Business Models

In the first simulations we have defined a grid within Fribourg (Quartier Pérolles). The grid consists of three sub-units that contain sources (controllable and uncontrollable decentralised generation) as well as sinks (consumer and storage devices) for energy. These units are able to act independently or interactively within the network. The simulated grid is directly connected to a distribution network operator (DNO) (e.g. Groupe E, Romande Energie).

The customers, mainly residential, are separated into two groups: One group is not willing to change its consumption and has a fixed and fully predictable load profile for the day-ahead. The other group is highly flexible and is able to response to real-time pricing (hourly).

The main objectives are to minimize the energy cost as well as the consumption. Therefore a nonlinear optimization between decentralised generation, selling/buying energy from the DNO, energy storage and incentives for more/less consumption is made. First calculations show a possible reduction of energy costs mainly by active load shifting.

The next steps will focus on detailed observation of the supply respectively the demand side. Therefore models for prediction of the decentralised (renewable) generation based on meteorological forecasting and for certain storage devices will be used. Further the considered grid will be extended by the concept of “multi energy carrier”. This contains different sort of energies like electricity as well as heat and certain fuels being controlled co-ordinately within the system to increase security of supply. The demand side will be covered by a defined load prediction model and a model to predict the responsiveness to dynamic pricing (real time or time-of-use).

Based on the simulation results and regarding the main idea of SmartEnergy of a real time information exchange between supplier and consumer a business model considering precisely the current legal framework and technical requirements compared with swissgrid (e.g. balancing group model) will be developed. The business model being presented will be generalised in order to use it for different grid topologies, e.g. Rheinfelden (VEiN), Martigny.