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Flexibility: innovative projects for the energy transition
Flexibility is one of the keys to implementing the energy transition, enabling renewable energy generation systems, consumption, and storage to become active participants in the national electric grid.
10 October 2024
The energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. The traditional model, based on large production plants distributing energy in a one-way flow to individual users, is giving way to a distributed generation model. In this new scenario, energy consumers also become prosumers, meaning producers who generate electricity, consume it, and, in some cases, feed it back into the grid when production exceeds local demand.
This distributed generation creates a more complex flow of electricity within the distribution grid, as the generation of renewable energy is difficult to predict. One key to addressing this new scenario is flexibility, which generally refers to a system’s ability to effectively adapt to changes. In the energy world and electric grids, this capacity can be demonstrated at all levels. From large adjustable power generation units that can change their operating points, to industries that can adjust their production processes and corresponding energy demands, and even end users who can manage distributed loads, generators, and storage systems. In this context, the role of Balancing Service Providers (BSPs) or energy aggregators, such as Plenitude, becomes essential. These entities can manage a representative set of generation, consumption, and storage plants to offer flexibility services to the electric grid in a valid and consistent way.
Domenico Cimmino and Alessandro Burgio, Technological Development Managers at Plenitude, share some of the most interesting projects that focus on flexibility to manage the energy models of the future.
Flexibility in the industrial sector and smart buildings
Currently, Plenitude is a partner in two ongoing projects related to the industrial sector and smart buildings, funded by Horizon Europe, the EU framework program for research and innovation for the period 2021-2027.
Plenitude is committed to enhancing flexibility in the industrial sector, which is energy-intensive and has untapped potential in terms of providing flexibility. This is done through the FLEX4FACT, a project that aims to develop digital tools to reduce CO2 emissions from an industrial cluster, including the digital twin representation of the entities involved, and machine learning techniques. The adopted approach creates the necessary conditions for all interested parties to participate in the energy transition and benefit from it. Plenitude, in particular, is working on designing and developing a cloud platform that plans the flexibility of production processes and storage systems. In simple terms, the goal is to achieve greater flexibility in industrial production processes, combining it with local energy supply and storage technologies to improve the environmental impact of energy-intensive industrial processes.
In the context of smart buildings, Plenitude is taking the lead with the InCUBE project. This project creates digital tools to accelerate energy-efficient building renovations and reduce energy consumption, costs, and labor hours. Industrialization, renewable sources, digitization, and markets are the four pillars of the project. There are three demonstration sites: Zaragoza (Spain), Groningen (Netherlands), and Trento (Italy). Plenitude's solutions will be tested in the Santa Chiara district of Trento. The building renovations are underway, and photovoltaic generators and geothermal probes will soon be installed. Plenitude is responsible for monitoring energy production and consumption to facilitate the creation of a renewable energy community at the neighborhood level.
Flexibility in the residential context
Flexibility is a key tool for modern energy systems, but it is also a “product” that can be resold to distribution system operators. Experimental projects such as RomeFlex by Areti S.p.A., Mindflex by Unareti S.p.A., and Edge by e-distribuzione S.p.A. are examples. The energy users accumulate in their storage systems can be fed back into the grid and sold to the Distributor instead of being consumed on-site. The primary advantage for the end customer is financial: the selling price of a kWh as a service to the grid is higher than the value of the energy produced and consumed locally, increasing the profitability of photovoltaic-battery systems. Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools enable optimal planning of storage systems and electric load operations, ensuring that the service is provided in the agreed quantities and times with the Distributor. Blockchain technology ensures transparency and certification of the transactions.
Flexibility will also come from e-mobility
The increasing electrification of consumption also includes e-mobility. According to the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), by 2030, nearly 6.6 million electric vehicles will be on the roads in Italy, including about 4.3 million fully electric vehicles. Managing their demand and peaks will be essential. This is precisely what is being studied in the Vehicle 2 Grid project in collaboration with RSE. Plenitude will evaluate the capacity of aggregated charging systems to provide services to the electric grid, thanks to a validation framework comprising over 200 residential and public charging points located in and around Milan. A dedicated IT system will enable data exchange between the charging point operator and the grid management system of the Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico (RSE). This technology will allow electric vehicles to transform from mere transportation means into true vehicles capable of exchanging electricity with the public grid.
Smart grids, smart buildings, energy communities, and e-mobility represent the solution for a more efficient and resilient energy future. But how do we manage the complexity of this new scenario? Flexibility is the strategic key.
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