Smart grid is a dynamically interactive real-time infrastructure concept that encompasses the many visions of diverse energy system stakeholders. The Smart Grid is integrating the electrical and information technologies in between any point of generation and any point of consumption. The main objective of the project is to fully analyze all aspects of smart grids targeting in the improvement of reliability, mitigation of security risks, increase load shaping and energy efficiency, optimal integration and generation-consumption matching as well as smart monitoring and control.To this end, the aim of the SMART GEMS project is to use Smart Grids’ optimization and reliable operation concept as the common basis for collaboration and staff exchange among the partners.The overall effort will be based in two existing smart grid infrastructures owned by Technical University of Crete and AEA of Loccioni Group and is designed to exploit the complementary expertise of the participants as well as enhance and create more synergies. Moreover the infrastructure of all partners will be available for the project’s goals. In this framework, SMART-GEMS partners are selected to formulate a complementary group which encompasses all the major aspects of smart grids.During the SMART GEMS secondments, a mixture of research and training will be blended in a suitable proportion as to maximize the career perspectives of the researchers involved focusing on innovation skills related to smart grids and smart communities interdisciplinary aspects.The methodological approach is designed to enhance the researchers’ competitiveness and promote ideas sharing from research to market and vice versa.
Smart grids provide an excellent topic for knowledge sharing, creativity and entrepreneurship. The major aspects of smart grid interdisciplinary nature examined by SMART GEMS are:
Renewable Energy Sources Integration (PV, Concentrated PV, Small Hydroelectric, Concentrated Solar Thermal, Cogeneration, Geothermal)
Smart metering and interconnection with the electricity grid
Demand response and demand management
Smart buildings
Smart controls and optimisation
Integration and conflicts' management
Technology and innovation
Smart GEMS is based on a cycle expansion of three phases:
The first phase starts from the users (prosumers) aspects by focusing on smart and zero energy building analysis. In the second phase research activities are focused on the various smart grid components expanding the cycle by the smart grids' penetration at community level.
The third phase concerns the integration of all components targeting the development of smart applications for optimisation purposes.
In smart and zero building energy research activities, integrated energy design, advanced monitoring and control techniques and the role of zero energy buildings in smart grids are examined.
In smart communities and smart grids, research projects deal with the optimised operation of the smart grid by using prediction of energy loads, prediction of power generation and load shaping or shaving techniques using intelligent metering equipment by Elgama-Elektronika.
Optimisation of renewables operation with the aid of advanced demand side management and demand response optimisation methodologies based on two existing microgrid infrastructures owned by TUC (Camp IT) and AEA of Loccioni Group (Smart Leaf community) is performed.
Technologies such as Concentrated Solar Power and Concentrated Photovoltaic systems (CSP/CPV) by IDEA and integration in polygenerative energy districts is evaluated from technical, environmental and financial perspectives.
The effective management of smart grids and innovations in the successful integration of components but also in processes, services and systems is systematically pursued. The outcomes of this research support inclusion, transparency and efficiency of operations in the energy market and at the same time promote sustainability in energy consumption for industrial, residential and tertiary sectors and the optimal use of natural resources.
