Worldwide we have a problem:
global warming and climate change.
In this regard, the European Union
(EU) has decided to raise its target of
energy consumption from renewable
energy sources (RES) to 32% by 2030.
By 2050, the EU aims to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by
at least 80% compared to 1990 levels.
In this process, the power grid has
been part of the problem but it is
also part of the solution.
In the last few years, the appearance
of renewable energy sources,
distributed generation, and the
advances in power electronics, and
sensing and communications has led
to a change on the energy paradigm
(redefining the electrical networks),
changing the way we understand it.
The advent of the Smart Grid is
a reality, making it the future of
electrical power infrastructures.
With this, an important number of
agents (sources, storage devices
and consumers) will have intelligent
interfaces allowing the regulation of
the injection and extraction of power
into the grid. This context will create
multiple alternatives to increase the
efficiency in electricity generation
and consumption, to reduce energy
costs and to provide a more reliable
operation of electrical grids. However,
it also poses new challenges into
power distribution due to weather
variability, load uncertainty and
system coordination. A stable, reliable
and secure operation of these future
networks will be only possible with
suitable control algorithms.
All these problems are currently
addressed by INCITE by developing
solutions and control strategies for
the electricity grid of tomorrow.
The general objective of the research
programme of INCITE, an H2020
MSCA Innovative Training Network, is
to propose innovative solutions for
the challenging work of controlling
and designing the future electrical
networks. Another goal is to create
a multidisciplinary research space
with a complete view of the smart
grid control sector where talented
young researchers can be trained
through research. In other words,
INCITE aims to cover the existing
gap between theory and smart grid
real world applications, in order to
ensure the proper understanding
of the novel problems arising due
to the implementation of such new
technologies as well as to provide
with tools that cope with such new
requirements.
Some of the key objectives of the
research plan of INCITE are:
- To provide the Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) at the heart of the project with deep knowledge in control, optimisation, power electronics and power systems with a complete view of the real necessities of the main actors in the smart-grid sector.
- To create a multi-sectoral space where industry and academia can interact to find new and better control solutions for the future electrical networks.
- To develop high-quality tools and methodologies for the control, power management and monitoring for smart grids.
INCITE, Innovative controls for
renewable source integration into
smart energy systems, brings
together a group of 14 PhDs and is
funded by the European Union’s
Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under Marie Sklodowska-
Curie grant agreement 675318.
INCITE, making the grid smarter.
Contact details:
Dr. Jose Luis Dominguez Garcia
INCITE Coordinator
Head of the Power Systems Group
IREC
Email: jldominguez@irec.cat
Web: www.irec.cat