WP2 - ECo Modeling (M1-M12)
Lead:  UNIGE

Developing models for the design, and management of internal and external operations of ECos. The WP2 outputs will serve as inputs to WP3 that will exploit the models obtained in the development of optimal component sizing and operational strategies for ECos.

Task 2.1: Models for Sizing and Internal Operations (UNISAN*, UNIBO) 

Modelling of ECos in respect of design and internal operations such as to leverage the associated renewable generation within the ECo geographical area, in order to match current and potential future energy demands.

The sizing will take into account (discrete) technological and cost features of commercially available components, so as to result in a constrained, mixed-integer optimization problem over different time-horizons (typically 10-30 years), depending in particular on aspects such as but not limited to: the technical facilitator’s economic projections (break-even point, return on investment, etc); lifecycles of various components; operating, maintenance and revamping costs; and obsolescence.

The concept of “fairness/equity” will explored in trying to quantify various potential measures, in terms of costs or utility functions and/or constraints to be incorporated in models for internal operations, i.e., for coordinating individual and/or shared resources. Internal operations models will primarily seek to increase ECo self-consumption while ensuring equitable sharing of resources, typically with one day time-horizons. 

Task 2.2: Models for External Operations (UNIGE*, UNIBO)

Studying and modelling the integration of ECos in demand response programs as prosumers and/or users able to modulate and shift their load within a certain time period of the day.

In particular, ECos may be customers of an aggregator who participates in the balancing market in order to reduce active/reactive loads, while also having to coordinate different actors (i.e., microgrids, ECos, and general prosumers). Or, ECos may participate in demand response programs cooperatively with other ECos, microgrids or general prosumers (i.e., without an aggregator). Thus, a bi-level optimization model formalized for an aggregator in the balancing market and models for microgrids and buildings will serve as the starting point for defining optimization-based architectures and models that are solvable through distributed techniques to represent ECos that can interact (in cooperative and competitive ways) with an aggregator or  in a peer-to-peer framework.

WP1 - Project Management, Dissemination and Communication
WP3 - Algorithms and Toolboxes for ECo Sizing and Operations
WP4 - Validation and Testing

PROJECT OVERVIEW
TARGETS: GOALS & OBJECTIVES
METHODOLOGIES
WORKPLAN
MILESTONES & DELIVERABLES