OPENTUNITY Plenary Meeting Sparks Innovation in Energy Solutions in Granollers
OPENTUNITY Plenary Meeting Sparks Innovation in Energy Solutions in Granollers
09/02/2024
On February 6th and 7th, the OPENTUNITY consortium convened for its Plenary Meeting at Anell premises in Granollers, Spain, a pivotal hub within our pilot site network.
The meeting buzzed with energy and enthusiasm as discussions delved into the core pillars of our project: OPENFLEX, OPENGRID, and OPENABILITY. These initiatives signify our dedication to fostering flexibility in the prosumer’s environment, enhancing grid management technologies for DSOs/TSOs, and streamlining procedures to boost interoperability. Furthermore, partners addressed the different use cases in our pilot sites across Spain, Greece, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
Crucially, these deliberations marked pivotal steps towards our forthcoming report to the EU Commission. This report, a culmination of 16 months of dedicated work, represents a significant milestone in our journey towards shaping the future of energy systems in Europe.
Beyond the boardroom, the consortium had the privilege of immersing ourselves in Anell’s facilities—a testament to the evolution from a textile company to a dynamic DSO. This firsthand experience provided invaluable insights into the practical applications of our work, grounding our discussions in real-world contexts.
Spanish pilot site prepares to test OPENTUNITY’s uses cases
Spanish pilot site prepares to test OPENTUNITY’s uses cases
02/02/2024
ANELL partner, the lead partner for the Spanish pilot site, is prepared to star testing the OPENTUNITY’s use cases. After a period identifying challenges in the company’s grid and defining corresponding solutions, the Catalan DSO initiated the process of delineating the pilot site’s activity area. This mainly covers municipality of Santa Eulàlia de Ronçana, a town located in the county of Vallés Oriental (Barcelona), spanning 14 km2 with a mix of urban and rural areas. ANELL manages almost 80km of Low Voltage (LV) lines, 30km of Medium Voltage (MV) lines and is supplying around 2.500 Smart Meters.
Santa Eulalia de Ronçana was selected based on the high frequency of non-technical losses in the area and the amount of residential photovoltaic solar panel installations, around 120 with a maximum power capacity of around 1 MW. This aligns with ANELL’s main concerns of minimizing losses and maximizing service quality.
OPENTUNITY’s Use Cases will be very valuable for ANELL in addressing different challenges. Some will focus on determining discrepancies on grid’s topology and estimating the state of the network to tackle the low observability in the LV grid, facilitating the identification of discrepancies and faults. Others will address strategies for managing the recent increase of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), different strategies to deal with congestions and loss of capacity due to this massive penetration will be done.
There is also an emphasis on supporting the energy transition by fostering demand-side flexibility to handle congestions and mitigate the impact of DER.
Finally, other use cases will focus on detecting of non-technical losses along the grid, calculating MV lines capacity due to thermal variations, and enhancing system reliability and resilience by identifying critical assets and developing aging and failure models.
These efforts collectively address ANELL’s main needs forming the core of the Spanish Pilot.
Pilot site in Spain.
ANELL premises in Granollers, Barcelona.
Working to reach final users
Working to reach final users
23/01/2024
How will OPENTUNITY solutions reach users and become viable business models?
In OPENTUNITY, we are not just building a network of innovations to open up the electricity ecosystem to various stakeholders, but also to provide a genuine opportunity for real decarbonization. Our specific goal at OPENTUNITY is to ensure that our innovations reach the intended actors and effectively enter the market.
By providing social science and economic expertise, the JOANNEUM RESEARCH LIFE team has a special role in OPENTUNITY. They ensure that the solutions developed in OPENTUNITY find their way to users and become part of viable business models. Currently, they are developing an integrated research strategy that enables collecting close user feedback for the technological features to be tested at the demo sites in Greece, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland.
The feedback tool will provide a low-threshold opportunity for users to provide feedback on their experience and enable them to submit concrete ideas for improvement.
In parallel, preliminary business models and value chains for each OPENTUNITY demo site have been created. They will be further detailed and quantified as the project moves along. Stay tuned!
Here our partners from JOANNEUM RESEARCH LIFE: Stephan Schwarzinger, Michael Brenner-Fließer and Camilla Neumann.
Cost Minimization through Flexible Demand Optimization
Cost Minimization through Flexible Demand Optimization
13/12/2023
In the pursuit of cost minimization, OPENTUNITY is at the forefront of revolutionizing the energy landscape by optimizing the scheduling of flexible demand for consumers and energy communities. Our focus encompasses crucial elements such as HVACs (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), domestic hot water (DHW) devices, electric vehicles (EVs), and energy storage systems.
