European cooperation Network on Energy Transition in Electricity
Manel Sanmarti
IREC - Catalonia Institute for Energy Research
SESSION 2:
SMART GRIDS CHALLENGES: THE VISION OF TECHNOLOGICAL CENTRES
WORKSHOP
“DEFINING SMART GRIDS: CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION”
Barcelona, 9th February 2017

• What it stands for?
• “Smart grid” concept generally are used to bring utility electricity delivery
systems into the 21st century, using computer-based remote control and
automation. (DOE-USA)
• "Smart Grid" is today used as a marketing term, rather than a technical
definition. The general understanding is modernizing the electric grid. The
Smart Grid comprises everything related to the electric system in between any
point of generation and any point of consumption. Through the addition of
Smart Grid technologies the grid becomes more flexible, interactive and is able
to provide real time feedback. (International Electrotechnical Commission IEC)
• A “Smart Grid” is an evolved grid system that manages electricity demand
in a sustainable, reliable and economic manner, built on advanced
infrastructure and tuned to facilitate the integration of all involved. (ABB)

• Keywords from such definitions:
• Remote control and automation.
• Comprises everything from
generation to consumption.
• The grid becomes
• more flexible,
• interactive
• Advanced management of the grid
• sustainable, reliable and
economic manner,
• built on advanced infrastructure
• DER integration
Smart
Grid
Tech &
Aut
MarketData

• New electrical grid paradigm
Conventional Grid Smart Grid

Integration
Management
ControllabilityObservability
Flexibility

Integration
Flexibility
Controllability
Observability
Management
DATA Technology Market
Prosumer,
Aggregator
EMS/DMS
EV/V2X, ESS,
DER, USERS
Coms,New
Actuators
Privacy, Cyber-
security
ESS, DER,
EV, SMeter
Coms, New
Sensors
DR, DSO-TSO,
Aggregator
State
Estimation
Forecasting
State
Estimation
ESS, V2X,
2ndL Bat
O&M
Software,
Comm’s, IoT
Mkt Int.,
Regulation

• New actuators - Interconnection Switch
The development of actuators allowing automatic and secure connection and
disconnection of µgrids.

• New active devices - Ultracapacitors
Short term storage with rapid exchange of active/reactive power for power
smoothing: mitigation of flicker effects mitigation using ultracapacitors using
only local measurements.
PCC
VSC
load
pv
wind
VSC
ultracapacitorsSmoothed
power
Flicker
VSC

• Aggregator
AGGREG
ATOR
PROSU
MERS
The development of a market trader will allow the participation of prosumers in
flexibility markets
Modified flex. control set point

• Vehicle to everything – V2X
Load / Household PV Generator Wind Generator EV
V2M
[W]
t
[W]
t
[W]
t
Microgrid management
€
tDaily market prices
Measurements
SOC
Grid Operator Side
Weather
forecast
V2G
V2H
V2L
V2X
Testing V2H @ IREC smart lab
To exploit the treatment of EV batteries further
than only energize the car.
Allowing the EV to be treated as
dynamic ENERGY STORAGE

• Cyber-Security
More devices are communicating and even more will be in the future as
expected due to the development of the Internet of Things. Cyber-threats may
lead to critical outages or malfunction of the smartgrid.
EMS2nd Life battery
Normal operation
EMS seen operation under attack
Real operation under attack

• Flexible Buildings and grid integration
Load match and grid integration indexes for buildings. One of the most
important features that LMGI indicators may grasp is the flexibility of a buildings
and their capability to interact with energy networks..

• Flexible Buildings and grid integration
Load match and grid integration indexes for buildings. One of the most
important features that LMGI indicators may grasp is the flexibility of a buildings
and their capability to interact with energy networks..

Contact: Manel Sanmartí (msanmarti@irec.cat)