3,5 miljoen euro voor onderzoek duurzaam energiesysteem

21 maart 2016

In de eerste ronde van het programma ESI-pose (Energiesysteemintegratie - planning, operations, en sociale inbedding) hebben NWO Exacte Wetenschappen en NWO Maatschappij- en Gedragswetenschappen zeven projecten toegekend. Voorstellen konden worden ingediend in twee compartimenten: een voor
onderzoek in de betawetenschappen en een voor multidisciplinair onderzoek in de beta- en sociale wetenschappen. Er was ca. 3,5 miljoen euro beschikbaar (waarvan 10% afkomstig van publieke/private partners) voor het aanstellen van onderzoekers aan Nederlandse kennisinstellingen. De
verschillende onderzoeken zullen zich richten op het ontwikkelen van een nieuw duurzaam energiesysteem, waarbij elektriciteit, gas en koude/warmte in samenhang worden bekeken. Het programma valt onder het NWO-werkprogramma voor de Topsector Energie.

Hieronder de toegekende projecten in Compartiment 1 (betawetenschappen):
Hierarchical and distributed optimal control of integrated energy systems
Dr. ir. M.K. Camlibel, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
For decades the main goal of the power system was to deliver power from generation plants to consumers through an extensive high-voltage transmission system and a medium to low voltage distribution system. As such the existing power system was designed in a centralized tree like fashion in
order to connect a relatively small number of large plants to a large number of consumers. In addition, the gas infrastructure is developed separately, with an infrastructure consisting of high, medium and low pressure pipelines, more or less similar to the power grid structure. Both grids are
regulated separately, even though they are coupled. So far, the analysis and design of new smart energy systems in the energy infrastructure have been mainly focused on only one particular grid such as the power grid, gas grid or heat grid. In particular, the power grid has received by far the
most attention. Much of the current research evolves towards embedding of renewables such as photovoltaic cells and wind power into the power grid, where it is important to take into account the cloud and wind conditions, which are less predictable than the power production of a classical
power plant. In addition, there is a fine meshed gas network in the Netherlands, where embedding of biogases and/or non-natural gases is developed. Currently, this network is coupled to the power grid on a limited basis, i.e., some Combined Heat Power (CHP) systems that produce both heat and
power and run on gas are embedded. Furthermore, some larger power plants operate on gas. In the future, the embedding of many more micro-CHP systems in households is foreseen, and storage of surplus electricity in the form of power-to-gas (hydrogen) is also foreseen. Within this research
proposal we aim at developing new/tailored methods that integrate hierarchical and distributed optimal control methods for large-scale networked systems necessary for the embedding of new energy systems in the coupled power and gas grids. By a large-scale networked system, we mean a collection
of interconnected heterogeneous dynamical systems (agents) sharing/collecting information. Thus, the research of this proposal is concerned with designing integrated distributed controllers (at the level of agents) based on the available limited local (asynchronous) information exchange in
order to achieve a global (at the level of the entire network) hierarchical optimality criterion. To the best of our knowledge, there do not yet exist control schemes with strong theoretical foundations to ensure stability and optimality for such complex structures.

Heat and Power Systems at Industrial Sites and Harbours
Prof. dr. ir. J.A. la Poutre, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica
Our energy system is transforming into a sustainable system. Especially important for potential innovations are the use of energy types electricity and heat. This is amongst others due to the increasing role of electricity, and because heat often is a large side product (waste) as well as one
of the important reasons for energy demand.
Industrial sites (with multiple actors) and harbors are important locations for the consumption and production of energy. Also here, the different roles of electricity and heat can be distinguished, however with a higher intensity per actor than in domestic environments and thus with a higher
impact on the intensity of dynamics in the energy demand, supply, and locational aspects at the site. Whereas in domestic areas, energy demand and supply can potentially be peak-shaved by e.g. using incentive mechanisms like dynamic pricing and by averaging over many actors, this only holds
into a limited extent for industrial sites and harbors, with big actors and strict, large demand or supply of energy for various steps in industrial processes. Electricity and heat both play an important role in industrial sites and harbors, especially for future sustainability. The project
aims at developing solutions for automated power and heat management at industrial sites and harbors with a combination of multiple actors, industrial processes, and external factors. This is carried out by developing innovative models, simulation systems, agent-based market and coordination
mechanisms, and optimization techniques.