Our partner Hypertech a key player in this venture, is actively developing a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to achieve optimal results in flexible demand optimization. The essence of this approach lies in the strategic time shifting of loads, leveraging baseline profiles provided for each asset. This strategy proves to be pivotal in achieving lower customer bills, especially when coupled with a variable price profile available to consumers.
To illustrate the tangible benefits of our methodology, consider the following example involving two households equipped with two DHW devices and an HVAC system. Through our approach, the demand is intelligently shifted to time steps when electricity prices are lower. The outcome? A substantial cost reduction of 12.5%, showcasing the efficiency and practicality of OPENTUNITY’s commitment to cost-effective energy solutions.
ENLIT, networking and Christmas wishes
ENLIT, networking and Christmas wishes
01/12/2023
This week, OPENTUNITY made its debut in the dynamic world of “ENLIT” at the EU Project Zone of ENLIT 2023, featuring a stand and active participation in a hub session centered around “Grid Technologies.”
With the festive season around the corner, this event served as a delightful pre-Christmas gathering for numerous EU-funded projects. It was an ideal meeting point for projects involved in Smart Grid and Digitalization as part of the BRIDGE initiative. The venue provided a unique opportunity to connect with other projects, foster collaborations, and highlight the benefits and potential impact of the project to other visitors on energy sector driving the energy transition.
OPENTUNITY proudly hosted a booth alongside other EU projects and engaged in the “Grid Technologies” session, which focused on the grid infrastructure and technologies crucial for facilitating the energy transition. During this session, our project coordinator elucidated that OPENTUNITY is actively developing digital solutions for the grid to support the energy transition. This includes the creation of software platforms designed to assist small Distribution System Operators (DSOs) lacking proper topology data and state estimation, thereby enhancing their functionalities.
The session featured lively discussions involving various projects such as Smart5Grid, TRANSLATE, VPP4ISLANDS, LIFE SF6-FREE HV BREAKER, LIFE SF6-FREE GIS, and SECO2ND LIFE GIS. Beyond these interactions, the session provided an opportunity to express a Christmas wish to the European Commission concerning Energy Policy.
At OPENTUNITY, our focus is on Artificial Intelligence, where data plays a pivotal role. Smart meters stand out as a primary source of this essential data. Therefore, OPENTUNITY’s Christmas wish revolves around the continuous and accelerated rollout of smart meters throughout Europe. While some countries, like Spain, have successfully completed this rollout, many other EU countries have only just begun. This lag in progress means that we are currently missing out on valuable data necessary for advancing innovative Grid Technologies in line with the goals of the energy transition.
Driving Energy Flexibility Forward: UL’s Innovative Forecast Models in OPENTUNITY
The OPENTUNITY project aims to empower end-users by leveraging their flexibility assets within the ecosystem, supporting local system operators and creating new revenue streams. Aggregators play a key role by gathering flexibility from various sources and offering it to energy markets, optimizing asset activation when bids are accepted. This is where the University of Ljubljana (UL) contributes significantly.
UL’s main involvement in OPENTUNITY is in Task 4.4, focusing on developing a method for optimal flexibility selection from units of various sizes and types. The outcome will be an algorithm for optimal selection based on market participation (DSO or TSO) and minimal cost criteria.
We’ve adopted a bottom-up approach, splitting the task into:
- Baseline and flexibility forecast models for EV fleet (AVANT) and HEMS fleet (AMIBIT).
- Optimal selection algorithm.
Currently, we’re focused on developing forecast models for EV and HEMS fleets using Python, Keras, and Tensorflow. The analysis of charging point (CP) data for EV fleets shows significant flexibility potential during night hours by postponing charging sessions.
The difference between charging session length can be seen in the figure below.
This flexibility potential is further illustrated in the figure below.
In the coming months, UL will continue to delve into baseline and flexibility forecasting for EV and HEMS fleets, marking the initial step towards developing the optimal selection innovation and empowering end-users within the flexibility ecosystem.
Enhancing Line Rating for Efficient Electricity Market Operation
Enhancing Line Rating for Efficient Electricity Market Operation
06/11/2023
The Line Rating stands as an important factor influencing the efficient operation of the electricity market. Static Line Rating methodologies typically yield conservative capacity estimations, often derived from worst-case weather conditions scenarios. Improving the accuracy of current rating estimations can significantly boost the utilization of distribution system lines, increase the hosting capacity of Renewable Energy Sources (RES), and mitigate the need for costly DSO (Distribution System Operator) upgrades.
