Smart Microgrids: Optimizing Local Resources toward Increased Efficiency and a More Sustainable Growth

Smart microgrids are a possibility to reduce complexity by performing local optimization of power production, consumption and storage. We do not envision smart microgrids to be island solutions but rather to be integrated into a larger network of microgrids that form the future energy grid. Operating and controlling a smart microgrid involves optimization for using locally generated energy and to provide feedback to the user when and how to use devices. This chapter shows how these issues can be addressed starting with measuring and modeling energy consumption patterns by collecting an energy consumption dataset at device level. The open dataset allows to extract typical usage patterns and subsequently to model test scenarios for energy management algorithms. Section 3 discusses means for analyzing measured data and for providing detailed feedback about energy consumption to increase customers’ energy awareness. Section 4 shows how renewable energy sources can be integrated in a smart microgrid and how energy production can be accurately predicted. Section 5 introduces a self-organizing local energy system that autonomously coordinates production and consumption via an agent-based energy auction system. The final section discusses how the proposed methods contribute to sustainable growth and gives an outlook to future research

Novel Conceptual Architecture for the Next-Generation Electricity Markets to Enhance a Large Penetration of Renewable Energy

[EN] A transition to a sustainable energy system is essential. In this context, smart grids represent the future of power systems for efficiently integrating renewable energy sources and active consumer participation. Recently, different studies were performed that defined the conceptual architecture of power systems and their agents. However, these conceptual architectures do not overcome all issues for the development of new electricity markets. Thus, a novel conceptual architecture is proposed. The transactions of energy, operation services, and economic flows among the agents proposed are carefully analysed. In this regard, the results allow setting their activities' boundaries and state their relationships with electricity markets. The suitability of implementing local electricity markets is studied to enforce competition among distributed energy resources by unlocking all the potential that active consumers have. The proposed architecture is designed to offer flexibility and efficiency to the system thanks to a clearly defined way for the exploitation of flexible resources and distributed generation. This upgraded architecture hereby proposed establishes the characteristics of each agent in the forthcoming markets and studies to overcome the barriers to the large deployment of renewable energy sources.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia, Industria, y Competitividad (Spanish Government) under research project ENE-2016-78509-C3-1-P, and EU FEDER funds. The authors received funds from these grants for covering the costs to publish in open access. This work was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education under the scholarship FPU16/00962.Rodríguez-García, J.; Ribó-Pérez, DG.; Álvarez, C.; Peñalvo-López, E. (2019). Novel Conceptual Architecture for the Next-Generation Electricity Markets to Enhance a Large Penetration of Renewable Energy. 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Intelligent Control of Battery Energy Storage for Multi-Agent Based Microgrid Energy Management. Energies, 6(10), 4956-4979. doi:10.3390/en6104956Zhao, B., Xue, M., Zhang, X., Wang, C., & Zhao, J. (2015). An MAS based energy management system for a stand-alone microgrid at high altitude. Applied Energy, 143, 251-261. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.016Ringler, P., Keles, D., & Fichtner, W. (2016). Agent-based modelling and simulation of smart electricity grids and markets – A literature review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 57, 205-215. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.169Wang, Q., Zhang, C., Ding, Y., Xydis, G., Wang, J., & Østergaard, J. (2015). Review of real-time electricity markets for integrating Distributed Energy Resources and Demand Response. Applied Energy, 138, 695-706. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.10.048Pandžić, H., Kuzle, I., & Capuder, T. (2013). Virtual power plant mid-term dispatch optimization. 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Deploying storage assets to facilitate variable renewable energy integration: The impacts of grid flexibility, renewable penetration, and market structure. Energy, 145, 856-870. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2018.01.002Hornsdale Power Reserve, Year 1 Technical and Market Impact Case Studyhttps://www.aurecongroup.com/markets/energy/hornsdale-power-reserve-impact-study/Burger, S., Chaves-Ávila, J. P., Batlle, C., & Pérez-Arriaga, I. J. (2017). A review of the value of aggregators in electricity systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 77, 395-405. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.014Niesten, E., & Alkemade, F. (2016). How is value created and captured in smart grids? A review of the literature and an analysis of pilot projects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 53, 629-638. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.08.069Calvillo, C. F., Sánchez-Miralles, A., Villar, J., & Martín, F. (2016). Optimal planning and operation of aggregated distributed energy resources with market participation. 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Blockchain, data protection and P2P energy trading. A review on legal and economic challenges

