The objective of FleXunity project is to deploy novel services for retailers and aggregators, enhanced by Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology empowered with AI algorithms that can be focused on minimizing the cost of energy (bought in the wholesale market) and optimizing the use of distributed renewables from the utility or community portfolio. The proposed energy community approach will promote active participation of end-users (community members) valuating their flexibility and energy sharing actions, which will be supported by secure transaction mechanisms with technologies such as blockchain to validate energy transactions. These services will include a tariff structure optimisation design for the Energy Community to be able to meet the needs of the Transmission System Operator (TSO) by aggregating the flexibility to participate in balancing and ancillary services markets as a Balance Service Provider (BSPs) or provide Demand Response (DR) services to the Distribution System Operators (DSO). The key project outcomes will be achieved by testing and demonstrating the proposed services in two distinct pilots with very different market conditions: UK energy market (open mature market); Iberia energy market (in transformation – opening to use flexibility from demand-side). Given the nonexistence of a common legal framework across Europe, this will help us to validate different stakeholder benefits in close and open energy markets, which will enhance the full commercial roll-out after this 2-year project. These envisaged innovative services will allow utilities to maximize their profit and enable new business models from managing multiple energy flexibility assets, introducing flexibility as a new tradable asset in their business portfolios, and allow energy costs savings sharing with end-users, enhancing the use of renewables and support energy security and climate change challenges.

The project objective is to design, implement and promote a reliable, efficient and profitable system able to supply heating and hot water in buildings mainly from renewable sources. The proposed system is based in the optimal combination of solar thermal (ST) energy production, seasonal heat storage and high efficient heat pump use. Heat pumps will be improved technically in order to obtain the best performace in the special conditions of the CHESS-SETUP system. The used solar panels will be hybrid photovoltaic and solar thermal (PV-ST) panels, which is a promising solution for also producing the electricity consumed by the heat and water pumps of the heating system and part of the electricity consumed in the building. Hybrid solar panels are a key element to achieving energy self-sufficiency in buildings, especially in dense urban areas where the roof availability is one of the most limiting factors. Also will be considered the integration of other energy sources as biomass or heat waste, to make the system suitable for any climate conditions. The project will also explore the possibility to integrate the system with other electricity or cooling technologies (solar cooling, cogeneration). The system operation will be optimized according to some external factors, as electricity price or user requirements by using a smart control and management systems developed specifically for the project. This proposal will be materialized in three pilot experiences: a small-scale prototype in Lavola's headquarters (Spain), 50 new dwellings located in Corby (England) and a new sport centre located in Sant Cugat (Spain).

Today, there are still several R&D barriers, and user-acceptance-related challenges that hinder the smooth integration and proliferation of multiple Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) in buildings. In response to that, RE-COGNITION proposes a holistic, end-to-end RETs Integration Framework towards energy positive buildings with a focus on small and medium-sized buildings in Europe. Through the envisaged Automated Cognitive Energy Management Engine (ACEME), RE will be utilized more efficiently paired with appropriate storage technologies and innovative energy systems to meet the electricity and heating/cooling demand of the buildings. The framework is designed to enable the integration of multiple, heterogeneous, energy generating systems covering the spectrum of available building-scale RES (solar (PV, thermal/ cooling), wind, bio-energy (renewable biofuel through micro-CHP) and geothermal) and demonstrating future-proof extensibility. To this end, the project entails R&D at the level of single technologies and their interconnection with novel energy systems (like heat-pumps harnessing geothermal energy, absorption chillers) leveraging current IoT and smart-grid standardization outcomes. Along with measurable improvements on each technology’s efficiency, performance, desired characteristics and cost-effectiveness, RE-COGNITION ensures optimal integration of RETs in buildings, as well as (inter)operation and matching between building RE supply and energy demand. Its stakeholder-centred approach aligns both the process and its outcomes with the needs and expectations of (end-)users by providing tools that facilitate large-scale deployment of building-scale RETs. For 36 months 15 partners from 7 EU countries will provide technology know-how, lab facilities & 5 validation sites and will work towards meeting EU’s expectations for reduced dependence on fossil fuels and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional energy generation and management solutions in buildings.