Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISEIn the "EnQuaFlex" project, we are developing an agent-based energy management system for intelligent operation in districts. In a new dictrict in Harsefeld (Lower Saxony), we are investigating how decentralised systems can be controlled in such a way that both the needs of residents and the requirements of the surrounding energy system are taken into account.
Energy Transition-Friendly District Operation Through Joint Flexibility Coordination
EnQuaFlex
Die Vision: Smart City - ein zukunftsweisendes Quartier für die Energiewende.
Initial Situation
The heating sector accounts for one third of Germany's final energy demand, 70 per cent of which is in private households. The energy transition requires systemic transformation at the district level.
Key challenges: The integration of decentralised renewable energies is leading to an increasing need for flexibility in the distribution grid. Previous efficiency gains through individual technologies have not been sufficient – a holistic view of building technology as an energy system was lacking. Unused energy flows remained untapped.
Regulatory barriers made internal dictrict management system optimisation economically unattractive. Central architectures did not reflect the heterogeneous structure of actors. External incentives with dictrict -internal exchange were unexplored, and real-world demonstrations were lacking.
Objective
The project investigates resource-efficient technologies with energy transition, grid and dictrict -friendly operational management for sustainable residential dictricts. An intelligent load management system is designed to optimise the local dictrict level and the overall energy system. At the same time, interactions with resident behaviour are being analysed. The research covers building technologies, their intelligent interaction using agent-based energy management, and stakeholder behaviour. Four key objectives: dictrict -related simulation of building and plant systems, development of intelligent energy management systems, testing of innovative communication tools in energy communities, and promotion of transparency and knowledge transfer.
Fraunhofer ISE is responsible for the design and development of the agent-based dictrict energy management system (EMS). In close coordination with Green Planet Energy, the operator of the local area network, the energy transition targets to be followed by the agent system are defined. At the same time, the requirements and preferences of residents are continuously integrated during system development to ensure practical and user-centred implementation.
Approach
As part of the project, we are conducting surveys to gather information about expectations for the dictrict energy management system (EMS) in advance and to collect feedback about experiences with the EMS after installation. Before the system is deployed in the dictrict, we are conducting laboratory tests in our Digital Grid Lab. This allows us to integrate real components such as wall boxes and battery storage systems and to model virtual components. In the second half of the project, operation with selected use cases in the dictrict is planned. To this end, the algorithms developed and tested in the laboratory are to be integrated into a commercially available EMS, thus expanding the operational management of the various components from different manufacturers on site to include the energy system level.
Dezentrale Quartiersoptimierung auf verschiedenen Ebenen. Aus der Nutzungseinheit über die Community ins umgebende Energiesystem.
Result
Initial evaluations in the Harsefeld demonstration district show that shared energy use ("energy sharing") significantly increases self-sufficiency and noticeably reduces electricity consumption from the grid, leading to less dependence on the grid in the district.
Energy self-consumption in summer
The shared use of photovoltaic surpluses significantly increases self-consumption in the neighbourhood, while grid consumption decreases noticeably. The district thus uses a larger proportion of its locally generated energy itself in summer and becomes noticeably less dependent on the higher-level electricity grid.
Left: PV Usage | Right: Load Coverage.
Energy self-consumption in winter
Despite lower solar radiation in winter, the energy community enables a significantly higher self-sufficiency rate and reduces grid consumption. This means that the district remains more self-sufficient even during the heating season and contributes to a grid-friendly and climate-friendly energy supply.
Left: PV Usage | Right: Load Coverage.
Funding
The “EnQuaFlex” project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
