The rapid addition of distributed energy resources to the utility grid represents an integration challenge for DNOs. One-off integration of small scale resources is impractical, and so standards-based approaches offer significant cost and efficiency improvements. This presentation will include a case study on the integration of EV charging infrastructure, which has been the fastest growing category of the OpenADR information exchange model.
This talk will discuss how Local Energy Communities can become more green and self-sufficient by participating in a novel concept called Layered Energy System (LES). The talk will outline the core principles and benefits of LES not only for communities, but also for the energy grid as a whole.
i.LECO has developed a prosumer portal that is the single interaction point of community residents with the LES concept. The LES concept has already been deployed to two local communities in the Netherlands and this talk will focus on a pilot in the Woerden district. The LES concept is scheduled to be deployed in several more communities in 2021.
Creating robust adaptive investment plans for an adaptive energy-infrastructure in the Netherlands
Investments for energy-infrastructure expansion are not easy to determine due to the deep uncertainties related to the energy transition and the growing need for system flexibility. These deep uncertainties call for a robust adaptive investment plan for an integrated energy-infrastructure. In the Gridmaster initiative a tool is developed to create such robust investment plans.
Gridmaster is a co-operation between Siemens, TenneT, Stedin, Port of Rotterdam, TU Delft, Gasunie and the province of South Holland.
“The grid edge is the place where the biggest part of the energy transition takes place”. A sentence you here a lot in the utility world. This statement was for Siemens and Alliander the motivation to dive deeper in the grid edge. Technologies such as PV, EV and heat pumps are becoming rapidly common practice in the low-voltage distribution grid. All of these technologies have one thing in common: they increase the load on the grid. The goal for the joint project was to develop a method to forecast the load on the low-voltage section of the grid, without the use of smart meter data. This in order to have a more accurate load-forecasting for residential areas. In addition it has also been a case in which Siemens and Alliander were able to test and develop new hardware together.
For this project, Alliander selected a residential area where existing houses have completely been overhauled to achieve zero-energy homes. This means that those overhauled homes are being equipped with the afore mentioned technologies. In order to have a better view on the load characteristics, Siemens installed additional measuring equipment in the low-voltages street cabinets and connected them to the higher level cloud system. Together with Omnetric, Siemens developed a cloud based system to have more accurate load forecasting in the low voltage section of the grid, without having the need of smart meter data.
Leveraging advanced control strategies to enable aggregation of hybrid renewable power plants is the key to tackling both challenges around local grid congestion as well as national network balancing.
In this session, Philip will discuss experience in projects that combine large-scale renewable energy generation together with (battery) storage systems, on the one hand adressing the topic of avoiding local grid congestion, and TSO network balancing on the other hand.
Within the presentation, Philips will be discussing three project cases:
- Hartel II (10MW / 10MWh battery + 24MW wind)
- Hellegatsplein (first mobile battery docking station in NL integrated with a wind farm; 3MW / 3MWh battery + 12 MW wind)
- “Rhino Battery” (12 MW / 7,5 MWh battery integrated within a private microgrid with a 180MVA high voltage connection and a total of 200MW+ of solar and wind)
The expansion of renewable energies poses a greater need for flexibility to guarantee an electricity system that is cost-effective and at the same time guarantees security of supply. In this context, flexibility markets are key for the successful integration of renewables into the electricity system. Flex markets enable system operators to resolve physical congestion reliably and economically. The flexibility providers, on the other hand, receive an additional marketing opportunity for the flexibility they can provide. In this way, flexibility markets are an important enabler of demand-side flexibility.
EPEX SPOT as an operator of local flexibility markets gained first important insights amongst others in the enera project in Northern German. The enera project is a success in that it has shown that a flexibility market is not only technically possible, but also offers real added value by eliminating physical congestions. At the same time, the project allowed to identify regulatory hurdles that also hold true on a European scale.
