Flex4Grid aims at creating an open data and service framework that enables a novel concept of managing flexibility of prosumer demand and generation, utilising cloud computing for power grid management and opening Distribution System Operator infrastructure for aggregator services.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
The advent of distributed power sources, such as photovoltaics and windmill plants, gave rise to energy prosumers, which generate and consume electrical energy. Energy demand and energy generation by prosumers is volatile and can impact the grid infrastructure and stakeholders, but they can be flexibly adapted to thwart those impacts.
Flex4Grid aims at creating an open data and service framework that enables a novel concept of managing flexibility of prosumer demand and generation, utilising cloud computing for power grid management and, opening DSO infrastructure for aggregator services. The system will be built up from existing ICT components that have been developed by the consortium partners over many years in research projects on IoT and Cloud computing. This high maturity allows Flex4Grid to aim for a system prototype of TRL 7.
The Flex4Grid system will include:
a) a data cloud service with anonymised interface and advanced security and privacy mechanisms for data exchange and service management,
b) prosumer generation and demand flexibility, and
c) a more viable business model to accelerate the deployment.
The major innovations are:
a) opening the market for new entrants by secure and privacy enabling third party cloud data and energy management services,
b) actionable common and multilevel data management and analytics services for Smart Grids, and
c) the use of co-creation to bring end users into the value creation process.
System validation will be carried out in real-world pilots in three live electricity networks with different scenarios ranging from deployment during smart meter rollout and retro-fitting to large scale operation and federated demonstration of multi-site pilots.
REAL-WORLD EVALUATION IN MULTI-SITE DEMONSTRATORS
Three DSOs are part of the consortium and the Flex4Grid system will be piloted in their networks, including a significant number of prosumers and Flex4Grid gateways that bridge the communication between DSOs and HAN (Home Automation Network) / Building Management System (BMS). These three distribution networks exhibit different characteristics that allow validating the Flex4Grid system in different scenarios. An iterative approach will be applied in order to ensure a smooth deployment of the Flex4Grid system in settings of growing complexity and size, and to maximise the feedback on technical and business level.
EXPECTED IMPACT
The system introduced by the Flex4Grid activity will use results from preceding research projects as baseline to transfer the results into the market and follows a business-driven approach by exploring new value-generating service offerings for customers.
Active demand response will be demonstrated in the life electricity networks of all three pilot locations. New business models will be deployed where DSOs, prosumers and the third party hosting the data manager will act as marketer. Participating companies will roll out new services to the market place to ensure business viability of the project.
The Flex4Grid system will open new markets for third parties via cloud based services, going beyond smart meters. Applying cloud solutions (security, privacy, analytics, predictions for the customer) in the context of smart grids will strengthen the competitiveness in this sector.
CONTACT DETAILS
Markus Taumberger
VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH
CENTRE OF FINLAND LTD
markus.taumberger@vtt.fi