Blockchain technology (BCT) enables the automated execution of smart contracts in peerto-peer (P2P) energy trading. BCT-based P2P platforms allow the sharing, exchange and trade of energy among consumers or prosumers as peers, fostering the decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization of the energy industry. On the other hand, BCT-based P2P energy trading relies on the collection, storage and processing of a large amount of user data, posing interdisciplinary challenges, including user anonymity, privacy, the governance of BCT systems and the role of energy market players. First, this paper seeks to review the state of the art of European data protection law and regulations by focusing on BCT compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of 2018. Second, it explores both the potentials and the challenges of BCT-based P2P energy trading from a legal–economic perspective. To do so, the paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach which intertwines both law and economics, by reviewing the recent literature on BCT and P2P energy trading. Findings have revealed that the deployment of BCT-based P2P energy trading is still in its pilot stage because of technology immaturity, data protection uncertainty, incomplete disintermediation and the lack of both user awareness and collaboration among market players. Drawing on the review, the paper also proposes a selection of solutions to foster the implementation of BCT-based P2P energy trading

A systematic literature review on the use of artificial intelligence in energy self-management in smart buildings

Buildings are one of the main consumers of energy in cities, which is why a lot of research has been generated around this problem. Especially, the buildings energy management systems must improve in the next years. Artificial intelligence techniques are playing and will play a fundamental role in these improvements. This work presents a systematic review of the literature on researches that have been done in recent years to improve energy management systems for smart building using artificial intelligence techniques. An originality of the work is that they are grouped according to the concept of "Autonomous Cycles of Data Analysis Tasks", which defines that an autonomous management system requires specialized tasks, such as monitoring, analysis, and decision-making tasks for reaching objectives in the environment, like improve the energy efficiency. This organization of the work allows us to establish not only the positioning of the researches, but also, the visualization of the current challenges and opportunities in each domain. We have identified that many types of researches are in the domain of decision-making (a large majority on optimization and control tasks), and defined potential projects related to the development of autonomous cycles of data analysis tasks, feature engineering, or multi-agent systems, among others.European Commissio

Metodología para la optimización del beneficio de la respuesta de la demanda en consumidores industriales: caracterización por procesos y aplicación

