Page 27 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2017 publication

Summer 2017 European Energy Innovation 27
(Em)powering local
flexibility aggregation
The European project entitled “Mas2tering” exploits
the Multi-Agent System (MAS) paradigm of Artificial
Intelligence in the context of low-voltage (LV)
power grids for residential customers to develop
technologies that will empower cyber-secure active demand
response (DR) in domestic and small-scale commercial
applications. Mas²tering is an acronym that stands for
“Multi-agent systems and secured coupling of telecom and
energy grids for next generation smart grid services.”
MOTIVATION & APPROACH
Evidence suggests that residential flexibility will dominate
EU demand response potential by 20301 – but is (as of
today) the least utilized and least available source of
flexibility due to its decentralized nature, technological
and regulatory barriers, which in turn provide the
motivation to empower consumers to act, make smart
home and networks a reality and to ensure data protection
and participation in fair and transparent market-based
offers. If the potential of residential flexibility can be
unlocked then some of the concerns about electrification,
renewables and grid reliability would be addressed while
simultaneously increasing consumer choice opening new
business collaboration opportunities. As such, Mas2tering
enables consumers and prosumers alike with smart
devices to participate in sharing electricity within the
local community (low-voltage grid) through small to large
flexibility aggregators – all powered up by a set of business
models, developed in close collaboration with key industry
stakeholders.
INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED BY
MAS²TERING, KNOWN AS THE “MAS PLATFORM”
• Energy Boxes of Telecom Italia S.p.A for connecting
home smart appliances with the smart meter and acting
as gateway to the rest of the grid
• MAS optimization framework for algorithms that enable
decentralized flexibility management, developed by
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy
Commission (CEA)
• Real-time weather, energy generation and load
forecasting for individual houses to LV grid developed by
Cardiff University
• Early warning system for cyber security monitoring,
developed by Airbus Cybersecurity
Deliberate and cutting edge, a MAS approach means that
decisions are taken by “agents,” e.g. the devices themselves
in a cost-effective manner using optimization algorithms. A
MAS Platform is then used to coordinate the DR actions of
the agents in its domain.
1 “Impact Assessment Study On Downstream Flexibility, Price Flexibility,
Demand Response & Smart Metering – Final Report”, EU Commission DG
Energy, July 2016
COMMUNICATION
INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MODELS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF
THE MAS PLATFORM AND PROSUMER COMMUNITIES
To utilize the MAS Platform and make it a viable business
opportunity, local aggregators will manage the flexibility
provided by prosumers belonging to the same community,
enabling local LV flexibility management and in turn
supporting higher-voltage (industrial) grid-connected
parties by softening peaks & troughs. This local aggregator
employs a multi-sided business model connecting
prosumers, energy retailers and distribution system
operators (DSOs) in the LV grid. Early adopters of this
disruptive business model are likely to be incumbent utilities
and/or telecoms competing for customer base retention or
acquisition. Moreover, the MAS Platform and its associated
business models allow existing energy aggregators to
extend their existing (industrial/commercial) flexibility
portfolios “down” to the residential level.
INITIAL RESULTS OF MAS²TERING AND NEXT STEPS FOR
MAS PLATFORM COMMERCIALIZATION
• Local balancing saves up to 10% of LV grid losses and
supports deferral of investment for grid reinforcement
• Prosumers can save up to 30% of their energy cost (as a
function of available flexibility)
• The solution allows up to 20% higher renewable hosting
capacity of the grid
• Local optimization of flexibility can be easily integrated
into existing energy market mechanisms
What’s next? Mas2tering has focused on a restricted part of
the grid and on planning and validating the optimal use of
local flexibility with a market mechanism compatible with
day-ahead and intraday energy markets. Next steps are to
extend the MAS Platform capabilities to the operational
phase (close to real time) and to integrate it into larger
portions of the grid. ●
Contact details: Email: info@mas2tering.eu
Web: www.mas2tering.eu
This project has received funding from the
European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme
for research, technological development and
demonstration under grant agreement no 619682