Analysing the requirements for a technological solution that supports the operation of the future Local Energy Systems

One of the main challenges during the requirements’ elicitation phase, concerns the identification of stakeholders with a particular interest in the technologies implemented in a project. In the case of E-LAND – an innovation project – the task was even more challenging, having the ambition to identify the different roles that the stakeholders can assume in the future energy market.

But first let’s have a more clear view, by analysing the conceptual model of an integrated Local Energy System (LES), also termed as “Energy Island”. Energy Islands may pose important challenges in their operation due to their weak interconnection with the core power system. One aspect for effectively reducing operational, planning and CO2 emissions costs in such isolated parts of the grid is the utilization of Smart Grid solutions (e.g. Demand Response schemes, Smart EV charging) and DER assets (especially storage) as well as the exploitation of synergies among different energy vectors.

The schematic of the conceptual model of an integrated LES incorporates energy flows among different assets, from different vectors: gas, electricity and heat. The integration of different energy sectors and their co-optimized operation – which have been traditionally designed and operated in an independent manner- can significantly improve the overall system efficiency (Carradore and R. Turri, “Modeling and simulation of multi-vector energy systems,” in IEEE Bucharest PowerTech, Bucharest, 2009 ). This conceptual view was used in the E-LAND project as a framework for mapping different infrastructures per site and validating specific scenario-based UCs, by taking into account all the specificities of a site and the different technologies available.

What follows, is the identification of the needs of relevant stakeholders. The Harmonised Electricity Market Role Model – HEMRM (https://www.ebix.org/artikel/role_model) provides guidelines for mapping actors to their different roles in market-related transactions. In E-LAND, actors were mapped to existing roles or specialized roles, whilst extension of roles to other energy vectors apart from electricity was performed. This process involved the identification of actors such as the Aggregator (a trader of energy), the EV Charging Infrastructure Operator (a specialisation of the aggregator role for electric mobility), the Facility Manager (a type of prosumer with multiple assets in the Energy Island) and the Microgrid Operator.

A central part in modelling the E-LAND toolbox’s requirements was the analysis of the viewpoint of a stakeholder representing the concerns of the LES, i.e. the “LES Operator”. Business cases were modelled with this role being assumed by different actors (e.g. the Aggregator, the Microgrid Operator) having different business goals and interactions with the other business/technical actors of the LES and assuming different ownership models of the available assets.

In this context, the technical solution of E-LAND focused on modelling requirements for a solution that addresses the following goals:

1. The integration of an energy management system combining the various local monitoring and control solutions (e.g. BMS, DER controllers);
2. The optimization of the day-to-day operation of the LES, utilizing energy flows among assets from different vectors: gas, electricity and heat;
3. The optimal planning of future investments in the LES, considering various aspects (i.e. financial, environmental, efficiency, reliability).

Furthermore, requirements for modularity, adaptability, expandability, and interoperability were modelled, for guarantying a future proof design of E-LAND’s solution.

More information on the technical tools’ requirements analysis can be found on deliverable
D3.2 Functional and operational requirements.