co-creation protocol, designed to improve collaboration among stakeholders. Co-creation workshops will be conducted during the demo phase at demonstration sites, bringing together groups of users to explore real-world applications, such as energy management apps.
•11 developed viable business models that provide services to or thourgh the grid
• 4 business models developed following Product as a Service scheme, following circularity of the product
• A new reference Architecture for realisation of iGFBs aligned with the Common European Energy data Space, allowing for seamless and secure communication amongst building and energy stakeholders considering SSH-driven approaches for the enhanced user engagement.
• multi-energy scalable power processing capable to deliver scalable energy interface solutions through the deployment of a 1MW high-efficiency power hub for shared use and a compact 20kW multiport converter system tailored to individual buildings
• thirteen key Exploitable Results have been defined, informing IPR and market information as well.
• multi-energy scalable power processing capable to deliver scalable energy interface solutions through the deployment of a 1MW high-efficiency power hub for shared use and a compact 20kW multiport converter system tailored to individual buildings
• thirteen key Exploitable Results have been defined, informing IPR and market information as well.