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Smart energy networks in the North

The main purpose of this research is to assess the future of energy services, and define the framework for the development of smart energy networks in Northern Finland as an integral part of a sustainable energy economy in the North. In particular, this project aims to model the needs the energy market will have to fulfill in a smart energy network based system.

The European Union (EU) aims at continuous greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction until decarbonization of the power system has been achieved and total produced GHG emissions are less than 80% of level of 1990. This goal is to be gradually achieved by 2050. Guiding measures at EU level consist mainly of progressing energy policies and setting mutual binding goals for member states. Both
the decarbonization and energy policies imply increased utilization of renewable energy sources, but also more active participation of energy end-user is perceived as a significant factor in achieving set targets.

To promote this goal, our project titled "Smart energy networks 2050 (SEN2050): Modelling of energy and information fluxes, impact of user response on decarbonisation" intends to produce a planning and evaluation model for smart energy networks development. The main purpose is to analyse the future energy network development as an integral part of a sustainable energy economy, exploring the integration of district heating networks as well as bioenergy carriers into a smart distributed power network. The integration of renewable heating is in particular seen as vital for the decarbonisation process, achievable through the use of biomass and the integration of electricity, heat and transport.

SEN2050

The SEN 2050 project has two key objectives:

(1) in the short term, we aim at the development of a set of modelling and computational tools intended to support and strengthen the transition phase, the smartening of the system.

(2) In the long term we aim at producing policy advising material that would support a sustainable transition to the envisioned system based on a central role of end-users by taking in consideration local resources and socio-economic
conditions.

The project has been structured in 5 work packages (WP). The first three WP are of more technical nature, aiming at the computational modelling and simulation of the envisioned energy system. WP4 aims at providing a set of tools for the evaluation of
the sustainability of the system. WP5 focusses on the development of future scenario. The list of tasks to be performed within each WP is as follows:

  1. WP1: Smart grid infrastructure modelling – a bottom-up approach;
  2. WP2: Information and energy fluxes within the smart energy network;
  3. WP3: Optimisation for decarbonisation;
  4. WP4: Economic lever for promoting emission reduction; and
  5. WP5: Prototype testing.

WP1 will include 3 case studies and P4 will be conducted in project collaboration with Oulu Business School. Research will provide transition strategies towards higher energy efficiency, end-user participation, and distributed generation.

The project is performed as part of Jean-Nicolas Louis' doctoral research, and Antonio Caló's post-doctoral research.



Partners:

  • University of Oulu, Faculty fo Technology, Control Engineering Research Group (Prof. Kauko Leiviskä, Dr. Esko Juuso, Dr. Mika Ruusunen)
  • University of Oulu, Faculty of Architecture (Prof. Helka-Liisa Hentilä, architect Leena Soudunsaari)
  • Oulu Business School (Prof. Rauli Svento)
  • Finnish Environment Institute (Prof. Maria Kopsakangas-Savolainen)

 

Funding:

  • Pohjoista voimaa ympäristötili (1.1.-31.12. 2012)
  • Thule Institute Research Programme (1.11.2012 - 31.8.2015)
  • Fortum Foundation (1.9.2015-31.8.2016)
  • Academy of Finland (1.9.2015 - 31.8.2019)

 

Duration:

1/2012 - 8/2019

 

Publications:

  • Louis, Jean-Nicolas; Pongracz, Eva; Leiviska, Kauko, "The trade-off between technology deployment and enviro-economic benefits in smart buildings," in European Energy Market (EEM), 2015 12th International Conference on the , vol., no., pp.1-5, 19-22 May 2015
    doi:10.1109/EEM.2015.7216691
  • Louis, Jean-Nicolas; Leiviskä, Kauko; Pongrácz, Eva (2015) Environmental Impacts and Benefits of Smart Home Automation: Life Cycle Assessment of Home Energy Management System. - 8th Vienna International Conference on Mathematical Modelling (2015). Breitenecker, Felix; Kugi, Andreas; Troch, Inge. Mathematical Modelling 8, Vienna, International Federation of Automatic Control. 880-885. doi:10.1016/j.ifacol.2015.05.158
  • Louis, Jean-Nicolas; Caló, Antonio; Leiviskä, Kauko; Pongrácz, Eva (2014) A Methodology for Accounting the CO2 Emissions of Electricity Generation in Finland - The contribution of home automation to decarbonisation in the residential sector. - International Journal on Advances in Intelligent Systems 8 (3&4), 560-571 . Available Online
  • Louis, Jean-Nicolas; Calo, Antonio; Pongracz, Eva (2014) "Smart Houses for Energy Efficiency and Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction." - ENERGY 2014, Chamonix, France. Fries, Steffen; Dini, Petre. ENERGY, International Conference on Smart Grids, Green Communications and IT Energy-aware Technologies. Chamonix, France, Iaria xps press. 44-50, Available Online
  • Caló, Antonio; Louis, Jean-Nicolas; Pongrácz, Eva (2014) "Concerning the Sustainability of Smart Grids" - ENERGY 2014, Chamonix, France. Fries, Steffen; Dini, Petre. ENERGY, International Conference on Smart Grids, Green Communications and IT Energy-aware Technologies. Chamonix, France, Iaria xps press. 81-85, 30042. Available Online
  • Louis, Jean-Nicolas; Calo, Antonio; Leiviskä, Kauko; Pongracz, Eva (2013) "Home Automation for a sustainable living : Modelling a detached house in Northern Finland." - 7th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting (EEDAL’13), 11-13 September 2013, Coimbra, Portugal. Joint Research Centre. Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting. pp. 561-571, 098. doi:10.2790/2313
  • A. Calo, E. Juuso, R. Svento, and E. Pongracz, “Smart Energy Networks in the Northern Periphery: Development of an End-User Oriented Profiled Hybrid Micro-Grid Simulator,” presented at the 7th Vienna International Conference on Mathematical Modelling, Vienna, 2012, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 985–990. Available Online

  • Louis, Jean-Nicolas; Calo, Antonio; Leiviskä, Kauko; Pongracz, Eva (2013) Modelling a detached house in a smart grid environment: Improving energy efficiency through home automation, Poster, Katelli symposium. Available Online
  • Louis, Jean-Nicolas (2012), "Smart Buildings to improve energy efficiency in the residential sector,", Master Thesis, Oulu University, Available Online

 

Related publications:

  • Antonio Caló (2011), Assessing the the potential for smart energy grids in the Northern Periphery, Master Thesis, Oulu University, Available Online

 

Contact persons:

MSc. Jean-Nicolas Louis, Researcher, Doctoral Candidate
jean-nicolas.louis(at)oulu.fi

Dr. Antonio Caló, Post-doctoral researcher
antonio.calo(at)oulu.fi

 

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