Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SMILE (SMart IsLand Energy systems)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-05-01 bis 2021-10-31
The objective was to test solutions while establishing mutual learning processes and providing best practice guidance for replication in other regions. Actually, the 3 demonstrators in the islands validated different combinations of technological solutions according to local specificities and the existing infrastructure and involved all value chain actors needed to efficiently implement projects systems. The technological solutions vary from integration of different battery technologies, power to heat, electric vehicles and boats, aggregator approach to demand side management (DSM), Energy Management System and predictive algorithms. Nowadays, the increasing share of variable renewable energy sources proves to be challenging to the electricity system’s stability and reliability, thus requiring the system to become more flexible and responsive. The 3 case studies were characterised by high penetration of renewable energy sources in the electricity grid or have planned increased shares thereof in the forthcoming years and therefore each pilot aimed to demonstrate stable and secure grid operation in the context of: 1) implementation of solutions enabling demand response and the intelligent control and automation of distribution networks to provide for smart management of the grid; 2) adoption of energy storage solutions; 3) connection between the electricity network and other energy networks; 4) smart integration of grid users from transport and mobility. Moreover, cross-cutting activities among the pilots were devoted to solve common technical, organizational, legal, regulatory and market-related issues as well as to evaluate the solutions from the economic and business points of view. Each demonstrator brought a specific set of challenges, technology options and most importantly, energy market conditions. The sites are therefore effectively representative of the majority of the EU energy markets and offer excellent demonstration settings able to deliver maximum impact in terms of replicability. Actually, the Orkneys and Samsø are electrically connected to the mainland network and can be representative of smart grids located on the mainland as well, whereas Madeira is the case of an energy island not connected to the mainland network. Furthermore, island communities can be more easily engaged in the real-life testing of solutions aimed at solving important challenges impacting life on the island and therefore constituted the ideal candidates for demonstration activities requiring societal engagement and active residents’ commitment.
In the Orkney, the objective was to transform a semi-smart grid system (management of generation only) into a fully smart system (management of generation and demand), by using existing grid infrastructure and integrating new communications and control systems, as well as new controllable energy demand for heat and transport. When the installations of the controllable loads (domestic heat installs, EV smart charging) were completed, the last period of the project was devoted on the validation of the deployed DSM system and on the demonstration of the ability to absorb excess renewable energy that would have otherwise been curtailed.
The core of the Samsø Demonstrator was the DSM system for the Ballen marina including a battery energy storage system (BESS) which was developed, installed and tested on the field. The heat pump covering 100% of the heating demand in the harbour master’s office and the PV panels were installed as well. Special attention was paid on the development of the overall smart energy system control. The BESS improved the utilisation of the PV plant to 89% (instead of 45% without BESS) in the marina whereas solar energy covers 43% of the overall consumption.
In Madeira, 5 different pilots were defined, deployed and validated: two of them were related to the increase of self-consumption in PV micro-producers thanks to DSM services and BESS, other two were related to smart charging of EVs whereas one pilot dealt with Voltage control and levelling load.
Among the transversal activities, it is worth to mention the definition of the most appropriate Demand Response (DR) services, the development of improved concepts for control and automation of the grid and the definition of cyber security measures, the LCA/LCC studies, the cost benefit analysis as well as the definition of business cases and business model. Furthermore, to be highlighted the analysis of the legislative framework, the dissemination and communication activities for raising the awareness on the project solutions and the definition of replication guidelines applied to shadow Greek islands used as case studies.