Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SERENE (Sustainable and Integrated Energy Systems in Local Communities)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-11-01 al 2024-04-30
To accelerate the transition of Europe’s electricity system to a more decentralised structure, SERENE aims to demonstrate cost-effective and customer-centric solutions for effectively integrating different energy system carriers for the sustainable development of local communities to meet their energy needs from local sources of renewable energy.
The main objectives of SERENE are to demonstrate smart technological, socio-economic, institutional, and environmental solutions to enable the local management of integrated energy systems and networks, the utilisation of higher shares of local renewable energy and active consumer engagement in neighbourhoods in three EU countries: Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland.
SERENE will explore options to work towards activating locally available distributed energy generation options, demand response resources and energy storage technologies in energy domains such as electricity, heat, water treatment and transport. It will focus on developing attractive citizen-centred business models, leading to innovative solutions that are market ready and thereby replicable in other energy communities across Europe and beyond.
The ultimate goal is to establish locally integrated “energy islands” in the different villages of Skanderborg (Denmark), Olst (the Netherlands) and Przywidz (Poland). Such “energy islands” will contribute to the decarbonisation of local energy systems via the optimal integration of multi-energy carriers through smart control and the balancing of systems and grids at the local level. This approach will also increase the levels of renewable energy use, thereby enhancing the environmental, social and economic conditions of the citizens and establishing more business and trade.
The experiences gained at the demonstration sites will be analysed and evaluated for replicability across Europe. Technical benchmark models will be established alongside business models and evaluated against the different challenges identified. The levels of user involvement and their interest to participate will be evaluated from the geographical, social, environmental and economic conditions.
The main objectives of SERENE are to demonstrate smart technological, socio-economic, institutional, and environmental solutions to enable the local management of integrated energy systems and networks, the utilisation of higher shares of local renewable energy and active consumer engagement in neighbourhoods in three EU countries: Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland.
SERENE will explore options to work towards activating locally available distributed energy generation options, demand response resources and energy storage technologies in energy domains such as electricity, heat, water treatment and transport. It will focus on developing attractive citizen-centred business models, leading to innovative solutions that are market ready and thereby replicable in other energy communities across Europe and beyond.
The ultimate goal is to establish locally integrated “energy islands” in the different villages of Skanderborg (Denmark), Olst (the Netherlands) and Przywidz (Poland). Such “energy islands” will contribute to the decarbonisation of local energy systems via the optimal integration of multi-energy carriers through smart control and the balancing of systems and grids at the local level. This approach will also increase the levels of renewable energy use, thereby enhancing the environmental, social and economic conditions of the citizens and establishing more business and trade.
The experiences gained at the demonstration sites will be analysed and evaluated for replicability across Europe. Technical benchmark models will be established alongside business models and evaluated against the different challenges identified. The levels of user involvement and their interest to participate will be evaluated from the geographical, social, environmental and economic conditions.
SERENE is coordinated by Aalborg University, Denmark with 13 other partners from industry, community representatives, energy utilities, public and research institutions. During the last 36 months work has been focused on finalising the requirements of the system architecture for the locally integrated energy systems at the demonstration sites. This includes identifying suitable hardware infrastructures, such as heat pumps, EV-charging facilities, storage (thermal and electrical), PV installations, and related local demand response and control schemes, as well as completing and documenting most of the modelling activities. Valuable synergies have been achieved by including all the partners' perspectives into the models, thereby broadening their applicability.
The University of Twente identified key social factors in local energy systems, creating a framework to evaluate socio-economic changes and to identify how social factors influence technical transitions. A survey in the three demo countries categorized consumers' willingness to invest in local renewable energy: Polish consumers rely on local decision-making, Dutch consumers have good financial resources and individualistic traits, and Danish consumers are savings motivated. Initial conclusions indicate that technical innovations need local adaptation, and social acceptance depends on the local context and presence of consumer willingness to invest.
The Danish demo sites experienced problems due to delays with funding. Additionally, building permit issues disrupted construction at one site, leading to its rejection in favour of a new location. Despite these setbacks, the Control and Energy Management System (CEMS) was installed at one demo site initiating control over the heating system. As the remaining buildings become equipped with energy assets and data becomes available further tests will be made. Efforts to engage with the wider community have been undertaken as part of the replication activities in Denmark.
