Local flexibility market design for aggregators providing multiple flexibility services at distribution network level

This paper presents a general description of local flexibility markets as a market-based management mechanism for aggregators. The high penetration of distributed energy resources introduces new flexibility services like prosumer or community self-balancing, congestion management and time-of-use optimization. This work is focused on the flexibility framework to enable multiple participants to compete for selling or buying flexibility. In this framework, the aggregator acts as a local market operator and supervises flexibility transactions of the local energy community. Local market participation is voluntary. Potential flexibility stakeholders are the distribution system operator, the balance responsible party and end-users themselves. Flexibility is sold by means of loads, generators, storage units and electric vehicles. Finally, this paper presents needed interactions between all local market stakeholders, the corresponding inputs and outputs of local market operation algorithms from participants and a case study to highlight the application of the local flexibility market in three scenarios. The local market framework could postpone grid upgrades, reduce energy costs and increase distribution grids’ hosting capacity.Postprint (published version

Review of existing business models and storage technology database - D9.1 INVADE H2020

<p>This report provides the INVADE project with an analysis of relevant business models for the energy storage market.</p> <p><br> The application of new technologies and innovative business models has led to dramatic changes in industry after industry. We believe that new highly disruptive business models will also become effective in the energy industry, and we already see some market players that are gaining momentum using them. The report is made up from four basic elements; a state-of-the-art (SOTA) analysis of existing business models, an analysis of new and emerging business models, an analysis of energy and storage business models and relevant examples of companies that use new business models.</p> <p>At the end of the report we give our recommendations to the INVADE project, but also to the EU in general.</p> <p><br> Our work has revealed that Europe has come far with respect to technology, but is seriously lagging behind US and Asia with respect to business model innovation. In particular, Europe is weak with respect to the new and highly disruptive multi-sided business models seen at companies like Apple, Facebook, Alibaba, Tesla and more.</p> <p><br> For this reason, WP9 and WP3 see the INVADE project as being instrumental in recognizing that “platform” no longer means  technology platform” only, but truly embraces the idea that technology platform AND platform based business models are equally important and should therefore be developed in parallel and in close collaboration.</p> <p>Our main recommendations are:<br> - Business models should be of the platform type, multi-sided and customer-centric<br> - Business models should enable network effects and be able to absorb exponential digital growth mechanisms<br> - Business models should foster open ecosystems with focus on APIs enabling open and combinatorial innovation<br> - Business models should reflect the most recent as well as the expected for the future trends in both technological and societal developments - e.g., the ones related to digitalization, advanced analytics, complexity, customer preferences and Internet of Things (IoT).</p