The UPGRID project was launched at the beginning of 2015 under the HORIZON 2020 EU programme. It included four relevant smart grid demonstrators in Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Poland which main scope was the low-voltage (LV) electricity distribution network. It had a budget of 15,7 M€, with 11,9 M€ financed by the European Commission.
[FIGURE 1 UPGRID MOTIVATION]
The project goal has been to provide the electrical system with new products and services to enhance the management and operation of distribution networks improving the response to Consumer needs (e.g. reduce power supply restoration time, more accurate and immediate information, increase Consumer participation in the market, etc…). The main project objectives have been:
[FIGURE 2 UPGRID OBJECTIVES]
The four UPGRID demonstrators have performed an intense activity on the analysis and evaluation of relevant domains of LV networks. This has facilitated conclusions and valuable criteria to improve future deployments and shared with other stakeholders. As a result, this has ensured the effective success in achieving a quality, efficient and Consumer oriented truly integrated smart LV/MV grid able to generate profitability and business opportunities to all the actors involved.
The most relevant topics across the demonstrators have been: “Monitoring and control of LV networks”, “Smart metering data utilization”, “Network management methodologies for network operations”, and “Novel approaches to asset management”, which have been aligned with the objectives and main thematic areas of the project. However, there have been particularities among demonstrators mainly due to countries distinctions in terms of automation capacity, end-users engagement, regulatory issues, etc. This fact has brought diversity to the faced challenges and consequently to the solutions that become more easily scalable and replicable.
[FIGURE 3 DEMO LOCATIONS AND RELEVANT TOPICS COVERED IN UPGRID]
[FIGURE 4 SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE DEMO DETAILS]
[FIGURE 5 SWEDISH AND POLISH DEMO DETAILS]
Other information of interest
The UPGRID Consortium was formed by the following partners:
[FIGURE 6 UPGRID CONSORTIUM PARTNERS (DSOS, TECHNOLOGICAL PROVIDERS, UNIVERSITIES & RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND ENERGY AGENCY)]
The UPGRID started in January 2015 and concluded in December 2017.
More information about UPGRID project can be found on the website:
http://upgrid.eu/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) or through contact at:
UPGRID@iberdrola.es being:
-Roberto González Sainz-Maza, Project Coordinator
-Ángel Díaz Gallo, Technical Director
