Modelling platform for Building-to-Building-to-Grid services (B2B2G)

With on-going energy transition, power systems are facing challenges from renewable based generation, increased electricity demand and uncertainty due to electrification of transport and industries. Main challenges are related to the demand-supply balance and grid capacity constraints. Flexibility from end-users (e.g., buildings) could contribute to addressing these challenges. 

Buildings are becoming increasingly active with massive integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, battery energy storage, heat-pumps, etc., and could potentially contribute to addressing the challenges. This project will enable buildings to share energy between buildings within a community and to provide flexibility to support the grids.

Aims:

The project will develop simulation tools and solutions to i) enable virtual energy sharing in between buildings, i.e., building-to-building (B2B) service within a community as well as between the community and other stakeholders in cases of excess or deficits of energy produced (e.g., other communities, grids, etc.); ii) enable buildings and electric vehicles to provide flexibility to support grids’ operation through building-to-grid (B2G) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services. The aim is also to make buildings active and controllable resources to support more secure and renewable-rich networks. 

Research approach:

The overall methodology of B2B2G is as based on an iterative approach which will support “fast and incremental” development of work and results. It is composed of four modules, including: (i) “Needs and challenges” representing the foresight of the project; (ii) “Innovative services” representing novel developments; iii) “Integrated modelling platform” representing the core structure on which the novel developments are based; (iv) “Assessment and Deployment” representing the results assessments and potential for deployment. These modules are interconnected to receive inputs and deliver outputs from/to the other modules within the projects. The proposed methodology is iterative which implies that the inputs and outputs are continuously updated according to the obtained results, knowledge and experiences generated in the previous iterations. Using iterative, incremental development and short assessment cycles, it is flexible to inform involved partners with feedback, enabling a regular update of the progress and an easy-to-use process of managing changes to the plans during the project lifetime. 

Expected results:

The main expected results of the project will include the following:

• Specifications of virtual energy sharing framework and functionalities and specifications of B2G's and V2G's functionalities.
• An integrated modelling platform, as a decision support tool, for e.g., analysis of impacts and interactions with the grids (TSOs, DSOs) by different future scenarios, market mechanisms, business cases, etc., of innovative services offered by buildings, such as virtual energy sharing, building-to-grid services, vehicle-to-grid services.
• Assessment of cost-effectiveness and business models of the services through case studies and demonstrations. The evaluation will consider i) Benefits to the grids, e.g., how grid operation can be improved and ii) Benefits to the buildings, e.g., how much building cost can be saved? How much profits from providing flexibility services and from sharing of energy.
• Guidelines and specifications for potential piloting and deployment of solutions in real buildings by stakeholders, business cases for energy sharing, B2G, V2G services as well as suggested policy changes.

Involved in the project

Tuan Lee, Chalmers; David Steen, Chalmers; Elis Nycander Svenska kraftnät; Ali Fotouhi, Volvo Cars; Claes Sommansson, Chalmers industriteknik; Daniel Chima, E.ON Energidistribution

Partners

Chalmers University of Technology, Svenska kraftnät, E.ON Energidistribution, Volvo Cars, Chalmers Industriteknik

Funders

Energimyndigheten, Chalmers University of Technology, Svenska kraftnät, E.ON Energidistribution, Volvo Cars, Chalmers Industriteknik