Managing future
grids with the new
VPP Concept

Developing next generation virtual power plant

Our European research and innovation project edgeFLEX aims at further developing the concept of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) to manage a wider range of generation and storage assets in a new way. By offering a set of fast and dynamic service-to-grid operations, the emergence of a new market for ancillary services will be enabled. The ten project partners propose a new architecture of VPPs with communications, supported by 5G, corresponding to multiple layers of dynamics, paving the way for a fully renewable energy system. With the expansion of the VPP concept to the idea of local energy communities, technical solutions are linked to societal expectations.

What's going on

edgeFLEX
Success Stories and best practices

 

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BRIDGE “Stakeholder Characterisation” Survey

The topic group 'Stakeholder Characterisation with B.A.U.M as leader initiated a large-scale survey with the goal to create an open accessible European database to share the insights of the gathered engagement experiences.

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New in March
Inside edgeFLEX
BAUM

How to ensure the survival of results after the end of a project

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Gender Equality Process
Example of SWW Wunsiedel GmbH

A plan to give all genders the same opportunities and support in the company

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FlexCommunity Conference 2023

The FlexCommunity Conference was packed with many interesting and fruitful discussions.

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Inside edgeFLEX
SWW

Beer, water and power – the role of energy supply in Wunsiedel

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Scientific Publications

Have a look at the wide selection of scientific publications edgeFLEX has provided!

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NEW in January
Inside edgeFLEX
South East Technological University,

The making of a platform

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2nd Advisory Board Meeting

was successfully held on September 29, 2023

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FLEX Community Conference 2023

22-23 February: Discuss with us how we can make flexibilities in the energy system thrive!

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edgeFLEX at ENLIT 2022 in Frankfurt

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edgeFLEX at EUSEW 22

edgeFLEX took part in the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2022 as part of the FlexCommunity’s virtual booth at the Energy Fair from 26 to 28 September which led to interesting 1:1 online meetings and new members for our FlexCommunity.

 

edgeFLEX on tour

Video shooting in Milano and Wunsiedel

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edgeFLEX at ENLIT 2021 in Milano

 

Inside edgeFLEX

Today: CRE

Supporting regulatory measures for smart grids and promoting flexibility

The energy sector is increasingly associated with the terminology "energy transition," and the main factors that determine and enhance this transition are the integration of renewable energy sources and digitalization. The smart grid concept par excellence is based on a series of real-time features and functionalities, by involving 5G technology, integration of algorithms for analysis and substantiation of decisions using big data, innovative services, and solutions to promote flexibility in the energy systems, responding to the challenges of managing the unpredictability of renewables.

The effective exploitation of this valuable source depends, to a large extent, on the quality of the data analysis, interpretation algorithms, and the associated ICT applications and cloud-based services for grid operation effectiveness and flexibility.

The development of such solutions and the wider analysis of their implementation framework, within the context of the edgeFLEX project, highlighted several aspects that need to be considered for facilitating the widespread adoption.

The edgeFLEX VPP2.0 solution, involving VPPs together with the energy communities in real time grid management and supporting flexibility, is part of the broader context of the digitalization of energy systems, consolidating the energy sector towards exploiting the huge potential of ICT real-time solutions, having an impact on better monitoring, control, and optimization of operations.

Whether we are referring to technical or market challenges, in the context of adopting and implementing smart grid solutions and promoting flexibility, the regulations in force can be both important obstacles and catalysts for the adoption of these solutions.

By default, and with technology advancement, the market reacts and proposes solutions to respond to these trends, but their adoption and implementation depends, to a large extent, on new measures and updates of the regulatory framework, such as:

  • The ICT Network Code Continuum addressing missing ICT network code provisions
  • A new ancillary service to address the growing need to provide inertia in the grid
  • A new approach to local Voltage regulation based on integrating ICT solutions
  • A Network Code (NC) for Demand-Side Flexibility (DSF) taking in small assets
  • Network Code on Cybersecurity

Mihai Mladin

The edgeFLEX Trial in Milano, Italy

The edgeFLEX Trial in Wunsiedel, Germany

Upcoming Events

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edgeFLEX contributes to 3GPP standard

The use case for the edgePMU, the innovative implementation concept developed in edgeFLEX project, was included in the 3GPP standard. The new concept will be implemented and tested in DSO power grid network and in the laboratory with the use of a live 5G network. 3GPP technical report 22.867, which describes the edgePMU and the related edge monitoring functionality use case, is available on the following link: https://www.3gpp.org/DynaReport/22867.htm"

3GPP is a global initiative developing specifications for wireless communications. It brings together seven of the world’s leading wireless standards organizations.

Towards a new era of energy flexibility

With the increased share of renewable energy in the energy mix, causing the energy market to change, now is the time to revise the VPP concept. VPPs need to support not only the promotion of intermittent renewables (RES) but also the integration of all Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into the full scope of grid operations. Such a leap raises challenges: optimal combination of DER and RES in a new generation of VPPs is needed to jointly provide grid supportive flexibility with slow reaction time known from day-head and intra-day markets, as well as real-time reaction to provide fast frequency and inertial response and dynamic-phasor driven voltage control ancillary services. In a nutshell, in a DER-based power electronics-driven network VPPs need to play all the roles that synchronous machines play in a traditional system.

