Cloud Energy research project

How can you improve the energy system? As the name suggests: systematically.

The situation

The digital transformation of the energy transition is vital to achieving the energy policy goals of the federal government. It is more and more the case that new, technically complex energy supply concepts are being used. Standalone grids are being set up to save on grid fees. Energy storage capacity is being expanded in order to benefit from fluctuations in energy prices. Sector coupling creates more efficient supply systems. These are exciting times for software experts like us!
By contrast, current circumstances can be quite anxiety-inducing for businesses, which have to ensure their energy supply with increasingly complex technology, while the economic boundary conditions are subject to constant change. They need support in doing this – which is where the Cloud Energy idea comes in.

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The project

The Cloud Energy research project was launched with the goal of optimising entire energy supply systems on a constant basis and in real time. To do this, we developed algorithms and processes, integrated them into a cloud-based software environment and paired them with tools for energy system planning. The processes and algorithms are based on existing solutions created by us and project partner Society for the Advancement of Applied Computer Science (GFaI). The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the SME Innovation Programme.

Our contribution

Cloud Energy is consolidating the tasks of design, redesign and operation of an energy system in a digital model for the first time. This makes it possible to tap into optimisation potential across the entire energy system. Extensive models are required and must be fed large volumes of data relating to the various forms of energy, meter points, weather data and technical parameters. The project made time series information available on a larger scale than ever before and nearly in real time.
Another innovative aspect of Cloud Energy is that several customers can share a cloud-based solution and reduce their costs on this basis. We take care of operation and maintenance – and use state-of-the-art security practices to protect the business-critical models from unauthorised access.

 

Project facts

Sponsors:

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) as part of the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM project)

Project duration:

2 years
Project completion: 2021

Project results

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The initial design and optimisation for sector-coupled energy systems were successful

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The optimisation results are directly translated into supply system schedules and recommendations for action for energy trading

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A cloud-based system pairs real-time energy system optimisation with energy design capabilities

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Energy-intensive companies, municipal utilities and contractors can operate more profitably and with lower emissions