1. ICT and power electronics enable high energy
efficiency and power quality in smart grids for
regional development
Dr. Yonghua Cheng
Unit of Energietechnologie, VITO - Flemish Institute for Technological Research
Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)14 33 5982 and Fax: +32 (0)14 33 1185
E-mail: yonghua.cheng@vito.be

2. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Introduction
» There are three regions in Begium
» Flanders
» Brussels
» Wallonia
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3. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Introduction
» In order to achieve the goal of 20,20,20, Large scale integration of
renewable energy sources and Plug-in Electric Vehicles in the existing
networks.
» Current situation of balance settlement mainly in transmission
networks.
» TSO (transmission system operator) is to manage the balance of
its control area.
» BRPs (balance responsible party) must balance power on a
quarter-hourly basis, (by nominations and imbalance tariffs).
» DSO (Distribution system operator) is only doing the smart
metering.
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4. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Introduction
» Many renewable energy systems and Plug-in EVs will be connected
to the distribution networks.
» Government incentive
» Geen certificate for renewable energy (80 euro/MWh).
» Low rate loan for the installation of PVs (1.5%).
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5. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Introduction
» ICT and Power Electronics enable smart grids and smart energy
systems.
» One of the strategy researches at VITO is the reference architecture
of smart grids, smart building and smart city, in which ICT solution, E-
markets, Demand side management and Grid operation are focused.
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6. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Main activities
» A software package (virtual agent), is being developed, which can
set up a virtual market between various power production and
consumption parties.
» VITO is also developing the intelligent power electronics systems to
ensure the reliability of networks (in case of RES and Plug-in EVs).
» With VITO technology, coordination via ICT infrastructure and grid
control with intelligent power electronics can be done in different
time scales.
» As a result, the potential business cases and jobs are created to
support the regional development (at least in Flanders).
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© 2011, VITO NV

7. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Methods of power management in smart grids
» Based on the ICT infrastructure, the methods can be in
» Agent-based control
» Event-based control (e.g. price of electricity).
» Power flow optimization (introducing a virtual agent in the server to
generate an offset of power flow for the optimization in smart grid)
The goal is Agent-based control
Server Event-based control
to optimise
price Fluctuation
power flow. price
qantity3
qantity0 price vs.price
agent event
vs.price qantity1 qantity2 based RES
price 3
vs.price vs.price source
P3 P5 P_res
MV LV virtual
agent 0
transformer P1 P2 P4 P_loads
P0 event
agent agent based other
1 2 loads loads
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8. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Active participation
» Demand side management enables to reduce the cost or to increase
income in household applications, since time shift-able loads/sources can
response the price of electricity and the moment of high production of
renewable energy.
driven by micro-economics
Demand side management
(Server)
quantity vs. price price
Sources Source Source Source
PV/WT ...
& loads of &loads of &loads of &loads of
park
office dwelling1 dwelling2 dwellingn
building2
K1 price
K2 micro-
PV WT
CHP
AC/DC/AC
energy
Sources storage
synchronous/ & loads of
asynchronouse office elec- elec- washing
TV Frigo
connection building1 cooker boiler machine
Possible sources & loads of dwelling
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9. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Active participation
» As a result, the houses become smart and sustainable house/buildings.
» Further plug-in EVs can be treated as a means of grid control.
» ICT and Power electronics enable high energy efficiency and power quality in
smart grids for regional development. driven by micro-economics
Demand side management
(Server)
quantity vs. price price
Sources Source Source Source
PV/WT ...
& loads of &loads of &loads of &loads of
park
office dwelling1 dwelling2 dwellingn
building2
K1 price
K2 micro-
PV WT
CHP
AC/DC/AC
to AC grid energy
(in power dispatching/ Sources storage
load following mode) synchronous/ & loads of
asynchronouse office elec- elec- washing
AC TV Frigo
connection building1 cooker boiler machine
DC EV1
Possible sources & loads of dwelling
renewable
DC charging
energy EV2
DC1 station
sources
...
possible
Super DC other DC
Caps source/ EVn
DC2
loads
DC matrix
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© 2011, VITO NV

10. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
The reference (on-going) projects
Linear project (in Flemish region)
» To assess the characteristics of electric power network due to the
demand side management.
» The evaluation is based on the field tests (in one house, many
houses in different areas and many houses in the same area).
» At this moment, a home lab has been developed with possible time
shift-able sources and loads.
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11. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Test platform of smart grids
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12. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
E-harbors
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13. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
The reference (on-going) projects
E-harbors (in north sea region)
» Nine European partners search for a more sustainable energy
model for port cities (e.g. Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and
Hamburg).
» Harbors are major energy consumers. They are also the good place
to get renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, tidal, biomass, …) and to
be consumed locally.
» As a result, port cities contribute significantly to reduce our region’s
energy consumption and CO2 emission.
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© 2011, VITO NV

14. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
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15. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
The reference (on-going) projects
Tweewaters project (in Flemish region)
» An energy efficient district in Tweewaters, it is located along the
Leuven Canal Basin (11-Hectare project area).
» The systems approach is focused on to meet the future cities need
(e.g. electricity, heat, water, waste, mobility, use of space, …). In
particular, the development of smart and sustainable energy
systems.
» Ecology and comfortable living can be realized.
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16. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
EnergyVille
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17. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
The reference (on-going) projects
Energyville in Waterschei (in Flemish region)
» To set a good example with regards to energy efficiency, to make
Flanders a green city region by 2020.
» To contribute to making Europe CO2 neutral by 2050.
» Energyville will be the driving force behind the transition to a
sustainable energy supply as well as sustainable building for large
urban environments.
» EnergyVille will become the European hotspot for research into
sustainable energy.
» Energyville will create many business cases and jobs in Flemish
region.
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© 2011, VITO NV

18. Presented by Dr. Yonghua CHENG during Digital Cities Symposium on 23-24/09/2011 in Athens
Conclusions
» ICT and Power Electronics enable smart grids, in which more
renewable energy systems and plug-in EVs can be connected.
» Smart and sustainable energy systems from building level to region
level will realize ecology and comfortable living style.
» The development of smart and sustainable energy systems will
create more business cases and jobs in Flemish region as well as in
Europe.
Thank you very much!
Question?
Dr. Yonghua Cheng
Unit of Energietechnologie, VITO - Flemish Institute for Technological Research
Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)14 33 5982 and Fax: +32 (0)14 33 1185
E-mail: yonghua.cheng@vito.be
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© 2011, VITO NV