The main technologies under investigation in the project are described below:
ADVANCED INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES - this includes both, software and hardware technologies:
● Optimised control of smart-grids in geographical islands via holistic optimisation approach enabling targeted optimal energy dispatch control actions both automatically (i.e. fully-automated control of energy generation/storage units and common assets) and by engaging the end consumers (i.e. manual load shifting);
● DR platform for flexibility management at community level via automated and manual strategies;
● Smart energy grid design tool for island optimal RES integration: Deployment in each demonstration site as well as “follower” sites. The tool will consider various hybrid configurations of renewable energy sources and storage, as well as their different sizes and capacities.
● Real-time generation and load forecasting for optimal grid balancing.
● Energy storage: deployment of high-capacity and environmental friendly lithium-ion and aluminium-carbon batteries and conventional vented and valve-regulated lead-acid batteries and power-to-gas solutions.
● Innovative heat pumps and PV systems to be managed at community level.
● Enhanced grid operation monitoring to perform identification, localization of grid failures during operations in a scenario of high intermittent RES penetration and storage into the island energy grid;
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION and testing in demo islands and via hardware-in-the-loop to reduce costs:
● REACT cloud-based platform will enable an easy integration with RES/storage-based infrastructures using a holistic planning, controlling and monitoring strategy, maximising RES exploitation in geographical islands;
● Hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) laboratory testing, to ensure deployment of adequate control strategy, and to test and evaluate the control actions upon relevant equipment (e.g. energy generation units, storage, etc.) in close to real-life conditions before actual deployment;
● An integrative optimisation approach that combines real-time optimisation of both multi-carrier energy supply and demand side of target energy infrastructure (at household, building or district level).
NEW SYNERGIES - synergy between different grids such as water, transport (EV charging stations), energy and heat. REACT will use real technology assets combined with partners’ expertise in computational modelling and simulation of physical systems to account for the existing grids at demo sites. Attention will be paid to the interaction with EV charging stations, which are becoming common in small and medium islands.
USER ENAGEMENT & BUSINESS MODELS - REACT will engage the end consumers, i.e. the island residents and involve them in demand reduction and time shifting (e.g. peak shaving) activities.
Impacts:
• REACT will enable the achievement of at least 10% energy saving in islands and 60% energy price drop that will be directly translated in end-user bill reduction and CO2 savings.
• REACT will enable higher penetration (min. +50%) of renewables in islands grids and drastically reduce 50% the fossil fuel consumption by using battery storage to improve the technical and economic performance and the flexibility and resilience of the electricity grid.
• REACT will unlock the full potential of DR in residential and tertiary buildings, making the flexible load portion available for use in grid balancing and other ancillary services.
• Reduce/defer a maximum of 30% the DSOs required investments in grid reinforcements and grid balancing by improving assets and network utilization which in the mid-term will reduce the final user energy price.
• REACT integrated solution for optimal control and strategy will ensure a high degree of interoperability with current systems.
• Enable innovative and integral business model unlocking new services for the entire energy value chain and will promote a holistic energy purchase and DR strategy at community level.