System Integration of Micro-Grids through Profile Steering
Prof. dr. ir. G.J.M. Smit, Universiteit Twente
This project addresses the joint optimisation of various energy streams within distribution grids with integrated energy storage. The focus of this project is on three issues:
1) optimal integration and use of different forms of local storage in distribution grids,
2) simultaneous optimisation of all relevant forms of energy,
3) balancing energy demand and supply locally to keep the energy as low as possible in the
grid-hierarchy.
Controlling distribution grids with large scale and distributed infeed of renewable resources and distributed storage becomes difficult or even impossible with centralized approaches. An interesting alternative is to 'invert' the control system and start the control at local level. This leads
to the concept of micro-grids, which have been proposed as a solution to the grand challenge of integrating large amounts of micro-generation (primarily from renewables) in the distribution grid. By a careful coordination of local loads, distributed storage and local micro-generation, the
aggregated load of the micro-grid will produce less stress on the utility network, compared to the conventional direct in-feed of micro-generation. In this project micro-grids are considered as small subparts of a distribution grid (e.g. an LV feeder in a neighbourhood behind a MV/LV
transformer). In this view a micro-grid is still connected to the main grid and does not have to be autonomous all the time, but the goal is to balance the energy streams within a micro-grid and to keep the energy as locally as possible. In this project we plan to develop optimisation
algorithms for micro-grids based on profiles (energy demand/supply patterns over time), thereby using all forms of energy (electricity, gas, heat, ..). Profiles of local assets (e.g. CHPs, storages, controllable appliances, or converters) are steered taking into account the objectives,
(comfort) constraints and restrictions of the micro-grid with the goal to achieve a resulting overall energy profile of the micro-grid that is
'friendly' for the main utility grid. By integrating forecasting and planning methods, it is possible to predict and manipulate the profile of a micro-grid for the coming time period. Moreover, through a coordinated steering of different micro-grids, peaks or shortages of energy can be reduced
or avoided in the transport grid.

Optimising Flexible Energy Use in Industry
Dr. M.M. de Weerdt, Technische Universiteit Delft
A large part of renewably generated power is intermittent, uncertain, and uncontrollable. As balance between demand and generation is required at all times, flexibility in electricity demand is needed to prevent having significant costly flexible controllable generation (from fossil energy
sources) on stand-by. Research and even some first pilot studies have been performed to use flexibility of heating, cooling, and (electrical vehicle) charging in households. However, industry in the Netherlands, using about three times more energy than households [CBS, 2013], offers far more
promising opportunities by considering flexibility from all used carriers of energy.
The problem is that unleashing this potential of energy flexibility in industry (switching between energy carriers, using and sharing buffers for heat, steam, intermediate products, varying production, etc.) requires optimising the daily operations not just regarding throughput, but also to
include making cost-effective energy trading decisions. We will develop algorithmic techniques to support both these decision problems under uncertainty.
Stakeholders are operators and business analysts of large industrial plants such as the chemical industry in the Port of Rotterdam, but also policy makers, utility companies, and port authorities to explore and enable better infrastructures and new business opportunities.

Hieronder volgen de toegekende projecten in Compartiment 2 (beta-gamma):

Incentives and algorithms for efficient, reliable, sustainable and socially acceptable energy
system integration
Prof. dr. E.M. Steg, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
We propose to study how to develop efficient, reliable, sustainable and socially acceptable (decentralised) energy system integration (ESI) in a novel, interdisciplinary and integrated way. We consider two key approaches for ESI that are closely intertwined. We examine how to synergise and
couple infrastructure for gas and electricity and take into account heat demand, via e.g., Combined Heat Power (CHP) systems, hybrid heat pumps, Power-to-Gas and 'Gas-to-Power (fuel cells)' facilities, and develop control algorithms that enhance the efficiency, stability and sustainability of
such integrated energy systems. We study these systems first on a
local level, and then go further and look to the embedding in the overall (distribution) grid, going from e.g., micro-CHP's (household level) to mini-CHP's (greenhouses, hospitals, etc.), to gas fired power plants. We will study the optimal control embedding of such systems in the coupled gas
and electricity grids in a distributed fashion. Next, we examine which financial and social end-user incentives are acceptable and effective to match energy demand to the local fluctuating supply of various renewable energy sources to efficiently use the local capacity of the grid. We
integrate incentives in the algorithms aimed to control ESI. We employ a multi-method approach, including questionnaire and experimental studies, and robust distributed control methods. We integrate macro perspectives (grid management) and micro perspectives (user behaviour and incentives;
user acceptability), and study technological and social innovations in an integrated way, which is highly novel to the field yet key to develop innovative sustainable and acceptable ESI.

