Partners:

ABOUT SINTEF: SINTEF AS, headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, is one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations, established in 1950. Renowned for its cutting-edge research and technology development, SINTEF delivers innovative solutions to address industrial and societal challenges. Guided by the vision “Technology for a Better Society,” SINTEF focuses on sustainable development and technological advancements to tackle global issues such as climate change, renewable energy, digitalization, and healthcare. Its multidisciplinary expertise spans a wide range of research areas, including building and construction, climate and environment, digitalization, food and agriculture, health and medicine, materials, microsystems and nanotechnology, ocean space, renewable energy, society and security, and sustainable production.

ROLE: SINTEF serves as the project coordinator, providing strategic oversight and ensuring efficient management throughout the project. Its responsibilities include monitoring project progress, planning, and follow-up activities, as well as maintaining regular updates to the European Commission. SINTEF oversees decision-making procedures, project administration, data management, risk mitigation, and intellectual property rights (IPR) management. Additionally, SINTEF will lead activities in WP2, focusing on developing advanced forecasting algorithms for PV systems and adapting them to the specific conditions of the demonstration site. SINTEF will also develop a digital solution for accessing and storing data from the demo site on a platform, ensuring seamless access of the data for project partners.

Short description of institution: Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre (FCC) is a Swedish research institute that performs scientific research, development, and education within the field of applied mathematics, in close co-operation with universities and other scientific and industrial agencies, and promotes the use of mathematical models, methods, and results in industrial activities.  

ROLE: In the INTEREST project, involving the department of Systems and Data Analysis, we lead WP2 on Digital Twins and provide expertise within modelling of heating/cooling networks and involved component models. The purpose is to assist in the identification of energy saving potentials and provide components integral to the development of model predictive control algorithms. 

Es-geht! Energy systems GmbH is an advanced and dynamic consulting and solution company with a main focus on DSOs and retailing companies as well Energy (Sharing) Communities. Es-geht! develops strategies, solutions, and business models, with key focuses on sector coupling, subsidies, grants, and financing. Additionally, the team provides support for participation and technology projects, offering technical or administrative services as well as research and development support.
In the project, Es-geht! will strengthen the consortiums’ competence in the area of off-grid renewable energy systems and “easy-locally-to-adapt-solutions out-of-the-box”. The team will put its efforts into research of Smart Grid and Smart City integration to maximize the use the projects outcomes (local optimization and adaption, digital twin, virtual power plant, customizing) to the local participants. ESG is WP6 (Use Cases Identification and Validation) and WP8 (Dissemination, Communication, Exploitation and Societal Engagement) leader.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (ITWM) is one of the largest research institutes for industrial mathematics worldwide. Our focus is on the implementation of mathematical methods and technology in research and innovation projects.

Department System Analysis, Prognosis and Control:  The department focus is on real-time plant and power grid operation. In this field of activity, we are developing monitoring and control algorithms for power generators, transport and distribution grids as well as for cost and energy efficient consumption. We focus on modelling, simulation and model predictive control concepts of larger parts of the smart grid. The increase of energy efficiency in production aids in reducing the overall energy demand. Additionally, concepts for compensating variation in intraday renewable energy generation. Here, appropriate energy storage mechanisms must be developed, and the renewable energy should be spent by the end consumers mainly when it is available.

ROLE: Fraunhofer ITWM will utilize its expertise in energy systems control and monitoring to develop the digital twin of energy grids for advanced control applications. To achieve this, ITWM will provide models of power network components that will form the foundation of the digital twin (WP2). Furthermore, the grid digital twin will be enhanced with fault detection and health prediction mechanisms (WP3). Ultimately, the digital twin will facilitate the development of a reconfigurable MPC framework (WP4), leading to self-healing control strategies that significantly improve the reliability and efficiency of energy systems.

OFFSET Energy is an international team with over 100 years of combined experience in energy optimization. We specialize in developing integrated systems that automate and streamline local energy sub-systems, combining expertise in energy design, software development, networking, system integration, and R&D. Our name, OFFSET (Optimal Flexibility Flow Systems, Engineering, Technology), reflects our mission to optimize energy flows and create balance across sectors.

ROLE: OFFSET Energy contributes to the INTEREST project by providing data and insights through its AURORA platform, an advanced energy management tool designed for integrated and automated solutions. With expertise in energy system design, forecasting, and sector coupling, OFFSET supports the project’s goals by offering technological solutions and sharing its experience in system integration and optimization. This collaboration ensures a robust foundation for advancing sustainable energy practices within the project framework.

SWW Wunsiedel GmbH is a municipal, highly innovative utility company and DSO, that ensures the supply of the metropolitan area of Wunsiedel, as well as seven other municipalities. For years, SWW and its subordinated service companies have been focussing on the consistent production, use and expansion of renewable energy and sustainable technologies (e.g. solar and wind energy, cogeneration, wood as raw material). In the future, regionally required energy will largely be generated and consumed on the basis of renewable energy. The city of Wunsiedel and SWW, strive to attain their goals of becoming energy self-sufficient, as well as to decouple from the national and international energy market through synchronization and decentralization of their energy production and distribution. SWW participates in multiple research and HORIZON projects focusing on the local energy production and they will bring their competence on distributed renewable generation systems, energy storage, grid integration, smart metering to the project. SWW will lead WP7 (Digital Solutions on a Global Scale), host the German demo site with a large variety of technologies representing Energy Future and will lead several tasks throughout the duration of the project.

ABOUT Universidad de Sevilla (USE): USE is the third largest University in Spain, founded in 1505. The group involved in the project belongs to the Systems Engineering and Automatic Control Department and develop their activities in the fields of renewable energy, green hydrogen and microgrids.

ROLE: Its primary role involves developing and implementing solutions for integrating renewable energy sources into the smart grid, with a focus on combining various storage technologies, particularly hydrogen. USE’s key contributions will center on tasks related to MPC, enhancing fault detection and reconfiguration capabilities, and advancing the development and validation of digital twins and secure energy exchanges via blockchain.

ABOUT Universiade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC): The Universiade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) is a Brazilian public federal higher education institution. The Automation and Systems Dept. and the Fotovoltaica lab, with research in predictive control, renewable energy, and microgrids, participate in INTEREST.

ROLE: The UFSC team will cooperate in the MPC strategies, considering operational aspects of energy sources and loads and run experiments for validating the project’s control strategies in the two microgrid plants with green H2 generation, storage, and consumption capabilities, one of these also with NH3 generation capabilities.

ABOUT The University of Technology Sydney (UTS): The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a leading public university renowned for its innovative approach to education and research. Located in the heart of Sydney, UTS is committed to fostering creativity, collaboration, and real-world impact. With a focus on technology, innovation, and sustainability, UTS offers a dynamic and future-focused learning environment that equips students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly changing world. As one of Australia’s top universities, UTS prides itself on its strong industry connections, cutting-edge facilities, and commitment to addressing global challenges through research and education.

ROLE: UTS contributes to the INTEREST project by leading a pilot test at its state-of-the-art energy test facility in Australia. This pilot will focus on integrating and validating innovative energy solutions using renewable energy sources, battery storage systems, and demand response technologies. Additionally, UTS plays a significant role in communication, dissemination, and prototyping activities, ensuring the project’s outcomes are effectively tested and shared. Through its advanced infrastructure and expertise, UTS provides a critical testing ground for demonstrating real-world applications of the project’s technologies.