Tesis por compendio[ES] En la actualidad, existe una creciente necesidad de cambiar el modelo energético global basado en combustibles fósiles por un modelo cien por cien renovable, proceso conocido como "transición energética". Sin embargo, la mayoría de los recursos de generación renovables no son gestionables y presentan una fuerte variabilidad en su producción de energía difícilmente predecible, lo que requiere de un sistema eléctrico más flexible para poder operarse de forma segura. Por otro lado, las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación han evolucionado rápidamente como resultado del proceso de digitalización y de los continuos desarrollos en este campo, permitiendo a sectores como el eléctrico evolucionar hacia nuevos modelos más avanzados como las "redes inteligentes". Todo esto hace que la respuesta de la demanda (capacidad de modificar la forma de consumir energía en función de una señal externa) pueda ofrecerse como un recurso valioso a los operadores del sistema eléctrico, permitiendo a los consumidores más activos reducir su coste energético, lo que aumenta su competitividad y ayuda a la transición energética. La presente tesis tiene como objetivo general el desarrollo de una metodología y de las herramientas de apoyo necesarias que permitan fundamentalmente plantear soluciones destinadas a la resolución de las barreras más importantes en relación con la participación de los recursos flexibles en la operación del sistema eléctrico. Asimismo, permiten determinar la estrategia óptima de participación de grandes y medianos consumidores en productos y mercados en los que los recursos flexibles sean económicamente competitivos y técnicamente fiables. Este objetivo se ha abordado mediante el cumplimiento de cuatro objetivos específicos, que se han traducido en la realización de un conjunto de modelos, metodologías y herramientas que dan cumplimiento a cada uno de ellos. En este sentido, la tesis se ha dividido en cuatro desarrollos interrelacionados a partir de sus resultados. En primer lugar, se ha propuesto una novedosa arquitectura conceptual del sistema eléctrico para integrar los futuros mercados de electricidad, destinada a establecer un marco de referencia más adecuado para la explotación de los recursos energéticos distribuidos y de demanda. En segundo lugar, se ha elaborado una metodología para la estandarización y validación de los recursos flexibles que pueden ofrecer los consumidores, y que podría servir como base para la creación de un proceso de certificación de productos de demanda. En tercer lugar, se ha desarrollado una primera herramienta de planificación a medio plazo que, partiendo de la caracterización y evaluación técnico-económica de los recursos flexibles obtenida con la metodología anterior, permite ayudar a los propios consumidores a evaluar la rentabilidad asociada a las diferentes estrategias de participación en un mercado de operación específico utilizando sus procesos de consumo flexibles. Por último, se ha llevado a cabo una segunda herramienta destinada a optimizar la programación de la operación para el día siguiente de los recursos de demanda de un determinado consumidor participando en un mercado previamente seleccionado a partir de los resultados de la herramienta anterior y, por tanto, ofreciéndole en definitiva el apoyo técnico y las herramientas necesarias para maximizar el beneficio asociado a dicha participación. Las metodologías y herramientas desarrolladas han sido validadas mediante su aplicación a un caso de estudio compuesto por tres consumidores industriales pertenecientes a segmentos con una elevada replicabilidad en Europa (industria papelera, industria cárnica y centro logístico de producto refrigerado). Los resultados de la tesis permiten afirmar que se ha dado un paso relevante dentro de la investigación en este campo para ayudar a la implantación de sistemas eléctricos sostenibles mediante una participación[CA] En l'actualitat, existeix una creixent necessitat de canviar el model energètic global basat en combustibles fòssils per un model cent per cent renovable, procés conegut com a transició energètica. Per a dur-ho a terme, és important tindre en compte que la majoria dels recursos de generació renovables no són gestionables i presenten una forta variabilitat en la seua producció d'energia difícilment predictible, la qual cosa fa necessari que el sistema elèctric haja de ser més flexible per a poder operar-se de manera segura. D'altra banda, les tecnologies de la informació i la comunicació han evolucionat ràpidament a conseqüència del procés de digitalització i dels continus desenvolupaments en aquest camp, la qual cosa ha permés a sectors com l'elèctric evolucionar cap a nous models més avançats com les xarxes intel·ligents. Tots aquests canvis fan que la resposta de la demanda (capacitat de modificar la manera de consumir energia en funció d'un senyal extern) puga oferir-se com un recurs valuós als operadors del sistema elèctric, permetent als consumidors més actius tindre una oportunitat per a reduir el seu cost energètic, podent ser més competitius i ajudar en la transició energètica. La present tesi doctoral té com a objectiu general el desenvolupament d'una metodologia i de les ferramentes de suport necessàries que permet fonamentalment plantejar solucions destinades a la resolució de les barreres més importants en relació amb la participació dels recursos flexibles en l'operació del sistema elèctric. Addicionalment, permeten determinar l'estratègia òptima de participació de grans i mitjans consumidors en productes i mercats en els quals els recursos flexibles siguen econòmicament competitius i tècnicament fiables. Aquest objectiu general s'ha abordat mitjançant el compliment de quatre objectius específics, que s'han traduït en la realització d'un conjunt de models, metodologies i ferramentes que donen compliment a cadascun d'ells. En aquest sentit, la tesi s'ha dividit en quatre desenvolupaments interrelacionats a partir dels seus resultats. En primer lloc, s'ha proposat una nova arquitectura conceptual del sistema elèctric per a integrar els futurs mercats d'electricitat, destinada a establir un marc de referència més adequat per a l'explotació dels recursos energètics distribuïts i de demanda. En segon lloc, s'ha elaborat una metodologia per a l'estandardització i validació dels recursos flexibles que poden oferir els consumidors, i que podria servir com a base per a la creació d'un procés de certificació de productes de demanda. En tercer lloc, s'ha desenvolupat una primera ferramenta de planificació a mitjà termini que, partint de la caracterització i avaluació tecnicoeconòmica dels recursos flexibles obtinguda amb la metodologia anterior, permet ajudar als mateixos consumidors a avaluar la rendibilitat associada a les diferents estratègies de participació en un mercat d'operació específic utilitzant els seus processos de consum flexibles. Finalment, s'ha dut a terme una segona ferramenta destinada a optimitzar la programació de l'operació per a l'endemà dels recursos de demanda d'un determinat consumidor participant en un mercat prèviament seleccionat a partir dels resultats de la ferramenta anterior i, per tant, oferint-li en definitiva el suport tècnic i les ferramentes necessàries per a maximitzar el benefici associat a aquesta participació. Les metodologies i ferramentes desenvolupades han sigut validades mitjançant la seua aplicació a un cas d'estudi compost per tres consumidors industrials que pertanyen a segments amb una elevada replicabilitat a Europa (indústria paperera, indústria del sector carni i centre logístic de producte refrigerat). Els resultats de la tesi permeten afirmar que s'ha realitzat un pas rellevant dins de la investigació en aquest camp per tal d'ajudar a la implantació de sistemes d'energia elèctrica sosteni[EN] The ever-increasing need for electricity in our global and advanced society, along with the requirements to preserve the environment, have forced a fast growth of the use of primary renewable sources to produce it. The process of replacing the current fossil primary sources with renewable ones to produce electricity is known as the "Energy Transition". This transition is conditioned for the highly volatile, intermittent, and unpredictable nature of renewable energy sources. In this sense, two options exist to ensure the security of supply in power systems with a high share of renewable generation: either very robust, redundant, and expensive electricity systems with overcapacity or an electricity system with new and enhanced flexibility resources. Fortunately, relevant and advanced parallel developments in the technology, mainly in the control, information and communication fields have allowed the digitalization of the electricity supply systems towards the "smart grid" paradigm. One of the pillars of smart grids is the opportunity that arises for energy consumers to reduce the cost of their energy bill by modifying the electricity consumption. According to external inputs (e.g. prices), consumers can provide to energy markets and system operators competitive "Demand Response Resources" (DRR) that will significantly enhance the required system flexibility to facilitate the transition to a decarbonized system. The thesis's main objective is to develop a new methodology as well as the necessary associated models and tools to overrun the main barriers that prevent the participation of large and medium electricity consumers in the electricity supply activities. Additionally, these tools allow determining the optimal strategy for the participation of large and medium electricity consumers in products and markets where flexible resources can be economically competitive and technically reliable. Four complimentary and correlated sub-objectives have been fulfilled to address the main objective. First, the thesis proposes an original conceptual architecture for future Smart-Markets in order to establish a more suitable framework for DRR trading and implementation. Second, the research aims to solve the need to have "firm" DRR in the way that DRR can be considered reliable resources. This has been dealt with in the second sub-objective where a new methodology to standardize and validate the DRR offered by the customers has been developed and justified. This methodology can be used to regulate a "certification" process for DRR. The two final sub-objectives are related to provide the customer with valuable knowledge and tools to make feasible the DRR offers generation in the long and short term. The third sub-objective is related to the need for the DRR provider to plan in the medium term (a few years ahead) the strategy for the demand participation and assess the necessary investments. A planning tool has been developed to meet that objective. Finally, the last sub-objective deals with the need of the customer to program the operation of their demand resources in the short term (one day ahead at most) by optimizing all the available resources and prices. Consequently, complementary to medium-term planning tool, a day-ahead optimization tool has been created for that purpose. All methodologies and tools researched in this Ph.D. have been validated through its application to three different industrial environments and customers in sectors with high replicability all over Europe: a paper factory, a meat processing factory, and logistic centres with high freezing and refrigerating needs. The results and justified conclusions allow stating that a relevant step in the research of the implementation of more sustainable energy systems has been produced by enhancing more committed and dynamic participation of the demand side resources.Rodríguez García, J. (2021). Metodología para la optimización del beneficio de la respuesta de la demanda en consumidores industriales: caracterización por procesos y aplicación [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/165574TESISCompendi