Which future perspectives do we see for local flex markets? How can they support the existing zonal model? How can regulatory challenges be overcome to reap the full benefits of market-based flexibility options and enable an efficient energy transition?
The integration of demand response in Energy Performance Contracts is the main focus of the EU H2020 project “AmBIENCe”.
Energy Service Companies (ESCO’s) are definitely keen on the additional value stream to finance energy efficiency measures in customers buildings, but find it hard to estimate the value of energy flexibility. The ABEPeM (Active Building Energy Performance Modelling) tool, which is under development in the AmBIENCe project, will help the ESCO to calculate the operational cost savings and return on investment of renovations and smart control of assets. In this presentation the concept of the ABEPeM tool will be explained and illustrated with an example.
The Active building Energy Performance Contract (EPC) business and contract model aims to integrate the performance-based and output driven elements of existing Energy Performance Contracting for public and private buildings with performance-based flexibility based on Demand Response (DR) services. From the business concept, through the value chain, the role and interaction of the stakeholders, to the business model itself, we are exploring the opportunity that this new generation EPC model has to offer. Particular attention is given to the ways to valorize flexibility within the scope of EPC in buildings and the interaction between ESCOs and market aggregators of flexibility.
In this Webinar, Nilufar Neyestani from INESC TEC, will present the developed contract and business model for the implementation of Active EPC through the findings of the AmBIENCe project. These findings highlight the role of flexibility and its valorization in the energy performance of the buildings as well as the roles of stakeholders such as flexibility requesters (e.g., DSOs/TSOs) and flexibility providers (e.g., ESCOs) in the process of energy performance contracting.
This innovation project aims to pilot testing the possibilities and capabilities of delivering Frequency Containment Reserves (FCR) from parked electric vehicles (EVs).
A comparison between the use of unidirectional and bi-directional (V2G) charging poles is performed.
This is a collaborative effort between Elia Transmission Belgium, Enervalis, EVConsult, and NewMotion, with the backing of funding from the Flemish government.
More information: https://innovation.eliagroup.eu/projects/v2g/
Opening keynote: Delivering the energy transition thanks to flexibility from everywhere in the system
Fast-paced changes are already impacting the power system: increasing renewables, more electrification of demand and decentralization of production, and digitalisation across the entire value chain. This brings major challenges for transmission system operators to keep the future system in balance and manage congestions to optimally use the transmission infrastructure. But it also brings new opportunities that will benefit consumers, market players and system operators.
James Matthys-Donnadieu, Head of Market Development at Elia Transmission Belgium, will share Elia’s experience to keep the increasing flexibility needs under control and cover them in an efficient way. James will also bring forward Elia’s view on how to operate the future system by taking advantage of new flexibility sources from everywhere in the system, and how consumers (industries, SME’s and individuals) will play a central role for this.
FLEXITY is one of the leading Use Cases within the Internet of Energy (IO.Energy) initiative and is a collaboration of several well-known players in the energy market (ENGIE, Fluvius, CGI and Elia Transmission Belgium) strengthened with some promising start-ups that offer new groundbreaking digital services (Jedlix, TIKO, Voltalis, Verv energy) to the end-consumer. FLEXITY’s ambitions are twofold:
- Test which household assets (EV, boilers,…) can technically be operated and investigate which value can be offered (reduction in energy bill,…) to the end-consumer (ex. via ToU tariffs);
- Test how the digital meter facilitates the settlement of residential flexibility in the balancing market.
For more information, visit: https://www.ioenergy.eu/flexity/ and follow our progress on https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/28863407
NODES AS was founded in February 2018 by Agder Energi and Nord Pool and is led by Enno Böttcher, who was appointed CEO in January 2019. NODES believes in creating the marketplace for the future, which will support the drive to an emission-free society. An open, transparent, and independent marketplace will unlock the real value of flexibility. NODES market facilitates the trading of flexibility between grid operators and flexibility providers. NODES’ bottom-up, innovative, and integrated market design will make flexibility available to all levels of the grid. In his presentation, Hallstein Hagen will share the NODES’ journey with reference to flexibility projects.
