Integrid - Bridging the Gap

7 1. CHALLENgES From the H2020 call topic LCE2 – 2016, under which InteGrid was awarded, to the present day, the challenges within the electrical power system range from local to global contexts. InteGrid now forms part of internationally available solutions, not only for electric grid operators, but also for anyone unsatisfied with merely seeing the world turn without playing an active role in its journey to energy sustainability. This journey involves pursuing complete decarbonization, transition to decentralized generation and consumption which will hopefully lead us one day to the democratic use of Clean Energy by everyone, everywhere. Due to the significant changes required in the electricity network topology to meet demands in the drive for cleaner energy, increased technological advances and operating methodologies have become more prominent. With these new additions, system operators are experiencing challenges such as network violations, reverse power flow and increased network instability. In order to overcome these challenges, various smart grid tools and functions have been developed to help integrate these flexibilities for the planning and operation of electrical networks while ensuring the safe and reliable supply of electricity in a cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the change in the energy paradigm has also paved the way for the emergence of new actors (such as aggregators) and new behaviours (such as the active participation of prosumers or industrial customers), offering Distribution System Operators (DSO) plausible alternatives to costly network reinforcement when combined with proper operational tools. The pooling of the load flexibility or generators located in the distribution network through virtual Power Plants (vPP) can also contribute significantly to the provision of new balancing services for Transmission System operators (TSO) and balancing Responsible Parties (bRP) which create the need for the DSO to validate and coordinate such operations. This enables DSOs to become market facilitators. Advanced forecasting algorithms, such as predictive maintenance, traffic light systems (TLS) and load/RES forecasts, are the subject of increased attention, enabling integration into real conditions by network operators. All these developments have taken place through the digitalization of the sector, where the contribution fromDSOs goes beyond data exchange, it empowers citizens to use their metering data to actively move the World of Energy, as can be seen in figure below. Envisioning this inte rconnected world driven by Clean Energy, InteGrid was challenged to provide inte lligent and inte roperable grid solutions that would inte grate energy injection from renewable energy sources while Buy from the grid now to consume later? Consume, store or sell my production? When should I use the washing machine, the fridge, washer? Where to get the energy from? Grid? Production? Battery? How does the electric installation support the EV charging? How can my house interact with the grid?