Periodic Reporting for period 1 - eNeuron (greEN Energy hUbs for local integRated energy cOmmunities optimizatioN)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2020-11-01 do 2022-02-28
The local energy community (LEC) concept refers to a set of energy users deciding to make common choices in terms of satisfying their energy needs, in order to maximize the benefits deriving from this collegial approach, thanks to the implementation of a variety of electricity and heat technologies and energy storages and the optimized management of energy flows. LEC are able to effectively integrate energy carriers through a variety of local generation of electricity, heat and cooling, flexible demand, energy storages and electric mobility. The wider range of potential actors as developers, asset owners, operators, and final users make optimisation of such systems a complex task. In addition, the planning of LEC inherently involves multiple and conflicting objectives (short-run economic vs long-run sustainability goals). Last, but not least DER operation and scheduling tasks are challenging when considering the interaction among energy carriers. Novel approaches are thus needed to identify equitable solutions to promote stakeholders’ participation in the decision-making and make LEC sustainable in the short and long run. The main goal of the eNeuron project is to develop innovative tools for the optimal design and operation of LEC integrating DER and multiple energy carriers at different scales. This goal will be achieved by having in mind all the potential benefits achievable for the different actors involved and by promoting the Energy Hub concept, as a conceptual model for controlling and managing multi-carrier energy systems in order to optimize their architecture and operation. In order to ensure both the short- and the long-term sustainability of this new energy paradigm and thus support an effective implementation and deployment, economic and environmental aspects will be taken into account in the optimization tools through a multi-objective approach.
The overall progress of the project with reference to the first reporting period is described below:
·Detailed assessment of the most recent regulatory framework status and roadmaps related to the optimal use of local energy resources in Europe and of the current status of local multi-carrier energy system deployment with the main limitations and shortcomings.
·Detailed analysis of LEC in European countries with main characteristics, organizational models and key stakeholders.
·Critical state-of-the art of the scientific literature regarding the approaches for optimization of energy hubs with multiple energy carriers.
·Development of models of energy technologies (flexibility elements) and grids and definition of scenarios for simulation of eNeuron technical solutions.
·Identification of technical, environmental, economical and social KPIs for the purpose of evaluating the project results.
·Preparation of questionnaires for the project pilots to define their socio-economic contexts, existing engagement frameworks and top-level social objectives.
·Production of the promotional and marketing materials for the project, and creation of the eNeuron website and social media platforms.
·Screening of eNeuron Key Exploitable Result and definition of their preliminary exploitation strategies from the consortium with the development of the eNeuron library of exploitable results.
Moreover, one conference paper was produced, and the eNeuron project was already present at several international scientific events obtaining a good level of networking and communication activities.
·Detailed assessment of the most recent regulatory framework status and roadmaps related to the optimal use of local energy resources in Europe and of the current status of local multi-carrier energy system deployment with the main limitations and shortcomings.
·Detailed analysis of LEC in European countries with main characteristics, organizational models and key stakeholders.
·Critical state-of-the art of the scientific literature regarding the approaches for optimization of energy hubs with multiple energy carriers.
·Development of models of energy technologies (flexibility elements) and grids and definition of scenarios for simulation of eNeuron technical solutions.
·Identification of technical, environmental, economical and social KPIs for the purpose of evaluating the project results.
·Preparation of questionnaires for the project pilots to define their socio-economic contexts, existing engagement frameworks and top-level social objectives.
·Production of the promotional and marketing materials for the project, and creation of the eNeuron website and social media platforms.
·Screening of eNeuron Key Exploitable Result and definition of their preliminary exploitation strategies from the consortium with the development of the eNeuron library of exploitable results.
Moreover, one conference paper was produced, and the eNeuron project was already present at several international scientific events obtaining a good level of networking and communication activities.
eNeuron will provide progress to the state of the art in the three following directions:
1. eNeuron will overcome the gaps in current tools and methodologies related to design and operation of local integrated energy systems, by proposing an innovative integrated tool based on two complementary stages dealing with both design and operation optimization of such systems.
2. The philosophy of having an hybrid optimisation strategy based on two operational layers is a quite innovative approach that will enable the active involvement of the consumers in the LEC in real applications. Under this approach, the central optimisation on design and operation is done in the LEC level while the actors have degrees of freedom to apply their own strategy of optimisation and, through peer to peer approach, align the most possible with the central LEC approach operational objective. The two layers are complementary each other and have different time frames in order to be efficient. This way, the peers know the needs of LECs as a whole and, of course, at the clearance of the P2P market the LEC central management knows whether they need to import or export power to achieve the optimisation goals. Also, the real-time market will deal not only with the electricity carrier and its needs but it will bring an integrated approach by considering all energy carriers of the LEC.
3. eNeuron aims to advance the Web-of-Cells concept developed in ELECTRA project by integrating different energy carriers, and employing advanced technologies for the market operation and participation of cells as peers that has not foreseen so far.
