The project has defined five use cases of the local market action. Namely UC 1 Local market flexibility and energy asset management for grid value, UC 2 Local Market Data Hub Manager and technical validation and flexibility tool, UC 3 Local community market with flexibility and energy asset management for energy community value, UC 4 Local community flexibility and energy asset management for retailer value and UC 5 Local community flexibility and energy asset management for wholesale and energy system market value.
DOMINOES proposed six business models for demand response and virtual power plant (VPP) operations, tools and technology validation for demand response services, services based on smart metering, methods to utilize VPPs and microgrids as active balancing assets and secure data handling procedures in local markets. Business models were evaluated from the cost and benefit perspectives and with SWOT-analysis and validated in the demonstration activities.
The third reporting period focused on the validation activities of the project use cases and business models. These results were validated besides virtual validation in three validation sites in Portugal and Finland: A DSO environment in Évora (Portugal), a VPP site distributed across bank branches in Portugal and a LVDC microgrid site and microgrid research environment in Lappeenranta (Finland). Based on the validation and evaluation of the business models, the proposed local market concept is relevant for the future but there are many uncertainties. Regulation, end-customer-acceptance and capabilities in large scale, and future market prices are some uncertainty issues regarding the pace of the change.
Key aspects of the local market concept:
1. Market model
DOMINOES developed a local market model which is compatible, enables sharing of bottom-up flexibility, incentivises the end-customer engagement and promotes active prosumer role, considers accountability for flexibility (local balance settlement) and supports emerging energy market roles
2. Services
DOMINOES developed models and services for forecasting, aggregation, clustering and consumer segmentation
3. IT architecture
DOMINOES developed a modular IT reference architecture with modules for wholesale market, local market, simulation & optimization and analysis & forecasting.
Cyber security challenges in the local market framework were identified and new solutions developed for assessing threats and detecting anomalies
4. Information exchange
DOMINOES developed information exchange content used in local markets and for connecting towards overarching markets, defined stakeholder information needs and interfaces to DSOs & retailers
5. End-customer tools
DOMINOES developed a mobile app which enables end-customers to interact with the local market
6. Regulation
DOMINOES has evaluated the regulatory framework around local markets, including aggregation, role of energy communities, DSO regulation and the role in the procurement of flexibility and impacts of Clean Energy Package.
The results have been disseminated in various scientific publications (journals, conferences, thesis) and scientific and industrial events and in social media channels. DOMINOES project has itself organized public events.
The use of project results will continue in research and teaching. Project results will be further developed in on-going and new R&D projects. Industrial partners have plans to develop validated tools and services after the project for commercial operation. All the partners identified key exploitable results and how to exploit them after the project. Services and products regarding local market trading have a high exploitation potential.
