ENERGO-PRO participates in pilot project for transformation of FlexiGrid energy systems

FlexiGrid is a project supported by 18 organizations from 8 countries. It focuses on developing different methods to achieve flexibility in the energy system and creating a blockchain-based platform that allows utilities to purchase these grid flexibility services from producers and consumers.

In recent years, serious changes have occurred that affect all participants in the production chain — electricity consumption. In this regard, three are the main drivers of change, despite the lack of fully synchronized regulatory practices and technological readiness to smoothly carry out this transition:

Decarbonisation: moving towards cleaner sources of energy 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 builds on the rapid development of IoT (Internet of Things) through the development of smart meters and an IoT platform that reads data from them and visualizes them. The possibility of integrating various services — Energy Apps, is also being considered, to add new functionalities, such as a tool for forecasting network congestion points that create imbalances in the system. The project envisages the development of a market-based blockchain-based platform where flexible services can be sought and offered, as well as purchased through a stable cryptocurrency in a common SmartGrid system.

A demo scenario will be implemented in Bulgaria, which in a test environment will give information on how the electricity distribution company can buy flexible services from consumers and producers connected to its network. At this stage, a blockchain-based system is being developed and tested through which ENERGO-PRO can find and purchase flexibility services from consumers, producers and prosumers connected to its network. For this purpose, selected pilot customers of ENERGO-PRO will be installed smart meters that will track their production/consumption for an interval of 15 minutes.

At the next stage, the collected data will be visualized on the IoT platform and, when necessary, flexibility services will be provided by a blockchain trading platform that, through energy balancing, controlling peak values, load regulation and self-control, will allow a significant reduction in network imbalances.

At the moment, the preparatory phase of the demo script is underway, and the real testing should begin at the beginning of next year.

Addressing some of the biggest challenges of the energy transition, the project will bring know-how and solutions to key energy issues, some of which are projected to arise in the next five to ten years. By participating in the project, ENERGO-PRO will improve its ability to anticipate and mitigate future challenges in the ever-changing energy market.