In the Netherlands, the neighbourhood energy system in both Aardehuizen and Vriendenerf has been prepared for smart control and the monitoring and recording of electricity usage and production is well underway. In addition, at Aardehuizen, a neighbourhood battery of 120 kWh as well as 71 kWp of PV-panels and 3 controllable EV chargers have been installed at a new shared carport. In co-creation with the residents, an App providing data about energy usage has been created.
In Poland, new equipment installations include energy storage, heat pumps, and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Two VRFB battery modules have been installed and integrated into the Arena demo site’s electrical network. Initial tests proved that the battery could balance surplus PV generation to increase self-consumption in the municipality building. At the wastewater treatment plant, rigorous testing has explored the flexibility limits. Detailed assessments to evaluate the profitability of energy communities and clusters has been undertaken, but unfortunately, legal constraints, limit their creation at this time.
In terms of the project’s communication, dissemination, exploitation and replication activities, partners have been extremely active and participated in several significant conferences and workshops including ENLIT Europe in November 2023 and EU Regions Week 2023. Two videos, brochures and several e-newsletters have been produced and published on the project’s website. SERENE is involved with the BRIDGE initiative with active participation across all working groups. Use of the Horizon Booster Services has been initiated with three key exploitable results being identified, one of which was selected for business plan development. Further work on a dissemination plan is scheduled. Finally, a comprehensive set of educational materials on local energy systems, targeting the general public has been developed. This takes the form of a socio-economic compendium of fact sheets on the components required for local energy transition.
The University of Twente identified key social factors in local energy systems, creating a framework to evaluate socio-economic changes and to identify how social factors influence technical transitions. A survey in the three demo countries categorized consumers' willingness to invest in local renewable energy: Polish consumers rely on local decision-making, Dutch consumers have good financial resources and individualistic traits, and Danish consumers are savings motivated. Initial conclusions indicate that technical innovations need local adaptation, and social acceptance depends on the local context and presence of consumer willingness to invest.
The Danish demo sites experienced problems due to delays with funding. Additionally, building permit issues disrupted construction at one site, leading to its rejection in favour of a new location. Despite these setbacks, the Control and Energy Management System (CEMS) was installed at one demo site initiating control over the heating system. As the remaining buildings become equipped with energy assets and data becomes available further tests will be made. Efforts to engage with the wider community have been undertaken as part of the replication activities in Denmark.
In the Netherlands, the neighbourhood energy system in both Aardehuizen and Vriendenerf has been prepared for smart control and the monitoring and recording of electricity usage and production is well underway. In addition, at Aardehuizen, a neighbourhood battery of 120 kWh as well as 71 kWp of PV-panels and 3 controllable EV chargers have been installed at a new shared carport. In co-creation with the residents, an App providing data about energy usage has been created.
In Poland, new equipment installations include energy storage, heat pumps, and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Two VRFB battery modules have been installed and integrated into the Arena demo site’s electrical network. Initial tests proved that the battery could balance surplus PV generation to increase self-consumption in the municipality building. At the wastewater treatment plant, rigorous testing has explored the flexibility limits. Detailed assessments to evaluate the profitability of energy communities and clusters has been undertaken, but unfortunately, legal constraints, limit their creation at this time.
In terms of the project’s communication, dissemination, exploitation and replication activities, partners have been extremely active and participated in several significant conferences and workshops including ENLIT Europe in November 2023 and EU Regions Week 2023. Two videos, brochures and several e-newsletters have been produced and published on the project’s website. SERENE is involved with the BRIDGE initiative with active participation across all working groups. Use of the Horizon Booster Services has been initiated with three key exploitable results being identified, one of which was selected for business plan development. Further work on a dissemination plan is scheduled. Finally, a comprehensive set of educational materials on local energy systems, targeting the general public has been developed. This takes the form of a socio-economic compendium of fact sheets on the components required for local energy transition.
During the final reporting period, the project will be focused on finalising the demonstration sites and analysing the findings to assess not only their impact on the communities involved but also in terms of how they can be replicated across Europe in the future.