BRIDGE initiative
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.
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.
Meeting OPENTUNITY at ENLIT 2023
Meeting OPENTUNITY at ENLIT 2023
02/10/2023
Are you planning to attend the Enlit Europe 2023 Conference? If so, don’t miss the opportunity to connect with the OPENTUNITY team at the EU Projects Zone of Enlit Europe Conference, scheduled for November 28-30 in Paris, as well as during the Hub sessions!
During the three-day event, visitors can visit OPENTUNITY at booth 7.2.H80-16. Moreover, OPENTUNITY’s project coordinator will be presenting the goals, benefits, and impact of the project as part of a special session highlighting the newly launched Horizon Europe projects within the BRIDGE initiative.
Enlit serves as a prestigious energy forum that brings industries together, ignites actionable insights, and contributes to the transformation of Europe’s energy landscape into a decarbonized and digitalized system for the energy transition. The forum covers a wide spectrum of topics in the energy agenda, ranging from decarbonizing industries and transportation to power generation and energy storage.
This gathering is set to take place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and anticipates the participation of 12,000 attendees, more than 700 international exhibitors, and over 500 speakers. The event will also feature an EU Projects Zone, where various Horizon Energy and LIFE CET projects managed by CINEA will be showcased.
OPENTUNITY Team Explores Greek Pilot Site
OPENTUNITY Team Explores Greek Pilot Site
12/05/2023
Between 9-10 May, The OPENTUNITY consortium marked Europe Day in Athens with the 2nd Plenary Meeting of the project, providing an excellent opportunity for in-depth discussions and idea exchange regarding the project’s ongoing progress alongside the partners. The gathering served as a catalyst for continued collaboration, ensuring substantial headway in the project’s development.
A key highlight of this gathering was the visit to the ΔΕΔΔΗΕ Α.Ε. HEDNO S.A. facilities in Athens, which afforded the consortium a more comprehensive understanding of our pilot site in Greece.
Situated in Mesogia, in the southeastern part of Attica near Athens, the Greek pilot site is home to the Markopoulo Substation. This substation, situated at the confluence of the transmission and distribution systems, transforms voltage from the 150kV (part of TS) level to the 20kV level (part of DS). Its purpose is to supply power to 2812 residences and 123 commercial establishments.
The site boasts three 150kV/20kV transformers, each with a rated apparent power of 40/50MVA, adequately meeting the load requirements of the connected consumers. To support voltage, a capacitor bank with a capacity of 24MVar is deployed on the MV side. The pilot exhibits an impressive 27.043 MW of photovoltaic plants connected to the distribution network. HEDNO, as the DSO, IPTO as the TSO, and ICCS as the IT supporter are the principal partners involved in this endeavor.
What advantages will OPENTUNITY bring to this pilot?
Primarily, the project will enhance network observability by implementing OPENTUNITY’s topology identification and state estimation techniques in grid areas with limited monitoring equipment. This enhancement supports more intelligent grid management across the entire network.
The pilot will also introduce new planning methodologies, employing OPENTUNITY’s grid planning optimization to accommodate the integration of new distributed renewable energy sources (RES) and to facilitate the integration of electromobility and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) into the grid.
Additionally, the pilot will conduct local flexibility market testing with the assistance of Flexibility Market Operator NODES, responsible for operating the local market and managing interactions between the DSO and flexibility providers.
Lastly, TSO/DSO collaboration will be fortified through enhanced data sharing utilizing the OPENTUNITY blockchain. This ensures efficient and cyber-secure data exchange, ultimately promoting more harmonious grid management between medium-voltage (MV) and high-voltage (HV) lines.
