1. Connection and management of equipment for independent,
decentralized, energy efficient power generation, whether or not
linked with the mains.
Connecting small power sources such as Mini-CHP, PV installation, small wind turbines on an AC bus.
Not only various power sources but also power consumers will be connected on this AC bus.
The balance between production and consumption will be managed on a separate controller
(computer with suitable custom software and communication interfaces with sources and consumers).
To maintain the balance at any time and to obtain maximum energy efficiency it is necessary to provide
storage for the generated power. The stored energy will be used as a power source at other times and
thus act as a source in the mini Smart Grid.
Smart grid software will control the basic operations of the hardware solution and optimise for
different strategies dependent on the customer/stakeholder requirements. Some example strategies
can be to optimise for maximal autonomous operations, minimal network connection capacity usage,
minimal energy cost by means of also selling and buying energy on the energy wholesale market and
finally being available as a dynamic reserve asset to stabilise the grid.
With this application we aim at typical low voltage consumers or the same target group as for MiniCHP (SME's, municipal buildings, sports and leisure infrastructure, etc.).
So we are looking for partners to participate in the ERANET call:
- suppliers of energy storage systems (electric power such as batteries and hydrogen from electrolysis
(hydrogen production and storage))
- smart grid control software
- field test environment
- experts in the area of the above
2. Smart grid for an industrial park
The regional development agency Flemish-Brabant (POM Vlaams-Brabant) is developing an industrial
park of 5 hectares. The objective is to develop a sustainable park. Therefore the POM wants to install
a smart grid on the site. The main goal of the project is the execution of a feasibility study of the project.
Later on, a second phase consists of the implementation of the smart grid.
We are looking for partners that want to cooperate with us in developing the concept of the smart grid
for the industrial park.
3. Roadmap to Self-Sustaining Residential Communities
Each community that is newly built or rebuilt using the configuration from the project tool will be
economically as well as technically independent from the main grid. That solves 3 problems:
1. Energy pricing is no longer based on market fluctuations, but solely on the exploitation model
of the stand-alone operator
2. The community is no longer effected by energy supply problems
3. The main grid is no longer burdened with excess energy consumption or generation in the
community
This project consists of 3 main parts.
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The main part of the project is a pilot in which an existing community will be modified as to be
self-sustaining in electrical and thermal energy. This part of the project will be a proof of
concept, showing the EU it is technically possible. To be in compliance with regulations, the
existing connection to the main grid is kept but closely monitored as to prove the net
import/export of energy is zero at all times, rendering the connection redundant.
In the second part of the study, regulations concerning the exploitation of stand-alone low
voltage electricity grids in the different regions are compared. Suggestions are then made to
facilitate a European regulation that allows these stand-alone grids.
The final part of the project researches the feasibility of electric and thermal self-sustaining
residential districts or communities in Europe. Through an extensive metering campaign of
existing communities household models of 3 different regions will be defined. Those models
are then used to develop a software tool that calculates a configuration of common alternative
energy sources and storage to be used in to-be-developed communities, with the best return
of investment (ROI).
This project will work towards making the above possible. A strong partnership is therefore needed:
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White and purple arrows, cloud: Gathering metering data of households and installation parts
as heat pumps, PV installations, etc.. Sending control signals based on an energy management
service: IoT service company or automation company combined with energy management
service company.
Horizontal and vertical windmills, PV panels: A community that’s disconnected from the main
grid cannot sustain itself without renewables. Therefore installers/manufacturers of
renewables are required.
Swimming pool: This in fact symbolizes a thermal buffer. We will need thermal buffering
capacity and heat producers: CHP manufacturers, electric boiler manufacturers and thermal
storage tank manufacturers are most welcome to join our partnership
Battery pack: No electric grid is feasible on just renewables. To ensure stability on the smart
grid, a battery management company is required.
Lack of connection to the grid: To investigate the entry points in the regulation to make private
residential grids possible in the EU, a law firm specialized in electricity nets is needed.
4. Power-Link
Power-Link, the energy knowledge platform of Ghent University, is in the perfect position to set up, to
supervise and to coordinate projects as well as to execute the academic research required in such
projects. Power-Link can rely on the energy expertise from all expert research groups of Ghent
University and translates this expertise into educative, demonstrative and investment projects.
