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.

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.