Platform for Operations and Maintenance Management of Power Smart Grids based on advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence

Project Information

Algo-Grid

Grant agreement ID: 853733

DOI

10.3030/853733

Project closed

EC signature date 28 January 2019

Start date 1 February 2019

End date 31 May 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

ARAMIS SRL
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Algo-Grid (Platform for Operations and Maintenance Management of Power Smart Grids based on advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence)

Reporting period: 2019-02-01 to 2019-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

"The deployment of smart grids is crucial for achieving a more secure and sustainable energy future. In fact, beside addressing current concerns with existing electricity systems (e.g. ageing infrastructure and increasing peak demand), smart grids are fundamental for the diffusion of low-carbon technologies, including electric vehicles and ""variable"" Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

To allow the deployment of eco-friendly, more reliable, efficient and resilient smart grids (and lower significant revenue losses present in the existing power networks) ARAMIS proposes the present Algo-Grid project, aimed at finalizing a platform of advanced Operations and Maintenance Management (O&MM) for power grids that exploits the new opportunities made available by the convergent advances in computing and ICT as well as by the accelerating deployment of renewable generation and storage technologies.

Algo-Grid is based on specifically designed Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) solutions, time series prediction algorithms, energy flow simulators and optimization algorithms, which can provide real-time optimal configurations of smart grids (generation, transmission and distribution), predict and assess infrastructure health condition, incorporate policy-based rule logic.
"

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Task 1 – Work plan Definition
Aim of the Task was to set the scope of work by stating the technical and non-technical activities (timing, personnel, agreements) required to perform Phase 2, being able to scale up the PHM solution to become Algo-Grid. The task included the evaluation of the performance of the algorithms on test-benches of increasing complexity, so to further improve their performances for electric smart grids.
Task 2 - Market analysis and Marketing Plan
Activities in this task included a more detailed situation analysis of the market sector (including its structure, size, drivers, market, and technology trends) and it also evaluated target pricing, main competitors, PESTEL and SWOT analysis, timeline, route-to-market, penetration/marketing strategy, market inception, full-scale commercialization and the specific barriers to overcome of each target region.
Task 3 - Intellectual property Management
Aramis composed an IPR/License plan and an FtO analysis along with the needed activities to ensure the compliance to the legal framework required. Besides, ARAMIS further investigated how Algo-Grid can be recognized as a tool to support smart grid utilities to improve their levels in the Smart Grid Maturity Model certification process performed by the Software Engineering Institute at the Carnegie Mellon University.
Task 4 - Business plan
The study indicated pricing and costs, forecast sales, EBITDA, Return of Investment, dissemination strategy, timeline to reach each target market and their respective risk analysis. Plan outcomes are the financial progress during Phase 1, the financial viability of the project and a detailed budget for Phase 2.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In conclusion, the feasibility analysis results confirmed that the Algo-Grid project is considered of high relevance for ARAMIS business growth at EU and global level, with a potential strong impact for the field of Operations and Maintenance Management of Power Smart Grids.

The project will continue, with the necessary funding being partly covered by Aramis and partly requested to the European Commission as an SME-INST phase 2 project.

Based on the feasibility assessment, the objectives, concept and approach and the impact of the Algo-Grid business idea described in the phase 1 SME-INST proposal have essentially been confirmed.

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