“TECNALIA is working on 100% renewable isolated microgrids on the road to energy transition and decarbonisation of the economy”
The ENERISLA initiative explores the possibilities of technological developments around 100% renewable isolated energy systems
ENERISLA has culminated in the start-up of a demonstrator with a basic structure that is made up of two autonomous microgrids (CIRCE, TECNALIA) that can be linked together by means of advanced communication protocols. TECNALIA’s installation includes two physical microgrids: one electrical and one thermal. Both have generation, charging and storage units for the electrical and thermal vectors. The CIRCE installation is based on a RTDS/PHIL system and several laboratories (RES integration, electromobility, etc).
ENERISLA’s investments have strengthened the research capabilities of each of the partner’s laboratories in order to offer new technology validation and training services to companies.
The possibility of interaction between renewable isolated microgrids implements geographically distributed experiments: they reproduce more complex scenarios and allow the development and demonstration of ground-breaking concepts such as energy communities, aggregators and new flexibility services, among other things.
Laboratory visits
Some of the functionalities of the ENERISLA demonstrator were reviewed when the CDTI (Ministry of Science and Innovation) visited TECNALIA at the end of October 2022. The visit included:
- An experiment distributed between the electrical microgrid located at the Derio facilities and the Thermal Systems Laboratory in Azpeitia;
- A demonstration of rapid prototyping of power electronics solutions.
- A characterisation of Power Hardware-in-the-Loop systems.
To conclude this activity and as the final project meeting, the CDTI will be visiting the CIRCE Laboratories in Zaragoza in April 2023.
Progress in renewable generation technologies
TECNALIA has focused on the development of a generation prediction and maintenance optimisation algorithm for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) with the implementation of several demonstrators to be validated in real environments.
The Basque technology centre has also developed novel error detection techniques in modules, strings, arrays and PV inverters, for which a patent has already been applied for. TECNALIA has also focused on research into materials (conductive adhesives and encapsulation) and manufacturing processes for photovoltaic modules with special features (more durable, more recyclable, lighter, etc). Finally, it has developed an MLPE (Module-Level Power Electronic) converter.
Results in grid and microgrid operating systems
TECNALIA has implemented two types of status estimators for unbalanced electricity distribution networks: one based on conventional weighted least squares techniques and the other based on neural networks.
It has also continued to implement a new microgrid management system to be integrated into the ENERISLA demonstrator. Successful tests have been carried out in the connection of its Thermal Systems Laboratory (Azpeitia) to the electrical microgrid (Derio) for the implementation of a use case relating to energy communities.
The development of systems of optimal management of the flexibility provided by prosumers equipped with photovoltaic panels, heat pumps and storage has also been proposed.
Breakthroughs in storage
TECNALIA has completed the development of a data-based model to estimate the degradation of batteries and predict their useful life (RUL) based on the number of cell cycles. State-of-charge (SoC) and state-of-health (SoH) estimators for battery cells and modules have been implemented.
Progress has also been made in the definition of the local and remote architecture for the digital twin of the battery, and the integration of its components. Lastly, a module for sizing, simulation and technical-economic analysis of storage systems has been developed.
Results in digitalisation of grids and services
In the area of digitalisation of grids and services, TECNALIA has finished developing the specification of functionalities and the architecture of a new SCADA for the electrical microgrid that will also be integrated in its Cybersecurity Laboratory, and the new Data Space Laboratory: it will enable the deployment of advanced services and remote access to the ENERISLA laboratories.
More information about ENERISLA
ENERISLA is a project funded by the Cervera Network of Excellence research and innovation programme (grant CER-20191002): four research centres CIRCE -Coordinator-, TECNALIA, CIDETEC and CTIC are implementing research and technological development network activities from 2020 to 2022.
