PROJECTS

https://www.incit-ev.eu/

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, through the Laboratory for Electrical Networks and Devices (LEON), is actively participating in the four-year INCIT-EV project, which is funded by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 programme to the tune of almost €15 million. The INCIT-EV project aims at demonstrating innovative charging infrastructure solutions, technologies and associated business models that will improve the user experience and consequently reach a wider audience, accelerating the growth of the EV market share in the EU. As part of the project, the partners will also investigate the behaviour of EV users using state-of-the-art neuroscientific techniques to explore the unconscious preferences of EV users, with the aim of adapting the technology development to the subjective expectations of the users. The project will directly involve 3,475 private EV users in the dissemination and testing of different charging points, in addition to ten local authorities, four taxi associations, four car sharing companies and four light electric vehicle sharing companies. The Slovenian partners in the project are the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana and ELES.

Five demonstration sites in urban and suburban environments will be available to test seven use cases:

• Smart bi-directional EV charging, optimised at different aggregation levels;
• a dynamic wireless charging zone in city centres;
• dynamic wireless charging over longer distances;
• charging points at P+R car parks;
• super-fast charging stations for European road corridors;
• charging stations for bi-directional charging of electric vehicles, including two-wheelers;
• occasional wireless charging in taxi lanes at airports and central train and bus stations.

These examples encourage innovation of current charging solutions while integrating them into the existing network, transport, ICT and public infrastructure. The project also aims to promote electromobility through user-driven examples. The user-driven approach will enable the creation of a new ecosystem and the development of charging technologies that could be widely deployed in EU Member States and accelerate the spread of electro-mobility.

Access to the official project website: https://www.incit-ev.eu/.

https://www.incit-ev.eu/

The EU aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and become a carbon-free society in the years to come. To achieve this, we need to increase the share of renewables in each EU Member State, which is a major challenge given the current situation and the state of the electricity grids in EU countries. Smart grids represent an upgrade of today's concept of grid operation and planning, allowing the connection of different consumers (electric vehicles, heat pumps, etc.) and generation (renewables) in a technically appropriate and economically optimal way. smart grids are an extension of today's concept of grid operation and planning, allowing the connection of different consumers (electric vehicles, heat pumps, etc.) and generation (renewables) in a technically appropriate and economically optimal way. Knowledge of smart grid technologies will be one of the future
will be one of the key skills in the operation of the electricity system.

The project aims to train a new generation of researchers and engineers who will acquire the skills to design and develop new technologies that will help solve problems in electricity flows. Through various workshops, the partners will connect with local industry. The Smagrinet project will also include a five-day seminar at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, which will culminate in a seminar paper. The project will introduce students to 10 current topics in the field of smart grids:

• Consumers, sources and prosumers,
• integrating renewables into the grid,
• operating the distribution network with renewable energy sources,
• the impact of electric vehicles on the distribution network,
• use of energy storage devices,
• algorithms for forecasting consumption and production,
• managing the distribution network using smart grid technologies,
• Virtual power plant concept,
• electricity quality in distribution networks with renewable energy sources and distribution network planning.

In addition to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, eight partners from six European Union countries are actively participating in the Smagrinet project. The two-year project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 programme, has €2 million of funding available.

Access to the official project website: https://www.smagrinet.eu/.

So far, electricity companies in Slovenia have developed and tested smart grids only to a limited extent in pilot projects funded by various regulatory incentives, European funds or bilateral partnerships. However, such an approach to smart grid deployment will not be sufficient to accelerate the green transformation of the Slovenian power sector and maintain the operational reliability of the Slovenian electricity system in the future. It will require changes to the existing treatment of smart grid investments, supplier-consumer relations, the functioning of markets and regulation. These changes will require a strong commitment and going beyond the traditional relationships between electricity companies and consumers.

The Smart grid project is one of the core projects of the Consortium for the Green Transformation of the Slovenian Energy Sector through Smart Grids, which was established by ELES and GEN-I, and also includes distribution companies and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. The main outcome of the study will be a methodology for simulating the operation of distribution networks involving new consumers (electric cars, heat pumps, etc.) and for a modern network planning process that allows comparing the solutions of the existing planning approach (network reinforcement) with the solutions of smart grids, which include increasing the cognizability and manageability of the network. The simulation platform will be designed in one of the classical software packages (e.g. Matlab, Python) and will use one of the power flow calculation programs (e.g. Digsilent PowerFactory, OpenDSS).