This presentation is about new utility business models, as consumers increasingly become prosumers. About the real economics of new energy. And about why and how aggregators can and should speed up the transition.
Topics:
- Duck Curve
- Report: How Energy Flexibility can help reducing CO2 emissions
Many public policies seek to promote energy efficiency, but energy efficiency isn’t precisely what we want. What we want is emission efficiency. There is a lot of debate about the challenges of the new energy landscape but there is also some misconception. Economic incentives influence our behavior much more than ideology. Whatever the perspectives, we need to deal with the introduction of vast amounts of renewable energy on Europe’s grids.
Battery Management : teamwork between storage and energy management
On request of TKI Urban Energy, DNV GL and Technolution have set up a guideline to integrate stationary battery systems in a smart grid control system in an easy way. In this session, they will elaborate on that.
When we want to incorporate Electricity Storage Systems in the Electricity System, we need the Energy Management System (EMS) of, for example, an aggregator and the storage Energy Management System of the battery system to work together.
In various innovation projects, we see developers and system integrators of battery systems struggling with the establishment of a good storage EMS that ‘flex players’ like aggregators can use easily.
When interoperability is frustrated, it leads on the one hand to frustration and delay, because the battery developer is going to interfere too much with charging strategies. On the other hand, the aggregator may not get the right tools to control the battery.
The guideline helps developers of battery systems in creating a good storage EMS, while it helps flex parties to gain insight into the rules of the game in order to manage a battery properly.
Flexibility is a key enabler of extensive penetration of renewable power generation.
Ranging from various forms of demand response to fuel switching, a wide range of flexibility solutions are being developed and trialed by energy companies, aggregators, communities, and end-users globally.
Inspired by a recent Guidehouse study completed for TKI Urban Energy on the lessons learned from flexibility pilots in the Netherlands, Ben Grunfeld will reflect on flexibility programs in the Netherlands, the US, and the UK. He will also share insights on developing and operationalizing flexibility programs in a commercially viable way for various stakeholders across the flexibility value chain.
Arjan will explore (open) standards and protocols for unlocking energy flexibility for the in-home and building domain
The electricity system is slowly but surely coming under pressure due to the energy transition. The strong growth of sustainable and decentralized generation entails intermittent electricity production, fluctuating due to the weather. As a result, a balance is increasingly being sought between supply and demand. We strive for unlocking flexibility from the potential flexible devices in-home (amongst others) as a measure to cope with this challenge.
To be able to control a device to unlock flexibility, connectivity, a communication channel, is required between the device and the external party that asks for this flexibility. This connectivity is a precondition for energy flexibility. ElaadNL has performed a study which focuses on the technical (im)possibilities for unlocking the flexibility of various potentially flexible devices. This study has provided insight in the ways in which flexibility can be unlocked from different flexible devices. These insights are shared at Flexcon2020.
This talk will address the opportunities of innovations in product and market design for system operators to support secure and reliable system operations.
VITO/EnergyVille will present an electricity market simulator that allows system operators to assess the impact of product characteristics and market rules on the participation of new technologies (e.g. wind, hydrogen,…) on the one hand and the impact of bidding strategies of market players on the other hand. Consequently, the simulator allows system operators to define the optimal product-and market set-up that guarantees that the potential of flexibility is fully exploited at an affordable cost. We illustrate in an example case how the results obtained with the EnergyVille simulator support the inclusion of wind as important source of flexibility for system operation.
Unlocking the potential of energy assets integration: enhance demand-side flexibility
Less-carbon-intensive energy supplies are on the rise to curb CO2 emissions derived from unrestrained energy-consumption habits. The likely availability of new technologies fuelled by these green energy sources, and with the inherent potential of turning users into prosumers, is receiving a boost, too.
