Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REFORMERS (Regional Ecosystems FOR Multiple-Energy Resilient Systems)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-11-01 bis 2025-01-31
While the developments of wind and solar energy create optimism because the needed volumes to reach climate-neutrality seem achievable at lower cost and environmental impact, the intermittent nature of these energy sources creates stress on the basic principle of the electricity grid: supply must equal demand at any time. In addition, the EU must urgently decrease its dependency on (unreliable) fuel imports which have amplifying effects on overall energy
prices. The REFORMERS consortium will demonstrate that with technologies today it is possible to transform a Local Energy System (LES) towards one that meets its energy needs on an annual basis, through local sourcing, and thereby eliminates dependence on fossil fuels for the security of supply. This shift towards relying on locally produced clean energy in combination with saving and diversifying energy supplies is completely in line with REPowerEurope goals. REFORMERS will achieve this by:
• a highly integrated design of multiple energy vectors (electricity, heat, cold, gas, H2, and mobility) and their respective generating sources, buffers and consumers,
• which takes into account the local characteristics of the energy system (geography and consumer behaviors and needs), and
• is operated by smart piloting of the hybrid energy platform in which the stochastic flexibility-availability of multi-energy vectors are cascaded by data-driven artificial intelligence.
Objectives:
#1 Design, build and operate a renewable energy valley linked to a diverse community of 3000 households and 300 businesses.
#2 Ensure long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits of the Renewable Energy Valley on the local communities
#3 Co-develop sustainable quadruple helix ecosystems for the creation of Renewable Energy Valleys
#4 Foster the creation of renewable energy supply chains across Europe
#5 Understand end-user behaviour and increase acceptance and integration of RE solutions.
#6 Develop a versatile, scalable and interchangeable Digital Twin for Local Energy Systems
#7 Enhance security and autonomy of local or regional energy supply in EU Member States in current and future climate conditions through the REFORMERS’ Replication Toolbox
prices. The REFORMERS consortium will demonstrate that with technologies today it is possible to transform a Local Energy System (LES) towards one that meets its energy needs on an annual basis, through local sourcing, and thereby eliminates dependence on fossil fuels for the security of supply. This shift towards relying on locally produced clean energy in combination with saving and diversifying energy supplies is completely in line with REPowerEurope goals. REFORMERS will achieve this by:
• a highly integrated design of multiple energy vectors (electricity, heat, cold, gas, H2, and mobility) and their respective generating sources, buffers and consumers,
• which takes into account the local characteristics of the energy system (geography and consumer behaviors and needs), and
• is operated by smart piloting of the hybrid energy platform in which the stochastic flexibility-availability of multi-energy vectors are cascaded by data-driven artificial intelligence.
Objectives:
#1 Design, build and operate a renewable energy valley linked to a diverse community of 3000 households and 300 businesses.
#2 Ensure long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits of the Renewable Energy Valley on the local communities
#3 Co-develop sustainable quadruple helix ecosystems for the creation of Renewable Energy Valleys
#4 Foster the creation of renewable energy supply chains across Europe
#5 Understand end-user behaviour and increase acceptance and integration of RE solutions.
#6 Develop a versatile, scalable and interchangeable Digital Twin for Local Energy Systems
#7 Enhance security and autonomy of local or regional energy supply in EU Member States in current and future climate conditions through the REFORMERS’ Replication Toolbox
The REFORMERS Project started work in November 2023, completing its first reporting period in January 2025. During this first working period (out of total four), the Consortium focused on setting up the implementation plan and an action plan in detail. The project is managed, implemented and monitored on WP level, that allows a level of flexibility, while the Executive Board (Coordinator and WP leaders) ensures that risks, if any, are monitored and mitigated, that resources spending remains within limits and that the project remains on track of succeeding in its objectives.
While work is ongoing in all WPs, our main attention went to WP3, of only 10 months duration, and WP4, that implements the Project Flagship Valley. These 2 WPs work closely together, not only the Beneficiaries, but also multiple stakeholders of the Boekelermeer (Flagship Valley, Alkmaar/ND) that are directly involved in the Project. The Flagship Valley Partners and related WPs are working tirelessly to finalize the Implementation Plan in dteail and begin installations.
WP5 is developing the digital twin for energy valleys and the ontology is already in place. WP6 has been working closely with replication valleys to gather requirements in order to start developing the energy toolbox; beta versions of the different tools will be ready in RP02. WP7, having started only on M8, is working together with WP6 towards the assessment of the replication valleys and WP8 (M8) only recently started working on KPI assessment and monitoring.
The technical work is progressing under the guidance and coordination of WP1, that is supporting the implementation horizontally; data management, reporting and monitoring are continuous, with the cooperation of all partners.
WP2 has been very active since the very beginning of the project; having developed the Communication and Dissemination Plan, multiple actions are currently taking place to promote the project and its brand. Multiple liaisons have been established and resulted into bilateral cooperations with other EU projects and initiatives. Many products have been delivered (communication package, press releases and newsletters, communication material) and many activities have been implemented (workshops organization, workshops participation, conference participation, magazine interviews, liaison with other EU projects and initiatives). The project Advisory Board is up and running.
In the first 15 months of the project, any actual results are still under development and first or beta versions or first drafts are expected in RP02.
While work is ongoing in all WPs, our main attention went to WP3, of only 10 months duration, and WP4, that implements the Project Flagship Valley. These 2 WPs work closely together, not only the Beneficiaries, but also multiple stakeholders of the Boekelermeer (Flagship Valley, Alkmaar/ND) that are directly involved in the Project. The Flagship Valley Partners and related WPs are working tirelessly to finalize the Implementation Plan in dteail and begin installations.
WP5 is developing the digital twin for energy valleys and the ontology is already in place. WP6 has been working closely with replication valleys to gather requirements in order to start developing the energy toolbox; beta versions of the different tools will be ready in RP02. WP7, having started only on M8, is working together with WP6 towards the assessment of the replication valleys and WP8 (M8) only recently started working on KPI assessment and monitoring.
The technical work is progressing under the guidance and coordination of WP1, that is supporting the implementation horizontally; data management, reporting and monitoring are continuous, with the cooperation of all partners.
WP2 has been very active since the very beginning of the project; having developed the Communication and Dissemination Plan, multiple actions are currently taking place to promote the project and its brand. Multiple liaisons have been established and resulted into bilateral cooperations with other EU projects and initiatives. Many products have been delivered (communication package, press releases and newsletters, communication material) and many activities have been implemented (workshops organization, workshops participation, conference participation, magazine interviews, liaison with other EU projects and initiatives). The project Advisory Board is up and running.
In the first 15 months of the project, any actual results are still under development and first or beta versions or first drafts are expected in RP02.
The project aims to bring forward innovation with respect to advanced digital design tools , Intelligent operational management , deep integration of multi-vectors in local energy systems (including demonstration of advanced H2 related technologies and carbon capturing ). Most of the innovations will be implemented in 2025 -2026 in the flagship, hence a thorough analysis on the steps beyond SoA can only be assessed after that period. The first steps towards making this assessment are already taken by defining the implementation plan (D3.2) and D4.1. highlighting challenges to be further addressed in the deployment and operation of the flagship and all its systems and subsystems. This exercise did not only take into account technical- and operational aspects, but also concerned governance and business matters. In addition , with respect to Intelligent operational management WP5 has defined a draft digital twin architecture for energy valleys (D5.1) and WP6 has defined the first versions of the building blocks of the Energy System design tools.