The simulation platform will enable the simulation of the operation and planning of a smart distribution network with the following objectives:

• Electricity supply, non-discriminatory connection of different consumers (EVs, heat pumps, etc.), of generation (RVs) and of those that are both (feeders, prosumers),
• maximising the use of electricity infrastructure and minimising investment in the network,
• facilitating the development of a methodology for optimal network deployment planning.

The Laboratory for Electrical Networks and Devices (LEON) is actively involved in the three-year OneNet project. The project is funded by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 programme to the tune of €22 million. The project involves 72 partners from 22 European countries.

The OneNet project aims to create the conditions for a new generation of network services that will allow the full use of demand response, storage and distributed generation, while ensuring fair, transparent and open conditions for the customer. In addition to creating a single European grid, the project also aims to create a customer-centric approach in networks. This can be achieved through new markets, products and services that can be designed with a unique IT architecture.

Although a single platform for Europe is not feasible, the OneNet project proposes innovative mechanisms for a federated approach to platforms, which are key to realising the proposed vision. One of the objectives is to reach consensus on solutions that go well beyond the limitations of the consortium, which has been facilitated by various activities, including a large forum for discussion within the international energy community.

LEON will address two challenges in this project. The first challenge is the integration of new demand adjustment services in the distribution network, which have been more or less limited so far. LEON will also focus on the search for and development of new innovative services in this field and will present the results obtained.

The NEDO-Flex project addresses the problem of resilience and sustainability of the electricity system and smart communities through the effective integration of modern technologies and the active participation of all stakeholders - including consumers and smart communities.

The project aims to develop and demonstrate advanced resilience and sustainability solutions, including a battery storage control system, advanced WAMS algorithms, new modules to the sub-energy management system, an intelligence platform and an upgraded electricity markets of service platform.

Total cost of the operation: €8,159,497.50; co-financing: €1,228,918.25.

Co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the EU from the European Regional Development Fund (www.eu-skladi.si)

The EU's long-term vision envisages a climate-neutral economy by 2050, which will require significant emission reductions. The electricity system is also facing major changes as a result. In the field of electricity generation, the ultimate goal is therefore to develop a new energy concept largely dominated by renewable energy sources (RES), which are largely based on distributed generation. On the electricity consumption side, we are witnessing the electrification of transport and heating. Electric vehicles are expected to play an important role in the decarbonisation of transport in the coming decades, both in Europe and worldwide. Energy for heating and cooling living and working environments accounts for 40% of final energy consumption in Europe, which is why the electrification of heating is one of the main pathways to decarbonisation. Transmission and distribution networks are thus facing the challenges of a high share of renewable energy sources (RES), electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps (HPPs), which have a significant impact on the operation of these networks.

The project aims to address the challenges presented by developing a platform for a local flexibility market for distribution networks. The proposed system will allow the provision of network services while respecting the operational constraints of the distribution network. Three computational modules are foreseen on the DSO side, which together form the platform for the operational constraints of the distribution network. On the aggregator side, the flexibility aggregation platform shall include a flexibility aggregation module that aggregates and activates the flexibility potential of active users in an optimal way, taking into account the operational constraints of the distribution network. On the market side, the market operator platform shall include a service allocation module to provide services to different stakeholders in the electricity network based on service demand and flexibility supply. The platforms will be tested in a pilot project on a real low voltage (LV) network.

The project (Development of platforms for local flexibility market in the field of distribution networks (DN-FLEX), L2-3162) was co-funded by the Public Agency for Research of the Republic of Slovenia from the state budget. The duration of the project is 1.10.2021 - 30.9.2024.

Composition of the research team

Faculty of Electrical Engineering (UL FE):
Prof. Dr. Boštjan Blažič(SICRIS), who is also the project leader, Janja Dolenc(SICRIS) and Marjan Ilkovski(SICRIS).

