Periodic Reporting for period 2 - eNeuron (greEN Energy hUbs for local integRated energy cOmmunities optimizatioN)
Reporting period: 2022-03-01 to 2023-06-30
The integrated local energy community (ILEC) 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. ILEC 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 ILEC 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 ILEC sustainable in the short and long run. The main goal of the eNeuron project is to develop an innovative toolbox for the optimal design and operation of ILEC 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 second reporting period is described below:
·Detailed analysis of enabling energy and ICT Technologies, which could be part of an ILEC.
·Detailed analysis of key actors and their interests in the implementation of ILECs and of the main issues for implementation of ILECs.
·Definition of eNeuron use cases and business models.
·Definition of the methodology for the optimal design, operation planning and real-time optimization of ILECs.
·Update of the eNeuron concept and establishment and further elaboration of the toolbox concept with definition of main functionalities and interactions among tools with preliminary development and implementation.
·Identification and development of models of energy technologies and grids made available by the consortium to be used in simulations for validation purposes.
·Development of the project database and identification and collection of time series under a data repository associated with the generation resources, the different types of loads, storage, flexibility elements and grids made available by the consortium for simulations.
·Design of 12 “General Scenarios” and 4 “Use Cases and Business Models Pilot Scenarios”.
·Advancement on the simulation framework setup for eNeuron tools and functionalities.
·Starting of validation activities of eNeuron technical solutions at lab level, by using the laboratory infrastructures made available by the Consortium.
·Preparation activities of eNeuron pilots for testing of eNeuron toolbox and definition of the use cases to be employed within.
·Identification of technical, environmental, economical and social KPIs for the purpose of evaluating the project results.
·Analysis of a set of engagement methods and of the social dimensions of the 4 project pilot sites
·Analysis of existing methodologies for scalability and replicability developed within other EU projects with similar scope
·Screening of eNeuron KERs and definition of their exploitation strategies from the consortium with development of the eNeuron library of exploitable results and the first version of the exploitation plan.
·Promotion and communication activities through the eNeuron website and social media platforms
·Organization of two eNeuron events, namely the eNeuron first webinar and the special session organized in SEST 2022.
·Detailed analysis of enabling energy and ICT Technologies, which could be part of an ILEC.
·Detailed analysis of key actors and their interests in the implementation of ILECs and of the main issues for implementation of ILECs.
·Definition of eNeuron use cases and business models.
·Definition of the methodology for the optimal design, operation planning and real-time optimization of ILECs.
·Update of the eNeuron concept and establishment and further elaboration of the toolbox concept with definition of main functionalities and interactions among tools with preliminary development and implementation.
·Identification and development of models of energy technologies and grids made available by the consortium to be used in simulations for validation purposes.
·Development of the project database and identification and collection of time series under a data repository associated with the generation resources, the different types of loads, storage, flexibility elements and grids made available by the consortium for simulations.
·Design of 12 “General Scenarios” and 4 “Use Cases and Business Models Pilot Scenarios”.
·Advancement on the simulation framework setup for eNeuron tools and functionalities.
·Starting of validation activities of eNeuron technical solutions at lab level, by using the laboratory infrastructures made available by the Consortium.
·Preparation activities of eNeuron pilots for testing of eNeuron toolbox and definition of the use cases to be employed within.
·Identification of technical, environmental, economical and social KPIs for the purpose of evaluating the project results.
·Analysis of a set of engagement methods and of the social dimensions of the 4 project pilot sites
·Analysis of existing methodologies for scalability and replicability developed within other EU projects with similar scope
·Screening of eNeuron KERs and definition of their exploitation strategies from the consortium with development of the eNeuron library of exploitable results and the first version of the exploitation plan.
·Promotion and communication activities through the eNeuron website and social media platforms
·Organization of two eNeuron events, namely the eNeuron first webinar and the special session organized in SEST 2022.
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 an innovative approach that will enable the active involvement of the consumers in the ILEC in real applications. Under this approach, the central optimisation on design and operation is done in the ILEC 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 ILEC approach operational objective.
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 toolbox 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.
- 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 RES.
- 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 an innovative approach that will enable the active involvement of the consumers in the ILEC in real applications. Under this approach, the central optimisation on design and operation is done in the ILEC 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 ILEC approach operational objective.
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 toolbox 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.
- 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 RES.
- 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.