Smart Microgrid Development Technology based on Digital Twin (SMARTech)

To achieve the EU’s climate change and energy policy targets by 2030, it is not only necessary to build new power lines and stations, but it is essential to exploit electricity systems by integrating information and communication technologies (ICT), to build controllable micro-grids and accelerate the realization of the smart grid.
 
Through the SMARTech project, the Romanian-Norwegian team (SIS – NORCE) aims to meet the requirements of the energy transition to the Smart Grid, starting from the existing infrastructures with the implementation of renewable energy production equipment, storage solutions, smart consumption strategies, monitoring and efficiency energetic. The development of smart microgrids requires special attention, as it is necessary to move to the concept of Microgrid Technology (MT).
 
This project supports energy producers to use their capitalizations more efficiently. The project aims to increase the number of microgrid systems implemented at national and European level, supporting sustainability in the use of green technologies.
 
 General objective: The design and demonstration of smart microgrid development technology dedicated to accelerating the integration of renewable sources, increasing energy efficiency, including the design, construction, monitoring and operation throughout the lifetime of microgrids.
 
 The project will be developed based on the following main activities:
 
  • Activity 1. Evaluation of technological innovations and requirements analysis
  •  Activity 2. Modeling and design of microgrids
  •  Activity 3. Development of the prototype model
  • Activity 4. Evaluation in real conditions
 
The target group for our project are:
 
  • Developers of renewable energy parks
  • Strategic utilities of local administration: hospitals, airports, military units, metropolitan transport
  • Owners of civil and industrial facilities: data centers, hospitals, office buildings, shopping centers who will be interested in developing their own micro-grids
  • Municipalities will be open to deploy microgrid islands to reduce CO2 emissions and support a smart city approach.
 
Project results:
 
  • SMARTech microgrid development technology: SIS and NORCE will take advantage of the knowledge gained to exploit the technology, but other companies will also be able to benefit from its use.
  • Control and interface modules: Using a controller to manage energy resources simplifies microgrid integration and achieving optimal efficiency
  • Design and development services: Based on standardized formats, documentation for each phase will be generated largely automatically.
  • Microgrid performance monitoring and evaluation reports (in operation): KPIs; Performance indicators, such as consumption, green energy production / per total consumption, will be constantly monitored, etc.
  • Platform as a service (PaaS): It is intended that the platform can be developed over time, so that a good part of the services offered by it can be exploited by other users on a subscription basis.
Until now, from January to May, the project enjoys a visibility in the scientific framework, having the following results:
 
– Publication of an IEEE article, entitled “Fractal Smart Grids – A new challenge for power systems operation”, published by Teodora Mindra
 
– Submission for evaluation of an article in the Scopus-indexed WSEAS journal, with the theme “Economic implications of microgrid operation dispatching using Cuckoo Search Algorithm” and with the main author Andreea Ghinet
 
– Submission for evaluation within the CONDITION MONITORING, DIAGNOSIS AND MAINTENANCE CMDM2023 conference of two article proposals, in the first stage being evaluated two abstracts on the following topics:
 
  • “Developing Digital Twin methods using data processing in the context of microgrids” – Spiroiu Emil Bogdan
  • “Cyber-Physical Interface using Digital Twin technology development based on Matlab, for evaluating the state of health of the microgrid components” – Teodora Mindra

Finanace programme

Financed with the support of grants awarded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA financial mechanism 2014-2021, within the “Energy Program in Romania”.

Duration

September 2022 – December 2023

Budget

Total: 274.200 euro

Finance source:

    –  Grant: 202.740 euro

    –  Cofinancing: 71.460 euro 

Parteners