SmartGEM

Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES) is a new concept, considered a key approach that aims to support Net Zero emissions through decentralisation and digitisation to support local-scale correlated generation, storage and trading to reduce CO2 emissions from building-related activities such as environmental control, water heating, lighting or IT infrastructure use.

Project goal: The project facilitates the integration of smart local energy systems into the energy mix of the future, harnessing the potential of distributed green energy and prescriptive data analytics and artificial intelligence solutions. The project also contributes to creating economies of scale by offering flexible energy services and promoting energy and computational efficiency. The project will support the increased use of local resources and the development of a new business model to provide better user motivation/engagement and to adapt to the cost of energy on the grid, balancing generation, storage and consumption prioritisation to maximise profit.

Taking the Smart Microgrid Controller pilot project as a starting point, the specific objectives of the project are:

– Leveraging energy consumer digitalisation by designing a SLES demonstration system by integrating smart control thresholds to optimise the use of energy resources and increase the resilience of energy systems;

– Building thermal energy production, consumption and distribution models using Artificial Intelligence to enable energy-aware interaction of SLES components leading to a reduction in energy consumption, cost and CO2 emissions for the MONSSON partner’s office building currently integrated into the microgrid, by correlating consumption behaviour with the real-time production capacity of available renewable resources;

– Improving the current control mechanism of water heaters to enable efficient use of energy resources in a distributed manner.

SIS, as project coordinator, will provide energy asset management services, linking energy end-users (MONSSON partner as beneficiary of the project results) and solution providers such as UPKIP (formerly ICB Digital) and OSO.

First phase of the SmartGEM project consists of 6 activities that guided the consortium towards the development of the Smart Local Energy System (SLES) model. The project started with the analysis of general and specific user and stakeholder requirements. A questionnaire, containing the GDPR plan, was drafted to assess the energy user profile (electricity and heat), both in the consumption and production areas. Subsequently, the SLES architecture was identified in line with the case study data (existing 120kWp microgrid at Monsson site) and the SLES virtual model development steps were identified. In parallel, possible automated implementation solutions were identified using the supplier’s offerings to support the scalable business model and cross-cutting activities were supported both through databases created within the project for dissemination and using the Expera – JPP ERA-Net SES Knowledge Community.

In the second stage, the consortium achieved the results it set. From a technical point of view, new optimization algorithms have been proposed for the current control strategy to increase the energy efficiency of both the building and the thermal and electrical sources. The existing thermal sources were analyzed and additional measurement and control equipment was proposed, with the aim of integrating this energy source in the application of monitoring parameters with real time data. At the same time, a control and monitoring solution for the consumers in the building was proposed, and in order to fulfill this, the existing equipment in the installations and the technical interconnection specifications were analyzed. Also, for the barriers and challenges encountered, remedial methods were specified in the extended deliverables. Machine Learning technology has added value to the solution for predicting possible defects during the lifetime of an SLES.

The project also gained increased visibility through the activities of:

1. Dissemination in the community

The event “Innovation Bridge #4 – Connect local actors to foster regional development” brought actors from the private and public sector innovation ecosystem to the same table. The member of the project team, Teodora Mindra, presented the initiatives she has within the company, projects such as SMARTGEM, with an emphasis on how they contributed to sustainable development.
GoTech World 2023, the largest IT & Digital expo-conference in Central and Eastern Europe, with Artificial Intelligence as the central theme of this edition, being presented both through the cutting-edge innovations of international speakers and the technological solutions of the exhibiting companies. SIS SA followed the interaction with the most used IT systems for SLES (Smart Local Energy System), systems also used by the SIS team within the SMARTGEM project.
The National Research and Development Institute for Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA Bucharest initiated an invitation to participate in the dissemination event of the “Smart Innovative Maintenance and Repair in Solar Energy – SIM-RISE” project. The purpose of the event is to emphasize the importance of using solar energy systems, especially in the context of combating climate change. The project manager, Andreea Ghinet, together with the technical manager, Teodora Mindra, interacted with the guests, through free discussions and the presentation of the project brochure. The team was in contact with this segment of the market, representatives from the field of new energy sources.

2. Scientific dissemination

Attending the 6th EmergeMAT Conference brought together students, scientists, engineers, industry representatives and others interested in the development of new methods, concepts and materials using new and emerging technologies as well as material modeling . The article entitled “VULNERABILITIES AND PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEMS FOR ADVANCED ANOMALY DETECTION IN SMART MICROGRIDS” was designed in the context of collaboration with UPB and partner Monsson.
The magazine “Tendinte in Ingineria Sistemelor”, ISSN indexed with the code 1844-2188, allowed the publication in two issues, content from the dissemination activities intended for the SMARTGEM project.
At the end of June, the project team gave a presentation in an online meeting with the representatives of ERANET and the projects included in Regional Matters (RM). Using the MURAL platform, the representatives of the projects in the same category had the opportunity to create synergies, to become curious how they can bring the results of their own projects as close as possible to the rest of the ideas

3. Dissemination on media channels

The project was also visible on networks such as Linkedin, through 3 news posted on the coordinator’s website, through internal dissemination and discussions between partners using Whatsapp groups, 1:1 discussions on the phone, but also keeping essential information on email addresses.

For more details, please contact the project manager Andreea Ghinet: andreea.ghinet@sis.ro

Funding programme:

Programme 3 – European and International Cooperation – Subprogramme 3.2 Horizon 2020

Duration:

2022- 2024

Budget:

Total project value: 1.658.250 lei (335.000 euro)

Funding sources:

State budget: 1.006.493 lei (203.332euro)
Co-financing: 1 457.181,00 lei (92.360 euro)
European Commission: 194.576lei (39.308 euro)

Parteneri

Monsson Alma SRL (Romania)

Universitatea Politehnica Bucuresti (Romania)

ICB Digital (Norvegia)

OSO (Norvegia)