As knowledge partner Power-Link has become a West-Flemish science platform which sensitize to
rational, reductive and alternative energy use. As network partner, Power-Link anticipates to the
actual, innovative and creative character of the new production and consumption energy market and
thus creates a research platform in a particular high tech environment, i.e. the GreenBridge science
park.
Power-Link is active now – and was in the past - in numerous national and transnational projects
concerning smart grids.
An overview of the projects in which Power-Link participates or which Power-Link coordinates, closely
related to the ERA-Net Smart Grids Plus pillars:
Project title
Description
Keywords
SWIFT: Smart Wind Farm Control
Smart integration of wind turbines on existing distribution grids.
Active grid management, decentralized energy, energy storage
Project title
Description
SAVE: Smart control of electricity
The own use of locally produced energy is maximized by smart
control of electrical loads by Flemish SMEs.
Demand side management, decentralized energy, energy storage
Keywords
Project title
Description
Keywords
Project title
Description
Keywords
Project title
Description
Keywords
Project title
Description
Keywords
D³O: Decongestion of the Distribution grid by Decentralized
storage
Decongestion of the grid, by improving the match between the
energy demand and supply by means of inverter/battery
combinations.
Energy storage, active grid management, decentralized energy
INCREASE
To increase the integration of renewable energy sources by
applying innovative control strategies and deploying grid
supporting services
Innovative control strategies, decentralized energy, legislation
ACE: Answers to the Carbon Economy
To develop low carbon business parks by, among others,
socializing the energy production
Greenhouse gas reduction, decentralized energy, business parks
EMPOWERING
The reduction of energy use of consumers through smart
sensitization and information
Smart billing, awareness, information services
Project title
Description
Keywords
Step-By-Step
Permanent reduction of energy use by consumers through
customized advice and information
Energy savings, awareness, information services
Beside the link with and expertise from these projects, Power-link also offers the access to research
infrastructure relevant for smart grids :
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Electrical micro grid : Power-Link manages an experimental micro grid on the UGent Science
park GreenBridge in Ostend. On this grid, the influence of decentralized energy production,
storage and use is tested in real-life circumstances. The grid disposes of, among others, battery
storage, fuel cells, PV, wind turbines, charging stations and smart switching infrastructure.
Thermal micro grid : On the same site there is a thermal micro grid as well. This grid is used to
test the possibilities to, among others, use thermal storage for the decongestion of the
electrical grid by means of controllable heat pumps.
Ecube : This is a prototype low energy building equipped with a variety of sensors and
measurements. The building is used as dynamic load on the electrical micro grid.
ARGUS energy monitor : This is a cloud-based multi-parameter monitoring system which is
used to monitor the status of, among others, the micro grid. The technology was developed
by Power-Link and is since several years exploited on the market by the spin-off enterprise
Argus Technologies.
5. Ghent – Old Docks – project “Schipperskaai” (B)
Brief description dd. 18/03/2015
Brief project description
Facing an expected growth of the city population, the city of Ghent is converting previous industrial
sites into lively residential areas. Along the old docks, the city landscape will be subject to a real
metamorphosis. This turnaround offers a unique opportunity for sustainable urban redevelopment.
The reconversion will be realised in a public private partnership. The city of Ghent and sogent
(autonomous city development company) are the public actor and land owner. Schipperskaai
Development cvba, which is a special purpose company of the private real estate developers
Vanhaerents Development, Van Roey Vastgoed and Re-Vive, will develop the residential area that
includes about 400 dwellings and 52 000 m² gross floor area.
The sustainable urban redevelopment aims to set a new future standard on sustainability in cities,
having a focus on circular economy. It is an ambitious urban plan. The project will install a system for
100% energy neutrality – a decarbonised energy system - and thereby contributes to the ambition of
a future climate neutrality of the city of Ghent.