GEN-I:
Dr. Rok Lacko(SICRIS), Luka Nagode, Jan Tršinar and Matej Malenšek

Elektro Gorenjska (EG):
Anže Vilman(SICRIS) and Nejc Petrovič(SICRIS)

Project phases and their implementation

The project is divided into six work packages.

Work Package 1: Development of a platform for operational constraints of the distribution network
In the first work package, algorithms for forecasting highly variable demand of LV users and algorithms for forecasting the state of the LV network will be developed and tested, allowing robust and accurate forecasting of the state of the near future (day-ahead). A module for the calculation of Distribution Network Operating Constraints (DNNC) will be developed to determine the maximum allowable consumption or generation at a node that will not lead to a violation of the operating constraints. Testing of the developed algorithms will be carried out through simulations.

Work Package 2: Developing the Market Operator Platform
Upgrading the existing flexibility aggregation platform to also take into account the operational constraints of the distribution network. The Market Operator Platform will be developed with the aim of providing services to DSOs. Testing of the proposed algorithms will be carried out through simulations.

Work Package 3: Developing an advanced network planning tool
The objective of Work Package 3 is to statistically model RES generation and load consumption with a focus on solar power plants, electric vehicles and heat pumps. A methodology for distribution network planning will be proposed. A network planning tool will be developed to analyse variable operating conditions in the distribution network and to simulate smart grid solutions (including resilience provision).

Work Package 4: Demonstration of the operation of local flexicurity platforms and evaluation of results
The main objective is to demonstrate the performance of the developed platforms in real LV networks, where active users will participate in the management of the network by adjusting their consumption. A suitable LV network will be selected for the demonstration. An analysis of the selected network will be carried out and metering devices will be installed. Service use cases for DSOs and TSOs will be defined. The demonstration will provide feedback on the performance of the algorithm and provide practical results.

Work Package 5: Scalability and Reproducibility Study, Regulatory Recommendations
Based on the results of the demonstration, a scalability study will be carried out to provide an assessment of the implementation of the local flexicurity market at national level. Technical, sociological and regulatory barriers to the implementation of the local flexicurity market will be identified. Changes will be proposed to allow the use of the market for services at the level of the whole distribution.

Work Package 6: Communication, dissemination and use of results
Communication will be ensured with all stakeholders involved, including users and the Energy Agency. Communication will be tailored to each target group. The professionalism of the communication with customers will be ensured by the involvement of a subcontractor. The results of the project will be presented and disseminated through publications in the form of communications, at conferences and in scientific journals. A plan for the use of the project results will be drawn up.

Publications

Other monographs and other completed works

• KNEZ Klemen (author), BLAŽIČ Boštjan (project leader), LOKAR Jure. D1.1: Forecasting the state of LV networks : WP1: Development of a platform for operational constraints of the distribution network. Ljubljana: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, 2022, 40 p. illus.
  COBISS.SI-ID 136501763
• KNEZ Klemen (author), BLAŽIČ Boštjan (project leader). D1.2: Determinability of the capacity of distribution network nodes : WP2: Development of the market operator platform. Ljubljana: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, 2022, 10 p. illus.
  COBISS.SI-ID 136537347
• KNEZ Klemen (author), BLAŽIČ Boštjan (project leader), LACKO Rok, NAGODE Luka, TRŠINAR Jan, MALENŠEK Matej. D2.1: Resilience Aggregation Platform and Market Operator Platform : WP2: Development of the Market Operator Platform Ljubljana: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, 2022, 9 p. ill.
  COBISS.SI-ID 136541699
• KNEZ Klemen (author), BLAŽIČ Boštjan (project leader), LACKO Rok, NAGODE Luka, TRŠINAR Jan, MALENŠEK Matej, VILMAN Anže, PETROVIČ Nejc, DEŽAN Gregor. D4.1: Use cases of flexicurity : WP4: Demonstration of local market flexicurity platforms and evaluation of results. Ljubljana: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, 2022, 11 p. illus.
  COBISS.SI-ID 136578819
• KNEZ Klemen (author), BLAŽIČ Boštjan (project leader). D4.2: Modelling and analysis of the demo LV network : WP4: Demonstration of the operation of local market resilience platforms and evaluation of results. Ljubljana: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, 2022, 10 p. illus.
  COBISS.SI-ID 136587523
• KNEZ Klemen (author), BLAŽIČ Boštjan (project leader), LACKO Rok, MALENŠEK Matej. D6.1: Communication and Dissemination Plan : WP6: Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation of Results Ljubljana: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, 2022, 9 p. illus.