Accurately gauging the technical limits of power lines entails measuring air and conductor temperatures, solar heat intensity, and wind speed/direction. Achieving high accuracy and reliability in these estimations typically necessitates the installation of an array of sensors along the line, consequently increasing the cost of such solutions.
In the context of OPENTUNITY, ICCS partner is taking on the task of developing a cost-effective, real-time thermal rating algorithm. ICCS plans to employ machine learning techniques to incorporate numerical weather forecasts and data obtained from sensors within the OPENTUNITY ecosystem, including those in proximity to distribution lines such as RES plants and home automation systems. This approach aims to provide accurate line current rating estimations without the need for multiple sensors spanning the entire line.
ICCS is deeply engaged in research within this field, amalgamating conventional practices related to real-time current ratings derived from industry standards such as CIGRE and IEEE, as well as state-of-the-art research methods. This fusion of established and innovative approaches to real-time current rating is a promising step towards enhancing the efficiency of electricity market operation.
ENLIT's Exclusive Interview with OPENTUNITY's Project Coordinator
ENLIT's Exclusive Interview with OPENTUNITY's Project Coordinator
30/10/2023
During the European Sustainable Energy Week 2023, Alvaro Nofuentes, the project coordinator of OPENTUNITY, had the privilege of being interviewed by the Enlit team.
This insightful interview served as a platform for our project coordinator to not only introduce the OPENTUNITY project but also to delve into the pressing challenges within the renewable energy sector, highlighting the continuous demand for a skilled workforce and technological advancements. Despite these challenges, he conveyed an optimistic outlook regarding the progress being achieved in the field.
The conversation took an interesting turn towards the realm of digitalization, with Alvaro emphasizing the transformative effects of smart meter rollouts. These rollouts play a pivotal role in democratising energy data, making it accessible to consumers and providing invaluable insights for grid operators.
In discussions about the role of policy, he commended the European Commission’s BRIDGE Initiative for its role in fostering collaboration among various smart grid projects. He also underscored the Commission’s supportive role in shaping potential new regulations.
Our project coordinator’s insights serve as a powerful reminder of the significance of collaborative efforts in reaching sustainable energy objectives. The OPENTUNITY project serves as a clear demonstration of the steadfast dedication to overcoming obstacles and embracing digitalisation, ultimately playing a role in creating a greener and more efficient energy landscape.
Embarking on AI-Powered Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) Algorithms
Embarking on AI-Powered Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) Algorithms
11/10/2023
ETRA‘s role in this project extends beyond mere coordination; it also involves the delivery of innovative technologies and solutions to empower grid operators. One significant stride in this journey is ETRA’s work in the development of Artificial Intelligence-based Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) algorithms. This algorithm belongs to the OPENFLEX innovation.
These advanced algorithms harness data derived from overall household energy consumption, enabling the inference of active appliances and their respective energy usage at any given moment. What sets NILM apart is its ability to achieve disaggregated energy consumption insights without the need for submetering, offering cost-effective benefits to end-users.
ETRA has conducted extensive research in this field, meticulously assessing the State of the Art. The most promising avenue for its work is the development of semi-supervised algorithms, an area that remains relatively uncharted in the realm of AI. Within the OPENTUNITY project, ETRA is committed to expanding knowledge in this domain, ultimately delivering new technology to European households built on this innovative and promising approach.
OPENTUNITY Team Gathers in Ljubljana for Second Plenary Meeting
OPENTUNITY Team Gathers in Ljubljana for Second Plenary Meeting
05/10/2023
From October 3rd to 4th, the OPENTUNITY team convened in Ljubljana for its highly second Plenary Meeting, hosted by the Laboratory of Energy Policy (UL).
During the meeting, partners engaged in comprehensive discussions regarding the latest advancements in their respective tasks. This collaborative gathering facilitated the exchange of invaluable insights and allowed the team to explore the Slovenian site.
From a technical standpoint, the meeting included presentations on the current status of relevant use cases, providing a detailed overview of ongoing research and development efforts. As a result of these discussions, the partners collectively agreed on a set of next steps, including initiating the transmission of data from pilot sites to technical partners as per their requests and finalising the architecture modeling.
In addition to the productive discussions, the visit to Elektro Ljubljana d.d. (DSO) offered the partners a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s dynamic energy landscape.