The project aims for a vivid community-life in the new quarter. The program asks for a mix of residents,
with 1/5 social housing and 1/5 moderate housing. There will be an active task of community
involvement, starting before the construction works themselves by using the current abandoned site
for all sorts of activities that help strengthen the ties between future residents and help create an
accessible and attractive neighbourhood, with a special focus on children and the re-integration of
young families in the city-centre.
The ambitious plans for this lighthouse project have a holistic approach and face first mover risks.
Zero energy district
The project will install a system for 100% energy neutrality – a decarbonised energy system - and
thereby contribute to the ambition of future climate neutrality of the city of Ghent. The key to this
zero energy level is the putting into practice the ideas of circular economy in the city with a multiple
connected loops approach on energy, water and waste in the core. A large part of the total energy
demand is filled in by on site-production. In addition energy supply is added through shares in an offsite renewable energy production plant. By that means the on-site and off-site production together
will cover the yearly energy demand of the project.
Waste to energy, multi loop approach
Human faeces and food waste will be transformed into biogas, struvite and clean water. The biogas is
transformed into useful electrical and thermal energy for the internal heating network which is
connectable to a heating network at city district level. Phosphorus is recycled from the sludge and
crystallized into struvite, which is a slow fertilizer useful for the local gardens and external use.
Phosphorus recycling contributes to a closed loop, transforming organic waste into a fertilizer for
(local) food production. Waste water does contain a lot of heat. Waste heat from local grey waste
water is recovered and put available for reuse in the district heating system, using heat pumps. The
district heating system is scalable to deliver heat to other city districts and to be able to take up
different sources of renewable energy heat.
Innovative business model with large citizen engagement
Innovation in sustainability is not about technology only. The community must be connected to the
initiatives that are developed. The better the system works, the larger the benefits for the citizens. A
Community Benefits Package is worked out to involve and engage the community, avoiding NIMBYism. Citizens can become shareholders in the Sustainability Service Company”. The sustainability
service company is an energy service company (ESCO) with an extended scope covering a wide range
of services. This company effectuates the affordability for the inhabitants as energy and other service
investments are financed separately and inhabitants can have their share in the profitability of the
company. Having the possibility to become shareholder in the sustainability service company is part of
a community benefits package which also includes the “community energy”.
Fiber to the home
Connecting citizens to each other also means they have a large capacity to exchange data. Fiber
connections to every dwelling enable the citizens to connect to each other and make use of lots of
applications.
Low energy demand
All the apartments of the project will have a low energy demand, varying from passive houses (15
kWh/m²) to very low energy houses (30 kWh/m²). Also, the demand for electric energy is, a far as
possible, shifted into a demand for heat, which means a lower demand for primary energy. E.g. the
project provides in attractive collective laundries.
Electric car sharing facilities
Car sharing is supported in different ways using innovative communication applications, especially fully
electric cars.
Local smart grid
A private electric smart grid is installed with 100% renewable energy feeding collective energy demand
and electric cars charging points. The real time balancing between supply and demand, demand side
management, grid level storage, vehicle to grid, the usefulness of a diversified energy mix with
different supply patterns is demonstrated and put into practice.
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Electric car charging facilities are available on every parking lot and are connected to the
private electric smart grid. The load pattern will be flexible according to the availability of
(locally produced renewable) energy, grid balance and to the needs for fast or slow charging
depending on the time the car needs to be available or fully charged. Car batteries could be
used to provide energy to the grid to balance the grid.
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Grid level storage. When solar and wind power are significant contributors to the power supply
it is tougher to operate the grid. Grid-scale electricity storage technology can help to balance
and avoid black-outs. The electric grid can be built to meet average demand instead of peak
demand.
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Demand side management enables load shifting and peak shaving in favour of grid balance.
Both private household energy needs, collective building energy needs, collective water
treatment and heat pumps will be subject to demand side management, as far as possible.
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Production as well as consumption of energy can be monitored. Price incentives can improve
citizen involvement in grid balancing.
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An exercise can be undertaken to form a “virtual” smart grid that works on a district level, in
the low-voltage section. The balance can be established not only after the single meters but
on a higher district level, in a aggregated way.
Partners looked after :
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Real estate developers
Providers of hard- and software for demand side management and grid balancing
Esco
Grid operators