The transformation of the energy system in Europe needs further acceleration in order to meet the Green Deal targets. The reduction of the dependency on fossil fuels is one measure which becomes even more urgent with the current shortage of supply. In this context, ECS4DRES targets the ambitious objective of pursuing flexible, coordinated, and resilient distributed energy systems developing several innovation streams aiming at solutions that seamlessly plug into existing installations, that unload the distribution grid and that locally balance electricity generated from renewable sources including hydrogen and loads. Specifically, these are:
realization of a multi-modal energy hub
exploiting renewable energy sources realized by means of dedicated high-efficiency power electronics converters
multi-modal energy storage devices
sophisticated energy management algorithms enabling the local balances between energy production, storage, and consumption
ECS4DRES will also strengthen the long-term reliability, safety, and resilience of DRES by developing advanced monitoring and control technologies including integrated sensors capable of different types of detection for safety purposes, and for monitoring of energy transfers. Finally, ECS4DRES will achieve interoperable and low-latency communication systems, enabling the widespread interconnection of a large number of DRES, subsystems, and components to realize optimal energy management between sources, loads, and storages, to improve power quality and to enable resilient system operation. Minimum power consumption and maximum interoperability are further goals for the researched monitoring & control and communication solutions.
With these key results, the project will pave the way for wider environmental and societal impacts. ECS4DRES will:
- strengthen and integrate scientific, innovation and technological capacities and facilitating collaborative links, and, securing sustainability-driven global leadership and resilience of EU value chains in key technologies and industries,
- enhance the critical mass to extend the scientific and technological capabilities and competences,
- accelerate the green and digital transitions,
- enhance the research and innovation capabilities and performance of existing and new European innovation ecosystems and economic value chains, including in start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME),
- accelerate the deployment and uptake of innovative solutions, technologies, services and skills,
- ensure that components and systems technologies address Europe’s societal and environmental challenges.
The overall target is to align with the Union policy on energy efficiency and contribute towards reduction of CO2 emissions of 55% by 2030 and to become climate neutral by 2050, and development for enhancing component technologies that guarantee security, trust and energy-efficiency for critical infrastructures and sectors in Europe.
