#8 The brain of flexibility
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Context
The growing digitalization of energy infrastructures is opening new perspectives for flexibility management. Devices such as smart meters, supervision systems, and connected control technologies now allow for precise interaction with energy networks.
However, one key piece is still missing: a “brain” — an intelligence capable of processing data in real time and optimizing energy flows based on technical, economic, and environmental criteria.
Challenges
How can we develop an intelligent solution capable of real-time flexibility management within a complex energy network that includes multiple producers, consumers, potentially storage systems, and different energy carriers?
Objectives
- Leverage available data (smart meters, supervision systems, IoT) to model energy behaviors.
- Define relevant optimization and automation criteria.
- Propose a centralized or decentralized decision-making intelligence (e.g. agent, algorithm, platform…) that acts as an internal aggregator.
- Improve the overall network performance (efficiency, cost, stability) by demonstrating the feasibility of techno-economic arbitration in real-world conditions.
- Prepare a concrete and operational pilot project on a real network.
Specific Criteria
- Real-time or near real-time control capability
- Consideration of diverse energy flows and physical constraints
- Interface with existing equipment (inverters, sensors, supervision systems)
- Scalability to different levels (industrial site, district, local network)
- Simplicity of deployment and integration in a field pilot
Partner
Genedis serves around 50 municipalities from central Valais to the canton of Vaud, with over 55,000 customers. It ensures electricity supply and distribution for its shareholder municipalities.
Genedis invests in solar, wind, thermal, and hydroelectric generation to strengthen its local energy supply. In addition to operating as a distribution system operator (DSO), it also manages water, district heating, and telecommunications networks.
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