COBISS.SI-ID 136595715

The high variability of the operating conditions of the distribution network due to stochastic generation from RES is already a cause for concern today. This will be exacerbated by the increasing share of new loads, especially heat pumps (HP) and electric vehicles (EV), as these are loads related to users' habits and comfort, which are still poorly analysed. Increasing generation and increasing consumption, not necessarily at the same time, lead to overloading of grid elements (usually transformers) and deviations of voltage profiles from the required levels (high voltages due to generation and low voltages due to consumption). The positive side of the effects of green transformation on the grid is that renewables, new loads (EVs, CHP) and battery storage also represent a source of flexibility that can add value to the power system both through the management of generation resources and through the flexibility of demand. RES can typically generate reactive power or limit operating power, loads can provide a certain degree of consumption adjustment without significantly affecting user comfort, and battery storage is the most versatile device in terms of flexibility. The increased flexibility that active users can offer is a key feature of the electricity system of the future. Flexibility services provide clear benefits for Distribution System Operators (DSOs) in terms of voltage regulation and blockage management, increasing the ability to integrate RES, EVs and CHP. The available flexibility can, for example, be used by Balance of Balance Groups (BOGs) for portfolio balancing or by TSOs for system services. The active role of network users is also clearly reflected in the policy package "Clean Energy for All Europeans" (proposed by the EC on 30 November 2016), which states that the process of electricity system transformation brings a whole new role for electricity consumers: from peripheral users to key players in the electricity system.

The project (Optimisation of Low Voltage Distribution Network Operation with Integrated Real-Time Flexibility using Deep Reinforcement Induced Learning (DRIFT, L2-4436)) was co-funded by the Slovenian Research Agency from the state budget. The duration of the project is 1.10.2022 - 30.9.2025.

Composition of the research team

Faculty of Electrical Engineering (UL FE):
Prof. Dr. Boštjan Blažič(SICRIS), who is also the project leader and Janja Dolenc(SICRIS)

Faculty of Computer Science and Informatics (UL FRI):
Dr. Jure Žabkar(SICRIS),

Elektro Gorenjska (EG):
Nejc Petrovič(SICRIS) and Blaž Dobravec(SICRIS)

Project phases and their implementation

The project is divided into six work packages.

Work Package 1: Establishing the project baseline
In the first work stream, a state-of-the-art review of the application of AI in the field of electricity network operation will be carried out. Use cases and performance indicators (KPIs) will be identified.

Work Package 2: Developing a deep supervised learning algorithm for network management
In WP2, a methodology will be developed that uses deep reinforcement learning to build agents that act as operators to run the network in real time. Data for the machine learning process will be generated. The developed methodology will be tested with simulations.

Work Package 3: Upgrading the Distribution Network Simulation Platform
The objective of Work Package 3 is to build a digital twin of the pilot network (TP Srakovlje). Reference simulation models of the Slovenian network at LV level will be built. An upgrade of the distribution network simulation tool will be carried out to test the network management algorithm.

Work Package 4: Piloting and testing the developed network management algorithms
In WP4, the performance of the network management algorithm will be tested with real-time simulations (RTDS testing), followed by performance testing of the developed management algorithm in a pilot LV network, where consumers will participate in the network management by adjusting their consumption. The demonstration will provide feedback on the performance of the algorithm.

Work Package 5: Scalability and Reproducibility Study, Regulatory Recommendations
Based on the results of the demonstration, an analysis will be carried out to assess the implementation of the algorithm for distribution network management at national level.

Work Package 6: Communication, dissemination and use of results
Communication will be ensured with all stakeholders involved, including users and the Energy Agency. Communication will be tailored to each target group. The professionalism of the communication with customers will be ensured by the involvement of a subcontractor. The results of the project will be presented and disseminated through publications in the form of communications, at conferences and in scientific journals. A plan for the use of the project results will be drawn up.