Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LocalRES (Empowering local renewable energy communities for the decarbonisation of the energy systems)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-05-01 bis 2022-10-31
The energy system in Europe currently undergoes profound changes, shifting from centralised towards decentralised, from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and from a passive to a more active role of users. This paradigm is a direct result of EU’s plans to decarbonize the energy sector, deliver energy at affordable prices and enhance the security of supply. As part of this strategy, the new Clean Energy Package prioritised the empowerment of customers, and included the new figure of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) within the revised Renewable Energy Directive (REDII).
Community-led energy projects have a huge potential to drive the energy transition while offering new and attractive opportunities for decarbonising local energy systems. However, the design, planning and operation of RECs is still a great challenge for most citizens and local actors due to the novelty of this legal figure and the inherent complexity of community energy systems. LocalRES project aims at bridging these gaps and constituting a shuttle for the setting up of RECs by developing digital tools that support the co-design of the local energy landscape and enable the optimal management of energy systems. These solutions will be demonstrated in four remote rural sites across Europe, together with additional decarbonisation solutions (e.g. PV, power-to-heat, power-to-vehicle, storage or ICT). In particular, the demo sites are small villages with a weak connection to the main grid which have a high replicability potential, and include: two isolated towns, Ispaster (Spain) and Ollersdorf (Austria) and two geographical islands, Berchidda (Italy) and Kökar (Finland).
The main objective of LocalRES is to engage citizens, other local actors and communities to participate actively in the energy transition, focusing on the figure of RECs as main actors for leading the structural change towards the decarbonisation of the local energy systems. To do so, LocalRES proposes a holistic approach covering the whole value chain of RECs, including: preliminary phases of learning and raising awareness among local actors, the assessment of REC-driven services and their related business models, the co-design and planning of RECs supported by participatory processes, the deployment, demonstration and integration of decarbonisation solutions, the dissemination of lessons learnt and policy recommendations related to RECs, or the replicability and promotion of RECs.
In the scope of LocalRES, a Planning Tool will be developed to enable the participation of citizens and local actors in the decision-making processes associated to the planning of a REC. The Planning Tool will be co-designed by local stakeholders, and accessible for expert and no-expert users, promoting their understanding about energy systems and the feasibility of alternative scenarios, allowing them to make informed decisions. LocalRES will also develop and demonstrate a Multi-Energy Virtual Power Plant (MEVPP) approach to manage and optimize in real time different energy vectors and to provide different energy and flexibility services according to the interests of the community, which will maximize the contribution of Renewable Energy Sources, enhance the energy system flexibility and supply security.
Community-led energy projects have a huge potential to drive the energy transition while offering new and attractive opportunities for decarbonising local energy systems. However, the design, planning and operation of RECs is still a great challenge for most citizens and local actors due to the novelty of this legal figure and the inherent complexity of community energy systems. LocalRES project aims at bridging these gaps and constituting a shuttle for the setting up of RECs by developing digital tools that support the co-design of the local energy landscape and enable the optimal management of energy systems. These solutions will be demonstrated in four remote rural sites across Europe, together with additional decarbonisation solutions (e.g. PV, power-to-heat, power-to-vehicle, storage or ICT). In particular, the demo sites are small villages with a weak connection to the main grid which have a high replicability potential, and include: two isolated towns, Ispaster (Spain) and Ollersdorf (Austria) and two geographical islands, Berchidda (Italy) and Kökar (Finland).
The main objective of LocalRES is to engage citizens, other local actors and communities to participate actively in the energy transition, focusing on the figure of RECs as main actors for leading the structural change towards the decarbonisation of the local energy systems. To do so, LocalRES proposes a holistic approach covering the whole value chain of RECs, including: preliminary phases of learning and raising awareness among local actors, the assessment of REC-driven services and their related business models, the co-design and planning of RECs supported by participatory processes, the deployment, demonstration and integration of decarbonisation solutions, the dissemination of lessons learnt and policy recommendations related to RECs, or the replicability and promotion of RECs.
In the scope of LocalRES, a Planning Tool will be developed to enable the participation of citizens and local actors in the decision-making processes associated to the planning of a REC. The Planning Tool will be co-designed by local stakeholders, and accessible for expert and no-expert users, promoting their understanding about energy systems and the feasibility of alternative scenarios, allowing them to make informed decisions. LocalRES will also develop and demonstrate a Multi-Energy Virtual Power Plant (MEVPP) approach to manage and optimize in real time different energy vectors and to provide different energy and flexibility services according to the interests of the community, which will maximize the contribution of Renewable Energy Sources, enhance the energy system flexibility and supply security.
During the first 18 months of project, different activities have been completed, primarily related to the definition of the basis for further project developments:
• The local conditions in all demos were analysed, resulting in baseline studies, a regulatory assessment of each context, the definition of four project use cases, Cost Benefit Analyses, or the definition of REC-driven business models.
• A set of REC-driven services to be potentially provided by energy communities have been identified and analysed, and different decarbonisation scenarios have been simulated to study long-term perspectives of the energy transition in all demos.
