RESOLVD: Improve the efficiency of grids
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June 26, 2018CITCEA UPC has begun to participate in RESOLVD (Renewable Penetration Levered by Efficient Low Voltage Distribution Grids), a European project whose aim is to facilitate the integration of renewable generation into the low voltage grid and improve the management of the grid and energy flows. To achieve this, a new advanced power electronics device with integrated storage management capabilities will be developed. This will be connected to the grid and release energy when consumer demand is high. It could balance and compensate for variation in grid voltage, to provide a better quality of supply.
The new device will facilitate local consumption of renewable energy, avoiding the transport of energy generated in large power stations far from the site of consumption, and contributing to improving the system’s efficiency.
Based on the artificial intelligence algorithms with which it was developed, the device will have the capacity to predict demand and energy generation at critical points of the grid in the short-term. In this way, uncertainty in grid operation can be reduced, and efficiency increased. At the same time, software and hardware technologies are proposed to improve monitoring of the low voltage network, and to detect and automatically isolate faults.
The project is based on the concept of smart grid and is designed to make current grids safer and much more efficient, as an essential measure to tackle the energy transition towards a sustainable model based on renewable generation.
It is part of the Horizon 2020 programme and will last for 36 months. Other participants in the project consortium are the University of Girona (coordinators), Estabanell Energia, Joanneum Research (Austria), the Greek company Intracom, Comsensus (Slovenia) and Smart Innovation Norway. The total budget is for €3.8 M.
Related Projects
- The Centre for Sensors, Instruments and Systems Development (CD6) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) is taking part in PhotonHub Europe. This is a European project to establish a single pan-European hub for innovation in photonics as a one-stop shop solution that brings together the pioneering photonics solutions, facilities, knowledge and experience of 53 European partners.
- The research group Barcelona Fluids & Energy Lab (IFLUIDS) and the Centre for Technological Innovation in Static Converters and Drives (CITCEA) of the UPC participate in the European project H-HOPE, which is focused on the development of solutions to produce clean energy based on water sources that have still not been exploited, such as pipes and water channels.
- Combining agricultural activity and the production of solar energy by means of photovoltaic panels is the aim of SYMBIOSYST, a project promoted by a consortium of 16 European partners including the UPC. As part of this project, technological tools will be developed to contribute to generating clean energy for the agricultural sector in Europe.
- The production of biogas through anaerobic digestion has been increasing exponentially in Europe in recent years. This is because it can be produced locally and has a clear positive effect on waste recycling, the generation of clean energy, sustainable development or climate action. In this context, the FertiLab project was launched, with the participation of researchers from the Department of Agri Food Engineering and Biotechnology (DEAB) of the UPC.
