GOFLEX: Towards a new integrated solution for a cost-effective use of demand response...

Full presentation title: GOFLEX: Towards a new integrated solution for a cost-effective use of demand response in distribution grids.

In the past decade, the planning of urban networks and more specifically the power grid’s went through a paradigm shift. The increase share of intermittent renewable energy generation and required load capacity led to a major focus on demand side management to deal with the continual evolution of the energy market. Multiple research programs were established to study and quantify the benefits of large-scale implementation of demand side management solutions (DSM). In this paper, we investigate a new solution for demand response.

This research is conducted within the framework of GOFLEX, a 12M€ H2020 project, which brings together 12 academic and industrial partners, and whose main objective is to develop and demonstrate an integrated solution which will significantly contribute in the cost effective use of demand response in distribution grids and increase the available flexibility of loads/generation included in demand response schemes.

In this study, we focus on a Swiss case where the electrical utility of the Area of Sion, Energie Sion Région (ESR), has teamed up with the Institute of Sustainable Energy of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO) to deploy this new solution among customers. This solution aims at optimizing the balance for the DSO to reduce Balance Responsible parties (BRP) corrective costs and provide ancillary services to TSO.

The GOFLEX prototype is deployed for different kinds of prosumers: 

Direct Control:  The equipment was installed for over 200 prosumers. The direct control system is installed in a house and the controlled flexible loads are the heat pump, the water boiler or other direct electrical heating appliances.

Factory Energy Management Systems (FEMS): The GOFLEX prototype is deployed in 9 different factories.

Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS): The prototype was installed in 9 households and interfaces heat-pumps through the SG Ready interface.

Charging Discharging Energy Management Systems (CDEMS): were installed in two buildings and consist of a battery pack (3kWh) which can be used for both charging and discharging.

Charging energy management systems (CEMS): 2 CEMS are currently connected with 5 charging stations.

The paper will introduce briefly the GOFLEX integrated solution. We will present the results of prosumers flexibility quantification over a period of one year. We will investigate the influence of outdoor temperature, consumption period (weekdays, weekends, holiday seasons) and consumption timing during the day (morning and evening peaks). We will examine control solution to maximize flexibility use.