• A co-design process for the definition of the Planning Tool was carried out in all demos following participatory strategies, which supported the definition of functional and technical specifications of the Planning Tool. The specifications and construction of the LocalRES database were also completed.
• The digitalisation requirements for a smooth integration of the MEVPP in the demos were defined.
• A KPI-driven evaluation framework was developed, including a set of KPIs for the evaluation of demonstration actions.
• A first version of the demonstration planning was developed for all demos.
• The IPR management strategy and the first version of the exploitation plan were prepared.
• The communication and dissemination strategies, project website, visual identity, graphic guidelines and local posters were elaborated.
Furthermore, the first steps towards the development of the digital tools were undertaken. The computation modules of the planning tool started being developed including preliminary mock-ups of the RES-based scenario generator. In the case of the MEVPP, models representing different sector-coupling technologies and buildings started being developed, as well as algorithms for the different energy services. In all demos, different preliminary works and activities to promote citizen engagement took place, and important efforts were made to progress on the rest of demonstration actions. Additionally, other transversal activities were also carried out, including the participation in the BRIDGE initiative or an active participation on social media, the project website and public events.
• The local conditions in all demos were analysed, resulting in baseline studies, a regulatory assessment of each context, the definition of four project use cases, Cost Benefit Analyses, or the definition of REC-driven business models.
• A set of REC-driven services to be potentially provided by energy communities have been identified and analysed, and different decarbonisation scenarios have been simulated to study long-term perspectives of the energy transition in all demos.
• A co-design process for the definition of the Planning Tool was carried out in all demos following participatory strategies, which supported the definition of functional and technical specifications of the Planning Tool. The specifications and construction of the LocalRES database were also completed.
• The digitalisation requirements for a smooth integration of the MEVPP in the demos were defined.
• A KPI-driven evaluation framework was developed, including a set of KPIs for the evaluation of demonstration actions.
• A first version of the demonstration planning was developed for all demos.
• The IPR management strategy and the first version of the exploitation plan were prepared.
• The communication and dissemination strategies, project website, visual identity, graphic guidelines and local posters were elaborated.
Furthermore, the first steps towards the development of the digital tools were undertaken. The computation modules of the planning tool started being developed including preliminary mock-ups of the RES-based scenario generator. In the case of the MEVPP, models representing different sector-coupling technologies and buildings started being developed, as well as algorithms for the different energy services. In all demos, different preliminary works and activities to promote citizen engagement took place, and important efforts were made to progress on the rest of demonstration actions. Additionally, other transversal activities were also carried out, including the participation in the BRIDGE initiative or an active participation on social media, the project website and public events.
LocalRES will deliver new digital tools aimed at boosting the structural change in the energy system. The Planning Tool will enable local stakeholders, independently of their expertise on energy, being involved in the design process of their energy community. This tool will include valuable inputs for users (technical, financing or legal) and will provide KPIs accessible to different profiles of users to facilitate the decision making in the REC. LocalRES Planning Tool will also allow its use for co-creation sessions and participatory processes, promoting the awareness and engagement of citizens.
The Multi-Energy Virtual Power Plant (MEVPP) approach will allow providing different services adapted to RECs by integrating a range of assets, will include management strategies to promote a sector-coupling approach, and will develop algorithms to provide collective services (e.g. collective self-consumption), local energy market services (e.g. congestion management or voltage control), or energy market services (e.g. ancillary services).
LocalRES will also deliver valuable experience from the demo sites as lessons learnt and policy recommendations, which will be spread through BRIDGE and CE4EUI initiatives and other relevant forums.
LocalRES project is expected to have multiple impacts including: 1) a positive effect on local energy systems by deploying decarbonisation solutions, but also on the wider energy infrastructure and on economy, social aspects and air quality at local level; 2) the enhancement of the involvement of energy users in developing and operating local energy systems and in the test REC-driven business models; 3) the validation of approaches, strategies and tools to safely and securely operate an integrated local energy system across energy vectors; or 4) the benchmarking of technical solutions and business models that can be replicated in various local regions.
The Multi-Energy Virtual Power Plant (MEVPP) approach will allow providing different services adapted to RECs by integrating a range of assets, will include management strategies to promote a sector-coupling approach, and will develop algorithms to provide collective services (e.g. collective self-consumption), local energy market services (e.g. congestion management or voltage control), or energy market services (e.g. ancillary services).
LocalRES will also deliver valuable experience from the demo sites as lessons learnt and policy recommendations, which will be spread through BRIDGE and CE4EUI initiatives and other relevant forums.
LocalRES project is expected to have multiple impacts including: 1) a positive effect on local energy systems by deploying decarbonisation solutions, but also on the wider energy infrastructure and on economy, social aspects and air quality at local level; 2) the enhancement of the involvement of energy users in developing and operating local energy systems and in the test REC-driven business models; 3) the validation of approaches, strategies and tools to safely and securely operate an integrated local energy system across energy vectors; or 4) the benchmarking of technical solutions and business models that can be replicated in various local regions.