The proposed Annex consists of 4 subtasks and associated Activities (work packages) illustrated below. Subtasks A and B have focus on grid/aggregate level resource management. Subtask C has focus on building/site level delivery of flexibility.
Subtask A: Minimum Information Requirements
Background
Ofgem considered the various IoT platform functionalities required to deliver a twenty first century electricity system that is more decentralised, more flexible, more responsive to changing demand and more accommodating of variable renewable generation.It identified relevant functionalities including (i) market co-ordination, (ii) flexibility procurement, (iii) dispatch and control, (iv) transaction settlement, (v) market services, and (vi) analytics and feedback.
This Subtask aims to design and build a minimum viable product (MVP) platform to demonstrate relevant functionality of a flexible demand operating platform, with similar intent to that described by Ofgem. The platform particularly aims to enshrine domain specific knowledge relevant to the delivery of flexible demand from building heating and cooling systems. Focus will be on (i) supporting automated discovery and dispatch of these resources, and (ii) implementing standards and protocols to support transparency and fit with energy industry market requirements.
In this way the subtask aims to simplify participation in energy markets and provide greater certainty for stakeholders.
Purpose
Subtask A will provide the knowledge and tools required to simplify participation of flexible heating and cooling products in local and national energy markets.
Strategy and Activity Structure
Subtask A has four Activities that (i) support the development of functional requirements for the proposed MVP flexible demand market platform and (ii) deliver initial testing of the proposed platform. The four Activities are as follows:
A.1 Reference scenarios and KPIs for market participation: This Activity aims to represent the market designs and regulatory constraints of some key jurisdictions. These representations will identify stakeholder roles, information exchange requirements and KPIs. These can then be used in flexibility scenarios across the Annex. Identified user roles will inform flexibility platform functionality requirements.
A.2 Device Communication Standards: Relevant communications standards (eg OpenADR, IEEE 2030.5 etc) will be investigated, to provide stakeholders with guidance on fit-for-purpose connectivity in different scenarios.
A.3 Ontology Developments and Sufficiency Methods: This Activity will investigate semantic modelling techniques as a means of automating the process of discovery and utilization of flexible demand assets. Concepts of ‘digital ready for flexibility’ will be explored for potential incorporation in schemes such as the Smart Readiness Indicator.
A.4 Platform Design and User Pilots: One or more minimum viable product (MVP) flexibility platforms will be developed, providing a place to inform the market of available flexibility assets. The platform(s) will instantiate user roles for one or more relevant markets. User testing will be performed with representative stakeholders.
Subtask B: Flexible Demand Aggregation
Background
IEA Annex 82 has investigated the impact of aggregating demand response across clusters of assets for one scenario. Many alternative reward/penalty functions, markets and flexibility requirement scenarios are possible. Additional scenarios need to be investigated to identify preferred ways to deploy flexibility from a fleet of flexible assets.
Purpose
Subtask B will develop tools for rewarding optimal dispatch of flexible demand assets in energy markets.
Strategy and Activity Structure
The work of Subtask B is organized in the following three activities:
B.1 Stochastic forecasting and M&V methods. This activity will developing data-driven algorithms for measuring and forecasting how much flexibility has been delivered and/or is available to be delivered by both (i) individual flexible demand assets and (ii) fleets of flexible assets. A focus will be on the potential for automating these algorithms.
B.2 Building emulators and ‘AI Gym’ test environment. This activity will develop a virtual test bed for evaluating the performance of alternative approaches for centralised dispatch of flexible assets. The virtual test bed will include emulators for (i) building HVAC systems and (ii) one or more energy markets/ system elements. The test bed will enable the impact of fleets of buildings to be investigated.
B.3 Asset orchestration common exercises. The ‘AI Gym’ test bed will be used to explore the impact of price signals, and other dispatch strategies, on energy system outcomes. A library of reference scenarios (optimisation challenges) will be created, and research groups will be invited to develop and test their fleet control/management algorithms on these reference scenarios.
Subtask C: Flexible Demand Product Packages
Background
Many alternative approaches have been tried for harvesting flexibility from heating and cooling assets in individual buildings. Often these approaches have been tailored to specific HVAC or building typologies. This has led to a growth in bespoke show-case examples, rather than converging on a smaller number of simple, repeatable solutions. Without opposing tailored solutions, there is a need to identify and converge on a smaller set of well-defined cost-effective products – the benefits of which can be promoted with confidence.
Purpose
Subtask C will identify a set of repeatable, cost-effective flexible demand products, and develop application criteria and benefit assessment tools to support (i) their adoption by building owners and (ii) acceptance in energy markets.
Strategy and Activity Structure
The work of Subtask C is organized in the following four activities:
C.1 Flexibility technologies review and evaluation. This Activity will review the state-of-the-art of technologies and products that deliver flexible demand capability from heating and cooling systems in buildings. It will evaluate their potential for mass deployment, and down-select preferred technologies.
C.2 Flexibility product guides and implementation tools. Tools (eg check lists and calculators) will be developed to enable engineers and product suppliers to evaluate the suitability and viability of preferred flexible demand technologies in different scenarios. Frequently asked questions will be identified and answered.
C.3 Product performance assessment. This Activity will identify and analyse the impact of specific implementations of heating and cooling flexible demand in buildings. Results will be used to inform the guides and Subtask D case studies.
C.4 Time-of-use carbon assessment. The carbon emissions of buildings, that optimise based on the time-of-use carbon intensity of consumed energy, will be compared with the carbon emissions of buildings that optimise based on average annual emissions intensity factors. Analysis will be performed by simulation, using different greenhouse gas emissions intensity scenarios, reflecting different jurisdictions energy decarbonisation pathways.
Subtask D: Case Studies and Implementation Models
Background
The property industry is known to be risk-averse and relatively insensitive to energy cost drivers. Adoption of flexible demand technology will require evidence of (i) a compelling business-case, (ii) occupant acceptance and (ii) existing successful installations that tangibly demonstrate how the technology can be implemented and risks managed.
Purpose
Subtask D will drive adoption of flexibility products and services by disseminating evidence of successful case studies and customer acceptance.
Strategy and Activity Structure
The work of Subtask D is organized in the following three activities
D.1 Case studies and dissemination: This Activity will identify suitable case studies, and gather information on them according to a standardised template (including technical performance monitoring data and qualitative interview/survey information). Case study results will be disseminated through extension of the Annex81 ‘DataSmartBuildings’ web portal. Annex results will be disseminated through meetings, journal papers, conferences – promoted and published on the IEA EBC Annex website.
D.2 Owner and occupant experience: The experience of key owner/occupant stakeholders will be investigated through surveys and interviews. Key user experience barriers will be considered in the context of identifying how to improve the narrative (and/or business case) for adoption and smooth implementation in buildings.
D.3 Industry Roadmap: Interviews with industry leaders, combined with learnings from across the Annex, will be synthesized into key gaps that need to be addressed (for accelerating adoption) and opportunities for growing the industry. These findings will be used to create a roadmap for industry growth.