Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GridEye (For a rapid transition to Smart Grids)
Reporting period: 2017-08-01 to 2017-11-30
GridEye is a supporting tool for Distribution System Operators (DSOs) working in the optimization and digitalization of their conventional electricity grid. Six tasks shaped GridEye’s SME instrument phase 1. Starting from a presentation of the product, task 1 also analyzed stakeholder’s interest in the GridEye product and searched for technical and commercial agreements to strengthen its commercialization. The technical analysis of task 2 reviewed and selected key upgrades and defined steps to develop them in a detailed work plan. Under task 3 an in-depth market analysis was performed and the previously targeted regions where the company wishes to expand were confirmed. Penetration and growth rate estimation as well as a complete analysis of competing solutions were carried out. Technical and sales risks were taken into account in task 4, including commercial barriers. IPR and freedom to operate were checked in task 5 and finally task 6 validated in the business plan the sales price and all costs within a possible SME phase 2 investment. Profitability of the project was calculated.
Within the commercialization process developed in phase 1, the most relevant GridEye upgrades were selected thanks to the close contact and collaboration that DEPsys team has proactively maintained with DSOs and stakeholders. DEPsys believes that these upgrades are key to the consolidation of GridEye in a very attractive position for DSOs and will help launching our product in a much wider market. A patent strategy has been defined and has lead in two probable new patents. Following this, legal, internal and competitive risks have been assessed in order to confirm the freedom to operate and to validate our business plan.
Within the current energy transformation, GridEye aims to become an indispensable tool and partner for DSOs that wish to optimize technically and financially their grid. At the same time GridEye wishes to further enable a multitude of breakthrough technologies related to a future grid that presents multi-directional electric flows. These are the result of decentralized energy resources, prosumers, new energy assets and electric vehicles.