European Commission FP7 programme is the biggest public funding programme in Europe. It consists of thematic and non-thematic funding programmes. One of the current themes for funding is Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) funding in Smart Energy Grids. Information and Communication Technologies have a major role to play in increasing the efficiency, as well as managing and controlling the power grid. The role of the ICT sector in smart grids has been summarised in a report issued by the Commission in July 2009 entitled “ICT for a Low Carbon Economy. Smart Electricity Distribution Networks”.
Objective ICT-2011.6.1 Smart Energy Grids
The integration of local renewable energy sources represents a key technical challenge. The
successful combination of smart processes (e.g. demand side/response management, real-time consumption management) and smart technologies (e.g. smart meters, intelligent home energy management devices) will enable energy efficiency and savings to be achieved.
Targeted Outcome:
Intelligent systems and integrated communication infrastructure that can assist in the
management of the electricity distribution grids in an optimized, controlled and secure
manner.
Key research challenges to be addressed:
a) Strengthening the distribution grid by providing control systems, management and decision support tools that enable the integration of renewable energy sources, both large scalevproduction (e.g. wind and solar farms) and massively distributed production (e.g.
residential and tertiary buildings).
b) Advancing security and reliability, as well as protection of equipment, fault detection and alert, and self-healing through development of the necessary high power electronics.
c) Data management infrastructures to allow electricity production and consumption to be
measured, reported and controlled (and eventually credited or billed).
d) Home energy controlling hubs that will collect real-time or near real-time data on energy consumption data from smart household appliances and enable intelligent automation.
e) Building consensus on industry-driven open standards to ensure the interoperability of
smart grids control and management systems.
Projects should focus on one or a combination of the previous points.
Consortia must be compact with partners each making substantial contributions.In all cases, projects shall include an appropriate validation phase to draw conclusions for
future deployment.
Expected Impact:
• Connection and operation of distributed and intermittent generators of diverse
technologies enabled by ICT.
• Demand side and demand response management enabled by innovative decision support
systems.
• Producers and consumers allowed to play a novel role in the management of their energy
consumption.
• Quantifiable and significant reductions of energy consumption in the electricity
distribution grid, leading to reduction of the overall environmental impact of electricity
grids.
• Enhanced levels of reliability and security of electricity supply.
• For e), reinforced collaboration between the European electricity suppliers and
distributors, energy equipment manufacturers of all sizes, and the ICT sector.
Funding schemes
a), b), c) and d): STREP
e): CSA
Call
FP7-ICT-2011-8
If you are planning to apply for FP7 funding, please get in touch using the form below.