Regional Energy Self-Sufficiency
Prof. dr. ir. C. Vuik, Technische Universiteit Delft
Local communities increasingly take an active role in the transition to more sustainable and autonomous local energy supply systems, using local energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass. However, this sustainable local energy supply is associated with high fluctuations and uncertainty
caused by the intermittency of wind and solar power. To guarantee high reliability of energy supply on the consumer side while being cost effective, increased system integration and flexibility, local energy storage and retrieval, and combining energy forms are called for.
Given the local energy infrastructure of gas, power and heat, and typical local energy demand patterns this research project investigates how an optimal local energy supply system can be designed such that local energy targets can be realized with minimum dependence on the national energy
grids. This is not only a technical problem, but also a question of how these local energy systems should be regulated and operated Hence, next to an optimal technical design also an institutional design of local energy systems needs to be developed that addresses its regulation and
governance. This requires model and methodology development in two areas. In the first area the focus is on the optimal overall design of the energy supply system and the corresponding required institutions. The research here is on distributed optimization with various investment decisions
made by different actors. In the second area the focus is on the simulation and optimization of gas, power and heat flow in their combined networks, for assessing solution uncertainty, sensitivity, and reliability.

Study and development of an energy management system and user interface that can match supply and demand of various energy carriers using user preferences while contributing to user acceptability and proper adoption of the system
Dr. K.E. Keizer, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Recent developments including increasing diversity in energy sources and carriers, users who also become producers, and new environmental ambitions have turned matching supply and demand of energy into a real challenge for the network operators. Not addressing these challenges will jeopardize
the availability of affordable energy for the end users and asset management and operational costs for the utilities. These changing conditions ask for an energy system that can integrate the infrastructures of various sources and carriers such as gas and (solar) electricity, while taking into
account user preferences and behavior. This should be accomplished in an energy managing system that at the same time, is (cost)efficient, reliable and supportive of the environmental ambitions. And above all a system that will be accepted, adopted and properly employed by it's (potential)
users. The energy system and its interface could simply provide the user with all the information, choices and feedback required to run efficient and well tailored from a technological point of view. However, while the user and the tailoring to his or her preferences, environmental and
financial goals becomes more central, the information, decisions, and feedback required would become ever more frequent and complex.
We argue that in principle, high levels of user-control would allow precise tailoring of energy management to individual preferences, increase user acceptability and adoption of the systems, and can even strengthen the adoption of energy and other pro-environmental goals by users by increasing
user autonomy. However we expect that the complexity and frequency of the decisions may reduce the quality of the user decisions and feed user-frustration thereby hampering efficient employment. Which in turn would reduce the quality of the match between supply and demand from a financial and
environmental perspective and the extent to which the outcomes match the user's preferences. So we argue that there is a tradeoff between giving control to the user and performing control on his or her behalf without involving the user. A tradeoff that needs to be studied, to design an
effective energy managing system. In the proposed research we will design an automated energy management system with user interface that can match supply and demand of various energy sources and carriers, according to the preferences of the user. We will investigate to what extent decisions
should be automatized or left under control of the users. More precisely we will study the number and type of decisions
should be left to the user, and the type feedback and how to present this to the user to insure user acceptability and adoption of the systems, and support or even strengthen energy and other pro-environmental goals by users. Most important we propose to study this in a field context, with
actual energy data, and users of a number of buildings provided by one of the partners.

Bron: NWO

maandag 21 maart 2016