Università Politecnica delle Marche/ASTEA – September 2019
Prof Gabriele Comodi from the Università Politecnica delle Marche answered some questions for us along with ASTEA, Italian utility. Both partners have been working in the Osimo demosite.
Since the project kick-off, what have been the updates in Osimo?
ASTEA: Mathematical models for different technologies have been developed, based on data collected in the year 2018. Furthermore, the specifications of the various technologies to be installed in Osimo have been defined (Thermal Energy Storage, Electric Energy Storage, Smart Electric Thermal Storage, Electric charging station and Electric Vehicle, Data monitoring system), taking into account the bureaucratic constraints present.
UNIVPM: The project is in line with respect the timing agreed at the kick-off meeting. The main research activities carried out are related to the definition of 1) the “smart control architecture”, to the 2) mathematical modelling of all the assets to be exploited in Osimo (smart building, EVs, cogeneration and thermal energy storage and district heating network, electric storages), to the 3) definition of “demand side management” strategies to be implemented. In parallel, activities related to paperwork and procedures to timely starting the implementation phase have begun.
What do you think are the most important results since the beginning of the project?
ASTEA: From our point of view (ASTEA and UNIVPM), the most important results were to define all the technical specifications of the various technologies to be installed in Osimo, in order to be ready with the partners involved in the demo-site for the execution and installation phases, as well as developing the smart control architecture and the planning of the DSM scheme.
UNIVPM: At the moment the most important results are related to the definition of the MUSE-GRIDS smart control architecture and the way to tailor it at Osimo level. This is an important result because we’re going to install several and different technologies to be managed altogether.
Another important result is the definition of smart management strategies of the cogeneration plant coupled with Thermal Energy Storage, serving the district heating network.
Finally, it is important to stress that we have a great team working very well; all the partners involved in the demo of Osimo are responsive and coordinated.
What should we expect in the upcoming months?
ASTEA: The coming months will see our project partners involved in the realization of the various technologies to be provided to the Osimo demo-site. In addition, data collection will be done to define the baseline situation and further mathematical models will be developed.
UNIVPM: in the next future we will define the exact timeline for implementation (implementation plan will be issued at the end of October); under the research point of view, smart control strategies and new services will be investigated also making use of Artificial Intelligence; under the implementation point of view we’are planning to have installed most of the assets/technologies by next summer; under the social point of view, we will further stress the importance of the project in the Osimo Energy Community.
Why do you like Osimo?
ASTEA: Osimo is a city in which are present cutting-edge technologies, and is suitable, thanks to its peculiarity of having a single point of connection with the national electricity network, to many new technological solutions.
UNIVPM: I like Osimo because for the following “research” reasons: it can be considered a local energy community; it is a multi-energy systems (in the project we are investigating the synergies between gas, electric, district heating and water newtorks) with a high share of renewables. Moreover, it is a city scale microgrid (it ahs only a point of common coupling with national TSO) having an high share of electric renewables so that it is self sufficient for more than 800 h every year