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Democratizing energy markets through the introduction of innovative flexibility-based demand response tools and novel business and market models for energy cooperatives

Project description

Empowering energy cooperatives

As renewable energy integration increases, grid stability becomes a pressing concern. Energy cooperatives lack effective tools to participate in energy markets as aggregators. This leads to underutilisation of microgrids and virtual power plants, hindering grid stability and network constraints. In this context, the EU-funded FLEXCoop project will introduce an end-to-end automated demand response (DR) optimisation framework, enabling energy cooperatives to become aggregators. Its human-centric demand response schemes engage residential prosumers while preserving their comfort and schedules. It also guarantees easy switching between DR service providers, customised contracts and objective settlement, empowering prosumers to become active energy market players. This innovative project fosters energy democracy and paves the way to a resilient and sustainable energy future.

Objective

FLEXCoop introduces an end-to-end Automated Demand Response Optimization Framework. It enables the realization of novel business models, allowing energy cooperatives to introduce themselves in energy markets under the role of an aggregator. It equips cooperatives with innovative and highly effective tools for the establishment of robust business practices to exploit their microgrids and dynamic VPPs as balancing and ancillary assets toward grid stability and alleviation of network constraints.
Optimization in FLEXCoop applies to multiple levels. It spans local generation output, demand and storage flexibility, as well as the flexibility offered by EVs to facilitate maximum RES integration into the grid, avoidance of curtailment and satisfaction of balancing and ancillary grid needs. This is achieved via automated, human-centric demand response schemes with the participation of appropriately selected residential prosumers. To enhance prosumer acceptance, the FLEXCoop innovative services will feature non-intrusiveness, comfort and well-being preservation, non-violation of prosumer daily schedules as well as maximization of benefits through transparent and open participation in markets. It will also guarantee easy switching between DR service providers, vendor lock-in avoidance, customized DR service contracts and objective settlement and remuneration, thus establishing an energy democracy context and empowering prosumers to become active energy market players. FLEXCoop brings together a wide range of baseline technologies to build an open and interoperable DR optimization framework, including a fully-fledged tool suite for energy cooperatives (aggregators) and prosumers involved in the DR value chain, ensuring: (i) DR stakeholders empowerment and transformation into active market players, (ii) end-to-end interoperability between energy networks, energy management systems and devices and (iii) the realization of new business models for energy cooperatives.

Call for proposal

H2020-LCE-2016-2017

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Sub call

H2020-LCE-2017-SGS

Coordinator

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
Net EU contribution
€ 616 766,11
Address
HANSASTRASSE 27C
80686 Munchen
Germany

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Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 616 766,11

Participants (15)