Flexibility can be provided by going beyond electrochemical storage and exploring opportunities offered by Power2X or inverters. Demand Side Management or low-cost solutions such as Power-to-Heat could be deployed in a neighbourhood expanding the concept of VPPs to the concept of a Local Energy Communities (LECs). edgeFLEX links technical solutions to societal expectations. Short reaction times can be addressed by 5G-powered edge clouds linking dispersed devices in near real-time. In this respect, a new concept of VPPs, with communications corresponding to multiple layers of dynamics, becomes possible. edgeFLEX proposes a new architecture for VPPs deploying such a multi-layer solution, paving the way for a fully renewable energy system. VPPs are brought to a new level, enabling them to interact on markets offering various ancillary services to system operators. edgeFLEX develops this next generation VPP concept and demonstrates it in the context of three field trials and accompanying laboratory tests. The project explores innovative optimisations, financial tools and business scenarios for VPPs and assesses the economic and societal impact. The consortium actively works on removing barriers by contributing to standards and European level regulation.

Field Trials

 

German Slow Dynamics Trials

By connecting to parks using an IoT-framework we will have access to measurements of both weather variables and power production. This will enable us to try a novel forecasting methodology, a spatio-temporal machine learning, based model making use of weather forecasts, weather measurements and power production values. It will also allow us to test a new stochastic model of the European intraday continuous market XBID, to enable automated re-balancing of a RES portfolio.

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Italian Fast Dynamics Trials

The issues arise from the presence of RES will be tackled in this field trial. Three Italian DSOs offer, free of charge, to install the edgeFLEX equipment in their substations. Mixed networks (with and without RES) will be equipped with the hardware and software technology provided in the edgeFLEX framework to test and validate new and existing frequency and voltage control methods, as well as to monitor and predict the grid inertia in the presence of harmonic and inter harmonic issues. Involving many utilities in the Italian field trial will enable the development of a common “Italian” solution to be adopted and shared by all Italian utilities. These trials will enable edgeFLEX to test, fine tune and optimise an overall solution to fulfil requirements and to enhance the communication and awareness among consumers, prosumers, producers and DSOs of the new opportunities.

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Wunsiedel Slow and Fast Dynamics Trial

With edgeFLEX, the Wunsiedel utility will incorporate new elements of grid control while preserving the existing infrastructure. In edgeFLEX the solution providers will extend the system to link to more control devices with algorithms that will be needed in a future, more volatile energy system. New devices will be introduced to the system or existing edge controllers be used to run control algorithms that allow for fast frequency, inertia and voltage control. While the edgeFLEX Brokerage System will manage all necessary data and include algorithms for an optimal operation of the Wunsiedel sub-system, the existing mechanism will be expanded to enable communication and negotiation with distributed reactive energy modules and with fast edge type services via GOFLEX FlexOffer protocol.

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Ericsson GMBH

Ericsson is one of the leading providers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to service providers. Ericsson enables the full value of connectivity by creating game-changing technology and services that are easy to use, adopt, and scale, making our customers successful in a fully connected world.

ALPIQ DIGITAL AG

Alpiq Digital is in the business of enabling the transition to the renewable energy landscape of the future. The focus of Alpiq Digital is on delivering services and solutions for managing and deploying RES assets, both from an operational and financial point of view. We target the entire value chain, from consumers to producers with complex prosumers which are our main focus.

 

B.A.U.M CONSULT GMBH

B.A.U.M. Consult GmbH supports enterprises, municipalities, regions and governmental institutions throughout Germany and abroad with consultancy and training on sustainable development. As a knowledge management company, B.A.U.M. understands its role as a link between research, development, production and marketing of sustainable products and services.

CENTRUL ROMAN AL ENERGETIKA

The Romanian Energy Centre (CRE) is a non-governmental organisation representing state-owned as well as private companies and enterprises operating in the Romanian energy sector. The main objective of the Romanian Energy Centre is to ensure a favourable environment for boosting competitiveness and developing the Romanian energy sector.

INEA INFORMATIZACIJA ENERGETIKA AVTOMATIZACIJA D.O.O.

Inea is the leading company in Slovenia in the field of energy management solutions, industrial automation, process computer control and manufacturing informatics. Inea develops, installs and supports industrial energy management and control systems. Its major interests lie in the areas of efficient energy use, CHP implementation and development and implementation of energy monitoring and targeting systems.

RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN

As one of the Universities in Germany awarded the status of "Excellence University", RWTH Aachen is a leading technical university in Germany and Europe. RWTH joins the project with the E.ON Energy Research Centre, Institute for Automation of Complex Power Systems (ACS) which fosters innovative energy research with a strong link with industry in an interdisciplinary approach.

SWW WUNSIEDEL GMBH

SWW Wunsiedel GmbH is a modern, innovative and future-oriented municipal utility company. SWW is responsible for electricity, gas, water, heating and telecommunication supply. SWW and its subordinated service companies have been focussing on the consistent production, use and expansion of renewable energy and sustainable technologies for years.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND

UCD is Ireland’s largest teaching and research institution and its leading international university. Underpinned by its strategy for internationalisation, UCD is putting in place high-end research collaborations and partnerships and is the leader in Energy Research in Ireland. At UCD, researchers are working to find solutions to the energy and environment challenges of the 21st century.

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA

Almost 1000 years old, the University of Bologna (UNIBO) is known as the oldest University of the western world. Nowadays, UNIBO remains one of the most important institutions of higher education across Europe and the second largest university in Italy with 11 Schools, 33 Departments and about 87.000 students; it is organised in a multi-campus structure with 5 operating sites (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini), and, since 1998, also a permanent headquarter in Buenos Aires.

WATERFORD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

WIT is the major provider of higher education in the South East region of Ireland and one of the largest Institutes of Technology's in Ireland. WIT hosts the Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG), which is an internationally recognized centre of excellence for ICT research and innovation.