Daniele will delve into the leading capabilities of Enel X, key player in the energy sector, to regulate the demand-supply process of a complete fleet of Distributer Energy Resource assets in a community with the holistic approach of the “Virtual Power Plants” (VPPs).
Solar panels, electric vehicles, storage systems and many more assets are aggregated to form a VPP which enables easier enrolment in Demand Response programmes. The virtual brain of this network – the central control system – remotely combines, monitors, coordinates and controls all involved resources from different locations so that the grid remains stable and reliable for all and at all times.
With VPPs gaining ground for their cost-saving and environmental benefits for the grid, consumers, and utilities alike, Enel X is harnessing their two-way flexibility to minimize grid constraint and deliver premium services tailored to the preference of each participant.
Daniele will be sharing insights at Flexcon2020 around the promising potential of energy assets integration for communities.
The changing landscape of aggregators and Commercial & Industrial demand side flexibility
The development of commercial and industrial business models for demand side flexibility over the last 5 years has been significant. We’ve seen increasing competition from new entrants and incumbents, many acquisitions and partnerships, a software-as-a-service boom, new niches being identified, and the aggregator business model diversify and expand.
Philippa will discus some trends we see:
- Companies are less prone to call themselves ‘aggregators’ anymore – it’s technology company, and rightly so. There are few ‘independent aggregators’ left.
- Key trends in aggregators include becoming a BRP to participate in otherwise inaccessible markets, offering a more ‘holistic’ solution (including e.g. energy management), change to a software-as-a-service company or exit via acquisition.
- Business models vary to a certain extent by country – due to regulations, incentives, customer types or market structures.
- Hot topics in the Commercial & Industrial Demand Side management space today are DSO flexibility markets, energy-as-a-service models and emerging intelligent energy management / IIoT.
Frank will discuss the next steps TenneT is taking in innovative platforms to facilitate decentralised flexibility for balancing and congestion management – EQUIGY and GOPACS – in which they work closely together with their partners: TSO’s, DSO’s and market parties.
At the same time, the demand for flexibility from Balancing Responsible Market is set to grow substantially in the coming years, to a size that will overshadow balancing and congestion management needs. It is therefore key that the market design enables the efficient use of flexibility across purposes, and seamless opportunities for owners to valorise their flexibility resources across all flexibility needs. This will also be discussed in this session.
We see an increasing need for standardized ways to unlock the Energy Flexibility from Heatpumps and EV ChargePoints.
We wanted to know what the current state of affairs is in the Energy Flexibility of residential HPs and EV charge points. How easy can they be integrated into flexibility services? How many are actually integrated in Smart Grids? What standards are predominant or promising? How willing are OEMs to give full access and control of their products to 3rd parties?
In this session, we will share the findings of the research FAN and Delta-ee performed in 2019.
Enabling new flexibility: The ALDEL/ENERGY POOL partnership
End-users undoubtedly play a key role in the energy transition. As one of the largest electricity consumers in the Netherlands, ALDEL is convinced of it. ALDEL launched an ambitious green strategy with a ten-year plan to make their core activity – producing aluminum – more efficient and sustainable. The first phase of this plan focusses on the unlocking of the site latent flexibility for grid stabilization.
To lead this first phase of the project, ALDEL partners with the Smart Energy Manager Energy Pool. Since the contract signature end of 2019, Energy Pool and ALDEL work closely to adapt the installation and implement the required systems (automation infrastructure, market interface and bidding strategy, etc.) to enable ALDEL facilities to act as a virtual battery and monetize the flexibility.
Since July the 1st, Energy Pool provides services to ALDEL on mFRRda. The target in the near future is to enable FCR and aFRR valorization.
During this presentation, Energy Pool and ALDEL representatives will give you further insights on their cooperation, from ALDEL green plan to Energy Pool expertise to unlock new flexibilities.
Frauke and Bert will close the conference and summarize the highlights.