IPOWER - strategic platform for innovation and research in intellligent power

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)

Wind power and other variable production constitute a significant share of a future renewable energy system. This requires flexible and intelligent solutions. IPOWER focuses on flexible electricity consumption, where intelligent appliances can regulate own consumption to fit with the wind power production and user needs.

The background for the iPower project was the objective that in 2035 the electricity system will be based on fluctuating sustainable energy sources. This requires an adaptation of the rest of the system, so that a security and quality of supply will be maintained. iPower has had a special focus on, how the consumption can be controlled in order to exploit the potential flexibility. It must be done in such a way that the end-users keep control over their situation while at the same time the grid and market integration is optimized, both seen from a socioeconomic and the company’s point of view. The specification and supply of flexibility-based system services at both system and distribution level was therefore a central point in the iPower project so these could form a basis for the contracts. Control of flexibility of both private and commercial electricity consumption and an IT infrastructure, FLECH, have been developed and demonstrated, for formalized and transparent interaction between suppliers and consumers of flexibility.
Project description

The Danish Climate commission have recently recommended a strong focus on sustainable energy technologies. The iPower platform focuses on power system integration of large amounts of electricity from fluctuating renewable energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaic’s by activation of flexible consumer demand. A smart grid solution combining flexible demand side units with the necessary communication and control solutions can increase power consumption in high wind periods and decrease power consumption in low wind periods. Further smart grids can reduce the need for reinforcements in the distribution grids and be a source of ancillary services in the power system. The iPower platform links research and demonstration to actual product development by specifying methods, technologies and requirements for smart grid products, and enables the industry partners to become first movers in a new and growing world market.

A recent study by Energinet.dk and the Danish Energy Association estimates that the total costs of a smart grid solution able to handle a 2025 Danish power system with 50% wind power is 6.1 billion DKK smaller compared to a solution without a smart grid. Power consuming units are small, exist in large numbers and are connected to the distribution grids. If we wish to harvest the inherent flexibility potential in power consuming units it requires research and development within a broad range of topics covering: smart components, communication, aggregation and control of these units, operation of distribution grids, system evaluation and consumer behaviour. The research and industry partners in the iPower platform represent significant ongoing activities each addressing a subset of these topics. Bringing partners with the capacity and resources to cover all aspects together in the iPower platform enables us to make a major contribution to advancing the activation of flexible electricity demand. The iPower platform will be organized in eight parallel work packages covering: Project management (WP0), Demand response (WP1 and WP2), Distribution grid operation (WP3), Control and market operation (WP4), Socio-economic and investor evaluation (WP5), Consumer behaviour (WP6) and Dissemination (WP7). Modelling, simulation and prototype tests will be carried out at world-class test facilities at DTU, Danish Technological Institute and real-world demonstration. PhD and Postdoc studies will cover advanced methodology development. The concepts and technologies will be tested and demonstrated by the industrial partners with support from the scientific partners. Scientific work will be carried out in close cooperation with companies and guided by results and lessons learned from experimental activities.

Results
The background for the iPower project was the objective that in 2035 the electricity system will be based on fluctuating sustainable energy sources. This requires an adaptation of the rest of the system, so that a security and quality of supply  will be maintained. iPower has had a special focus on, how the consumption can be controlled in order to exploit the potential flexibility. It must be done in such a way that the end-users keep control over their situation while at the same time the grid and market integration is optimized, both seen from a socioeconomic and the company’s point of view. The specification and supply of flexibility-based system services at both system and distribution level was therefore a central point in the iPower project so these could form a basis for the contracts. Control of flexibility of both private and commercial electricity consumption and an IT infrastructure, FLECH, have been developed and demonstrated, for formalized and transparent interaction between suppliers and consumers of flexibility.

Key figures

Period:
2011 - 2016
Funding year:
2010
Own financial contribution:
60.86 mio. DKK
Grant:
60.00 mio. DKK
Funding rate:
50 %
Project budget:
120.86 mio. DKK

Category

Oprindelig title
IPOWER - strategisk platform for innovation og forskning i intelligent elproduktion
Programme
Innovationsfonden
Technology
Smartgrid and systems
Project type
Forskning
Case no.
ENMI 10-095378 - Nyt IFD 0603-00435B

Participants

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) (Main Responsible)
Partners and economy
Partner Subsidy Auto financing
SASECO ApS 0,50 mio. DKK 1,00 mio. DKK
Aalborg Universitet (Fredrik Bajers Vej) 4,00 mio. DKK 1,27 mio. DKK
DESIGNSKOLEN KOLDING 1,35 mio. DKK 0,15 mio. DKK
National Consumer Research Centre 0,60 mio. DKK
Lunds Univeritet 0,60 mio. DKK
Teknologisk Institut 11,25 mio. DKK 1,25 mio. DKK
Dansk Energi 3,00 mio. DKK 1,50 mio. DKK
DEVELCO A/S 1,00 mio. DKK 1,00 mio. DKK
ENFOR A/S 0,50 mio. DKK 0,50 mio. DKK
GREENTECH SOLUTIONS ApS 0,50 mio. DKK 2,30 mio. DKK
QEES ApS 0,50 mio. DKK 1,00 mio. DKK
GREENWAVE REALITY ApS 0,50 mio. DKK 1,00 mio. DKK
ZenseTechnology A/S 0,50 mio. DKK 1,50 mio. DKK
University College Dublin 0,60 mio. DKK 0,11 mio. DKK
NILAN A/S 0,50 mio. DKK 1,00 mio. DKK
Ørsted A/S 10,00 mio. DKK
Danfoss A/S 5,20 mio. DKK
NEAS ENERGY A/S 1,00 mio. DKK
GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S 5,00 mio. DKK
IBM Danmark ApS 6,48 mio. DKK
Vestas Technology R and D 6,54 mio. DKK
COWI A/S 0,95 mio. DKK
Balslev Rådgivende Ingeniører A/S 1,00 mio. DKK
University of Illinois 0,60 mio. DKK
University of California 0,60 mio. DKK
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) 16,35 mio. DKK 4,62 mio. DKK
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) 9,90 mio. DKK 0,74 mio. DKK
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) 3,50 mio. DKK 1,54 mio. DKK
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) 3,15 mio. DKK 2,22 mio. DKK

Contact

Kontakperson
Bindner, Henrik
Comtact information
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet. Institut for Elektroteknologi (DTU Elektro)
Risø Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, Postboks 49
DK-4000 Roskilde
www.elektro.dtu.dk
Henrik Bindner, 21362786, hwbi@elektro.dtu.dk
Øvr. Partnere: Aalborg Universitet (AAU); Designskolen Kolding; National Consumer Research Centre; Lund University; Teknologisk Institut; Dansk Energi; Develco Products A/S; ENFOR A/S; Greentech Solutions Aps; QEES ApS; Greenwave Reality ApS; ZenseTechnology A/S; University College Dublin; Electricity Research Centre; DONG Energy; Danfoss A/S; Nordjysk Elhandel A/S; Grundfos Management A/S; IBM Danmark A/S; Vestas Technology R and D; COWI A/S; Balslev A/S; Saseco ApS; University of Illinois; University of California
Contact email
hwbi@elektro.dtu.dk

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