ENERGO-PRO continues its participation in the project for transformation of energy systems FlexiGrid

FlexiGrid is an international project focused on developing different methods to achieve flexibility in the energy system and creating a blockchain-based platform through which utilities purchase grid flexibility services from producers and consumers.

There are three main changes that affect all participants in the production chain — electricity consumption:

- decarbonisation: switching to cleaner energy sources and combating climate change;

- decentralization: increasing the share of RES and shifting control from electricity system operators to electricity distribution companies;

- digitalization: introduction and use of new technologies for monitoring and control from entire industries to specific household appliances.

The FlexiGrid project is based on the development of smart metering devices, and an IoT platform that reads data from them and visualizes it, and which is connected to a blockchain-based marketplace platform (eFlex) for future exchange/trading of network flexibility services. In the process of further development is the possibility of integrating different services to add new functionalities, such as analysis or forecasting of consumption or production.

A typical flexible service delivery deal looks like this:

1) Identifying the need for a flexibility service — e.g. increasing consumption

2) Posting a request/list of requests for flexibility services on the eFlex platform

3) Sending an offer after familiarization with the request

4) Choosing a flexibility service or group of services

5) Receiving booking/confirmation for an appointment, after received request for activation of the reserved asset; activation of the flexibility service

6) IoT platform tracks data and confirms (full or partial) delivery

7) The eFlex platform records the transaction with a smart contract on a blockchain

8) The platform makes the payment (if a stable blockchain coin is used) or exchanges/sends information to another billing/payment system.

In Bulgaria, the object of implementation is a demo scenario, which in a test environment gives information on how the electricity distribution company can buy flexible services from consumers and producers connected to its network. For this purpose, selected pilot customers of ENERGO-PRO are installed with smart electricity meters that track their production/consumption for short intervals. The collected data will be visualized on the IoT platform and the flexibility services will be delivered by simulating the overall flexibility services exchange transaction.

The development and testing of the Bulgarian demo scenario and the participation of ENERGO-PRO in the FlexiGRID project are an important step in the development, testing and validation of possible future models for the exchange of grid flexibility services, which will be a key element in the construction of the energy systems of the future both in Europe and around the world, as well as in Bulgaria.