E-CLOUD, the open microgrid in existing network infrastructure

Abstract

The main goal of the E-Cloud, as with every microgrid, is to maximize the consumption of energy produced locally. To reach this goal, based on consumption profiles of customers willing to participate in the E-cloud and given some local restrictions (e.g. wind turbines cannot be put everywhere), an optimal mix of green generation sources (in kW) and local storage (in kWh) needs to be computed. Then according to this computation, the required generating units and storage device are installed. A repartition mechanism grants the customer a share of the generated electricity and storage capacity. These shares are either computed offline, or dynamically adapted on line. The project will test two models: either the DSO or a producer owns and operates the storage device. Two flows of information (real-time for operation of the storage facility and ex-post for its settlement) are needed to correctly manage the E-Cloud and to ensure correct information exchange with the wholesale market. These information flows are completed thanks to a forecast that provides members of the E-Cloud the full capability to anticipate and obtain the maximum benefits of the local generation. The expected benefits for the customer are a reduction of their electricity bill by a minimum of 10%. Societal benefits should also arise: 1) easing the technical integration of renewables' generation embedded in the distribution network, and 2) avoids extra investment on the DSO network. The E-Cloud may also ensure new revenue for the DSO thanks to new services provided to the E-Cloud community.

Machine Learning Techniques for Improving Self-Consumption in Renewable Energy Communities

“…The directive has since been transposed into decrees and legal frameworks in many countries of the European Union, e.g., in Wallonia in Belgium [13], in France [14] or in Italy [15]. The science and technology communities have in parallel launched many initiatives to study and implement pilot projects of RECs: the cVPP project [16], lead by the Technische Universiteit of Eindhoven, and the E-Cloud project [17,18], lead by ORES (one of the main Walloon Distribution System Operator or DSO) and which will further be described in Section 3, are two striking examples. The present paper focuses more particularly on the case of such RECs.…”

“…we deploy operationally the developed data analytics modules in a pilot REC established on an industrial area in Tournai (Belgium) on the existing Medium Voltage (MV) distribution grid in the framework of the E-Cloud project [17,18], comprising 2.25 MW of wind generation and 18 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), who had the possibility to freely access the results of the developed data modules by connecting to a dedicated web platform, 5.…”

Blockchain: A Novel Approach for the Consensus Algorithm Using Condorcet Voting Procedure

“…For instance, it can be used to register an Internet auction or a sports bet on a permanent and immutable way. It can also be used to register energy exchange in peer to peer local energy communities [2], [3]. This section describes the desired features of a blockchain implementation for such applications.…”

Blockchain for Peer-to-Peer Energy Exchanges: Design and Recommendations

“…The E-Cloud project [3] is funded by the Walloon Region (Belgium) -in the framework of the Marshall Plan 4.0 -and is coordinated by ORES (a Belgian DSO). An E-Cloud is an integrated power distribution network feeding an existing area of economic activity, which distributes electrical energy to industrial or commercial sites that have agreed to be part of the E-Cloud community.…”

“…To guarantee the rights and duties of each party and to make the necessary link to the wholesale market, these exchanges must be supervised by a neutral metering party such as the distribution system operators (DSOs) as provided for in French law [2] on collective self-consumption or in the E-Cloud project [3]). Establishing the set of requirements necessary to perform this supervision is the goal of this paper, which is structured as follows: Section II clarifies the energy community concept.…”