SmarTher Grid · Ancillary Services from Smart Thermostatic Loads in Power Grids
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31
- EU contribution
- €157,941
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
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Results in brief
Ancillary Services from Smart Thermostatic Loads in Power Grids
The penetration of renewable sources of energy in power networks is expected to grow over the next years, motivated by environmental concerns. However, renewable generation is in general intermittent and a large penetration may cause frequent generation/demand imbalances that may compromise power quality and even result in blackouts. Demand side participation can offer a solution to this problem, due to loads ability to provide a fast response when required. However, a large portion of the total demand corresponds to thermostatic loads (TLs), which are characterized by a cyclic thermostatic behavior. Such effects need to be taken into account in the design of control schemes for TLs, if those are to provide support to the power grid. The primary technical research objective of this project were the design of control schemes for TLs such those provide effective, efficient and reliable ancillary support to the power network. In particular, the major research objectives of the project are to: (i) Enable suitable control designs that enable ancillary support to the power grid and an optimal power allocation. (ii) Provide analytic stability guarantees for power networks when the proposed control designs are implemented. (iii) Validate the proposed control designs with realistic simulations and provide tools that enable further research on controllable demand. The SmarTher Grid project outcomes will enable improved reliability and resilience in power networks. The enhanced resilience of power grids will allow a larger penetration of renewable energy sources and contribute towards the transition to a sustainable energy sector, having a significant environmental impact. Moreover, the increased reliability of the power network will reduce the frequency of failures, and hence the resulting hardship and discomfort experienced by the public. In addition, the SmarTher Grid project outcomes allow enhanced economic operation, which yields a strong economic impact. Hence, the SmarTher Grid project has the potential for strong socio-economic and environmental impact.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The penetration of renewable sources of energy in power networks is expected to grow over the next years, motivated by environmental concerns.However, renewable generation is in general intermittent and a large penetration may cause frequent generation-demand imbalances that may compromise power quality and even result in blackouts. Demand side participation can offer a solution to this problem, due to loads ability to provide a fast response when required.However, a large portion of the total demand corresponds to thermostatic loads (TLs), which are characterized by a cyclic thermostatic behavior. Such effects need to be taken into account in the design of control schemes for TLs, if those are to provide support to the power grid.The primary technical research objective of this project is the design of control schemes for TLs such those provide effective, efficient and reliable ancillary support to the power network.In particular, the major research objectives of the project are to:(a) Enable TLs to provide ancillary support to existing frequency control mechanisms, ensuring that those switch when there is an urgency. (b) Obtain an optimal power allocation between TLs with minimum user disruption. (c) Provide analytic stability guarantees for power networks when the proposed TL control designs are implemented.(d) Enable further research on TLs, by providing analytic models that characterize their aggregate behavior.(e) Validate the proposed control designs with realistic numerical and hardware in the loop simulations.The main career objectives are to:(a) Strengthen the research skills of the fellow with training on advanced simulation tools, power systems analysis and control theory.(b) Enable the transfer of knowledge between the fellow, the scientific community and the industry.(c) Enrich the transferable skills of the researcher with training on presenting to wide audiences, writing research grant proposals and managing intellectual property.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS · NicosiaCoordinatorCyprus
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union