Project description
Innovative solutions for smart grids
Smart grids and flexible electricity systems play a crucial role in modernising the European electricity system and are essential for achieving the EU's energy targets. The SMILE project, funded by the EU, aims to showcase various innovative technological and non-technological solutions through large-scale smart grid demonstration projects on the islands of Orkney, Samsø, and Madeira. The project aims to identify the most suitable solutions to meet local needs. By envisioning the integration of these technologies into the market, these pilot projects will demonstrate the efficient operation of distribution grids, ensuring stability and security. The focus will be on implementing solutions for demand response, intelligent control, and automation of distribution networks, as well as promoting the use of renewable energy sources.
Objective
Europe’s electricity sector is experiencing severe transformations: modernization of the electricity system is vital for achieving Europe’s energy targets, and smart grids and flexible electricity systems are essential for this modernization. On this respect, the SMILE project will demonstrate different innovative technological and non-technological solutions in large-scale smart grid demonstration projects in the Orkneys, Samsø and Madeira islands, paving the way for their introduction in the market in the near future. The technological solutions vary from: integration of battery technology, power to heat, power to fuel, pumped hydro, electric vehicles, electricity stored on board of boats, an aggregator approach to demand side management (DSM) and predictive algorithms.
The pilots will demonstrate operation of the distribution grid under stable and secure conditions to implement solutions for demand response, intelligent control and automation of distribution networks; they have high shares of RES in the electricity grid or have planned increasing shares in the next years. All of them will demonstrate stable grid operation with use of storage solutions and smart integration of grid users from transport.
Each pilot will test the most appropriate solutions for local specificities, and common lessons with cross-cutting valence will be derived. Involving projects on islands will ease engaging residents in SMILE. Indeed, islanders are usually sensible to provide availability to test solutions impacting their daily life. Finally, two of the pilots are not total energy islands, thus representing smart grids located on the mainland and not limiting replication potential to other island locations only.
SMILE consortium is composed by 19 partners from 6 EU countries: all the value chain actors needed to efficiently implement the 3 projects have been involved and an innovation management approach will guarantee a wider exploitation and replication of technological solutions.
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectric batteries
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power distribution
- social sciencessocial geographytransportelectric vehicles
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementinnovation management
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
16129 Genova
Italy
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Participants (21)
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
KT22 7AJ LEATHERHEAD SURREY
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IV2 3DU Inverness
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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G2 2HG Glasgow
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EH33 1RY Macmerry
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
EH54 5DW Livingston
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9000-044 Funchal
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9054 523 Funchal
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9020-105 Funchal
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9020-105 Funchal
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
9220 Aalborg
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8305 Samso
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8305 Samso
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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8305 Samso
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2630 Taastrup
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2765 Smorum
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
9747AG Groningen
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57001 Thermi Thessaloniki
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9712CP Groningen
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11634 ATHENS
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BS1 6ED Bristol
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
BS1 6ED Bristol
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