FLEXCITE: Smart Grid Solution Suite

FLEXCITE is a software solution suite designed to meet the needs of the stakeholders in the electricity distribution value chain, from the distribution company which has a global vision of its network to the end prosumer who wants to self-supply and take part in the electricity markets.

The modular architecture of FLEXCITE provides energy management solutions for aggregators, microgrid operators and hybrid power plants with storage. It also includes a tool for the design and sizing of storage systems for the provision of different grid services, and an electrochemical battery twin for optimal operation and maintenance of these systems.

What is TWINnet/DSSE?

It is a state estimator for the low-voltage unbalanced distribution network.

What problem does TWINnet/DSSE have to solve?

The DSO controls and operates its network through SCADAS and Distribution Management Systems (DMS) that receive measurements from various devices across the network. This tool processes noisy, incorrect or non-existent input measurements and provides the corrected profile for the voltages in the low-voltage network.

How does TWINnet/DSSE offer a solution?

TWINnet/DSSE uses a rigorous mathematical formulation with no simplifications. Taking as input the available measurements (voltages, power, currents, etc.) and network information (topology and impedance of the lines), it provides as output an estimate of the voltages of the three phases and the neutral (modulus and angle of voltages at the nodes), and an estimate of the power injections and power flows through the lines.

What is AGGREFLEX?

AGGREFLEX is a software platform designed for aggregators (suppliers and independent aggregators) so that they can take part in different electricity markets, both energy (daily market) and congestion resolution, whether they are local markets operated by distribution companies or common markets serving both distribution and transmission operators (technical restrictions).

What challenge does AGGREFLEX address?

The challenge it addresses is to enable aggregators to optimise their participation in the different electricity markets in order to offer flexibility to the grid while maximising its economic benefit.

What solutions does AGGREFLEX create?

AGGREFLEX generates optimal flexibility bids to participate in these electricity markets, and calculates real-time operating setpoints of the different managed energy resources in order to meet the accepted bids and the allocations made in these markets.

What is SCORE?

SCORE is a software tool for analysing the feasibility of storage systems, stand-alone or linked to renewable generation systems for integration into the electrical grid.

What challenges does SCORE face?

The necessary integration of storage systems into the grid (stand-alone or within hybrid generation plants) comes with a high investment cost, with economic returns strongly conditioned by the size, technology and mode of operation of such storage. Tools are needed to study the techno-economic feasibility of such systems to support investment decisions.

What solutions are proposed to address these challenges?

The tool performs technical and economic calculations based on a renewable generation profile, storage characteristics and a storage operation strategy (to provide a service to the grid, to take advantage of high prices in energy sales, etc.). SCORE enables the systematic analysis of different services, scenarios or business cases associated with a certain regulatory framework in order to select and size the most appropriate storage technology.

What is BATTWIN?

BATTWIN is a digital twin of Li-ion battery systems to optimise their operation and associated costs.

What challenge does BATTWIN address?

Battery systems are expensive and have a complex performance, and their characteristics degrade, depending on many factors. There is a clear need for reliable tools to monitor and predict the performance of these systems, providing extensive information for the operation of the associated energy management systems (EMS) and battery management systems (BMS).

How does BATTWIN address this challenge?

The BATTWIN digital twin includes an electrical model with parameters that depend on the state-of-charge (SoC) of the battery, and a battery state estimator to determine the evolution of the main battery parameters: SoC, state of health (SoH), remaining capacity and internal battery impedance. The above semi-empirical state estimation model is completed by a data-driven model for remaining useful life (RUL) prediction .