The expected results until the end of the project are indicated below:
·Framework analysis of local multi-carrier energy systems;
·Use cases and business model of local multi-carrier energy systems;
·Development, implementation and validation in software, lab and pilots environmnent of eNeuron tool for the optimal design and operation of integrated LEC;
·Software monitoring of operation strategies at substation level;
·Hardware device to facilitate optimized operation at micro Energy Hub level.
The expected impacts of the project are below:
- Validate solutions for decarbonisation of the local energy system while ensuring a positive impact on the wider energy infrastructure, on the local economy and local social aspects, and local air quality.
- Validate approaches, strategies and tools to safely and securely operate an integrated local energy system across energy carriers so that it is able to integrate higher shares of renewables.
- Enhance the involvement of local energy consumers and producers, by creating energy communities in the development and the operation of local energy systems and test new business models.
- Provide benchmark technical solutions and business models that can be replicated in many local regions and are acceptable by local citizens.
eNeuron will contribute to the avoidance of the curtailment of RES in the highRES scenario of the EU Energy roadmap 2050, estimated at 217 TWh. Subsequently, additional investments in conventional generation capacity will be avoided, offering significant economic savings estimated at €50B in deferred investment for peak generation capacity. eNeuron will also support the self-consumption model within LEC, by facilitating consumer empowerment and allowing active participation and profit from energy markets, as well as encouraging smarter consumption patterns. In socio-economic terms, the main impact of the proliferation of the eNeuron solution will be observed in employment. It is estimated that for every conventional GWh reduction, about 0.17 to 0.6 jobs are created in the EU29. This could translate to anywhere between 40,000-150,000 jobs created in the long-term (until 2050) in the EU, only by avoiding the curtailment of 217 TWh of distributed RES. eNeuron is also expected to significantly contribute to the tackling of the energy poverty problem around the EU.
1. eNeuron will overcome the gaps in current tools and methodologies related to design and operation of local integrated energy systems, by proposing an innovative integrated tool based on two complementary stages dealing with both design and operation optimization of such systems.
2. The philosophy of having an hybrid optimisation strategy based on two operational layers is a quite innovative approach that will enable the active involvement of the consumers in the LEC in real applications. Under this approach, the central optimisation on design and operation is done in the LEC level while the actors have degrees of freedom to apply their own strategy of optimisation and, through peer to peer approach, align the most possible with the central LEC approach operational objective. The two layers are complementary each other and have different time frames in order to be efficient. This way, the peers know the needs of LECs as a whole and, of course, at the clearance of the P2P market the LEC central management knows whether they need to import or export power to achieve the optimisation goals. Also, the real-time market will deal not only with the electricity carrier and its needs but it will bring an integrated approach by considering all energy carriers of the LEC.
3. eNeuron aims to advance the Web-of-Cells concept developed in ELECTRA project by integrating different energy carriers, and employing advanced technologies for the market operation and participation of cells as peers that has not foreseen so far.
The expected results until the end of the project are indicated below:
·Framework analysis of local multi-carrier energy systems;
·Use cases and business model of local multi-carrier energy systems;
·Development, implementation and validation in software, lab and pilots environmnent of eNeuron tool for the optimal design and operation of integrated LEC;
·Software monitoring of operation strategies at substation level;
·Hardware device to facilitate optimized operation at micro Energy Hub level.
The expected impacts of the project are below:
- Validate solutions for decarbonisation of the local energy system while ensuring a positive impact on the wider energy infrastructure, on the local economy and local social aspects, and local air quality.
- Validate approaches, strategies and tools to safely and securely operate an integrated local energy system across energy carriers so that it is able to integrate higher shares of renewables.
- Enhance the involvement of local energy consumers and producers, by creating energy communities in the development and the operation of local energy systems and test new business models.
- Provide benchmark technical solutions and business models that can be replicated in many local regions and are acceptable by local citizens.
eNeuron will contribute to the avoidance of the curtailment of RES in the highRES scenario of the EU Energy roadmap 2050, estimated at 217 TWh. Subsequently, additional investments in conventional generation capacity will be avoided, offering significant economic savings estimated at €50B in deferred investment for peak generation capacity. eNeuron will also support the self-consumption model within LEC, by facilitating consumer empowerment and allowing active participation and profit from energy markets, as well as encouraging smarter consumption patterns. In socio-economic terms, the main impact of the proliferation of the eNeuron solution will be observed in employment. It is estimated that for every conventional GWh reduction, about 0.17 to 0.6 jobs are created in the EU29. This could translate to anywhere between 40,000-150,000 jobs created in the long-term (until 2050) in the EU, only by avoiding the curtailment of 217 TWh of distributed RES. eNeuron is also expected to significantly contribute to the tackling of the energy poverty problem around the EU.