Integrating blockchain and microgrid technology to enable peer-to-peer energy trading: a business process model

Traditional centralised energy systems are coming under increasing pressure because of decarbonisation, decentralisation, and digitisation. A lack of energy security and the inability to manage bi-directional electricity flows constitute two of the biggest challenges faced by centralised systems. Furthermore, in South Africa, the country’s energy system remains monopolised with one large utility satisfying most of the country’s electricity demand. This study is motivated by the need to address energy security within such a monopolised market. To redress the problems highlighted above, this study explores how blockchain and microgrid technology can be integrated to enable decentralised energy production and trading in South Africa. As such, this study develops a fully integrated blockchain-based microgrid energy trading system model. The functional requirements of the system are presented in the form of a business process model. Amongst other benefits, an active blockchain-based microgrid energy trading system provides a means to bolster energy security for the systems’ users. A unique aspect of this study’s approach to energy trading is the utilisation of blockchain’s native tokenizing capabilities. Prosumer energy tokens are minted to create a digital currency for local peer-to-peer energy exchange. A commons-rule based approach is adopted for governing energy resources. As such, this study demonstrates that commons-based solutions provide a feasible alternative to market and profit driven trading for organizing local energy exchange. The primary deliverable of this study satisfies the request of various blockchain researchers for blockchain research to focus on holistic conceptualisations, rather than on the minutiae of blockchain technicalities. Eight core functional requirements of a blockchain energy trading system were identified prior to the construction of the process model. The functional requirements were elicited during a scoping review as a part of the secondary data collection process. Expert review was utilised to verify the functional requirements of the blockchain energy trading system. Once the experts were identified, each expert completed a questionnaire with the intention to verify the requirements. The above process constituted the expert review process for the study. Additionally, the syntactic correctness of the business process model was verified by a business process modelling expert. Weber’s Theory of Evaluation constitutes the theoretical underpinning for the evaluation of the system parts. This study contributes the first publicly accessible business process models of a blockchain-based microgrid energy trading system. This study seeks to advance the discussion of a more integrative and cross disciplinary approach concerning blockchain research, particularly as it pertains to microgrid energy trading.Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Department of Information Systems, 202