• Energy Research

There is a great potential for mutual beneficial synergies between the two fields of Collaborative Networks and Sustainability science. This potential has in fact been recognized in many fields where these synergies are leading to novel approaches and solutions. It is particularly evident that the challenges of sustainability call for a wide collaboration among multiple stakeholders, as the needed changes exceed the capacity and capability of individual actors. With the purpose to illustrate the possible contribution and challenges for collaborative networks in sustainability, a number of relevant cases where examples of such synergies are already identified are briefly introduced.

Abstract Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) represent a novel concept towards flexible integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) into the smart grid. VPPs will eventually help to overcome the stochastic nature of DERs which will result in a more stable and smart power grid. VPPs are constituted of an integration of heterogeneous systems, organizations and entities which collaborate to ensure optimal generation, distribution, storage, and sale of renewable energy in the energy market. By its composition, a VPP forms a kind of collaborative business ecosystem with high degree of interactions and interdependences among stakeholders. This survey, is focused on analysing the trends and also identifying areas of convergence between the collaborative networks (CN) discipline and the VPP concept and development using foreknowledge from the domain of CNs. A systematic literature review method was employed to summarize research evidence, by evaluating and interpreting available research works under specifically defined focus areas, relevant to both domains. The results confirmed a visible convergence between VPPs and CNs although the convergence level manifested differently under each “focus area”. The results showed that within a VPP, various strategic and dynamic collaborative alliances are formed. The forms of these alliances are similar to various CN organizational forms which include goal oriented networks, virtual breeding environments (VBE), grasping opportunity driven networks and continuous production driven networks. Additionally, various underlying functional principles of VPPs were also found to be similar to CN principles which include: virtual organization creation, operation, and dissolution, negotiations, broker services, VBE administrator services, VO planer services, VO coordinator services, and partner search and selection processes. A variety of organizational forms, similar to traditional CN forms or a mix of those could also be found. In terms of implementation level however, most works are focused on simulation or small prototypes.

Raising awareness among engineering PhD students for the value creation potential of their research work is a crucial element in their education. With this aim, the doctoral conference DoCEIS’12 focused on technological innovation for value creation, challenging the contributors to analyze in which ways their technical and scientific contributions could contribute to creating value in society. The results of this initiative, which was reasonably successful, are briefly analyzed.

The manufacturing sector is experiencing a profound transformation as reflected in the Industry 4.0 movement, combined with the growing societal concerns for sustainability. This trend has led to the notion of sustainable manufacturing. On the other hand, the increasing interconnectivity among organisations, people, and physical systems, supported by recent developments in communication technologies, points to the important role that collaborative networks have in the ongoing digital transformation processes. As such, this paper analyses the synergies between sustainable manufacturing and collaborative networks. More specifically, the goal is to analyse how the responsibility for the various facets of sustainability can be distributed among the multiple entities involved in manufacturing. This study is based on both literature survey and our experience in various research projects in the area and is organised according to the typical six dimensions of Industry 4.0. The work is complemented with a brief summary of proposed indicators to measure sustainability under this networked manufacturing perspective.

Abstract Smart grids are the result of a dynamic co-evolution process that leverages the integration of new technological advances in the energy systems and information and communication technologies. This process is accompanied by changes in business models, organizational structures, roles, and operating practices. In this context, collaboration among multiple entities becomes a crucial element, justifying the term Collaborative Smart Grid. The purpose of this article is to systematically review recent literature with a view to identifying trends, opportunities, and challenges regarding the application of models, approaches, and tools from collaborative networks to the energy domain.

The implementation of building retrofitting processes targeting higher energy efficiency is greatly influenced by the investor’s expectations regarding the return on investment. The baseline of this work is the assumption that it is possible to improve the predictability of the post-retrofit scenario, both in energy and financial terms, using data gathered on how a building is being used by its occupants. The proposed approach relies on simulation to estimate the impact of available energy-efficient solutions on future energy consumption, using actual usage data. Data on building usage are collected by a wireless sensor network, installed in the building for a minimum period that is established by the methodology. The energy simulation of several alternative retrofit scenarios is then the basis for the decision support process to help the investor directing the financial resources, based on both tangible and intangible criteria. The overall process is supported by a software platform developed in the scope of the EnPROVE project. The platform includes building audit, energy consumption prediction, and decision support. The decision support follows a benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks (BOCR) analysis based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The proposed methodology and platform were tested and validated in a real business case, also within the scope of the project, demonstrating the expected benefits of alternative retrofit solutions focusing on lighting and thermal comfort.

Industrial companies must actively pursue more energy efficiency in their processes, with impacts on both costs and the environment, and ultimately business performance. This article explores the influence of context around the manufacturing process on energy consumption. By creating awareness of this influence in a quantified way, it is possible, via a structured decision process, to find opportunities and derive solutions to improve energy performance. This work introduces a method developed in the scope of the LifeSaver project, which is based on the visualization of energy consumption data against benchmark/average values. The overall approach is supported by a software platform which offers a set of functionalities covering the complete approach, from the detection of the consumption pattern to the implementation of improvement solutions. The approach was tested in two industrial business cases. The first one illustrates the approach by showing the influence of the human factor on the energy performance in cement production. The second case deals with finding opportunities on the selection of the operation point, and its impact on peak load management. The proposed approach and developed system demonstrate a positive direct impact on reducing energy consumption and consequent carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, the operation of the implemented case studies has an important indirect effect on bringing awareness to the impact of small actions on general energy efficiency.

La pénétration et la diversité croissante des ressources énergétiques distribuées dans les communautés d'énergie renouvelable (CER) sont actuellement en augmentation. Le défi avec ces écosystèmes émergents est que leur intégration et leur gestion efficaces deviennent de plus en plus complexes. Le concept d'écosystème collaboratif de centrale électrique virtuelle (CVPP-E) a été proposé comme une contribution à leur gestion efficace en utilisant une approche collaborative. Ici, le responsable du CVPP favorise les comportements collaboratifs tels que la consommation collaborative en influençant le comportement de consommation des membres par le biais d'incitations. L'objectif est d'influencer les membres de la communauté à « déléguer » leurs « charges différables » pour une gestion efficace par le manager. Dans ce travail, un cadre de modélisation et de simulation de l'incitation et de l'intervention comportementale associée, adaptant le CVPP-E en tant que modèle jumeau numérique d'un Rec est décrit. La structure architecturale, le contexte d'incitation, les techniques de changement de comportement, la méthodologie de modélisation et les résultats attendus du modèle sont décrits. Certaines définitions clés du modèle et des travaux futurs sont également présentées. La penetración y la creciente diversidad de los Recursos de Energía Distribuida en las Comunidades de Energía Renovable (Rec) están actualmente en aumento. El desafío con estos ecosistemas emergentes es que su integración y gestión efectivas son cada vez más complejas. El concepto de Ecosistema Colaborativo Virtual de Central Eléctrica (CVPP-E) se propuso como una contribución a su gestión efectiva utilizando un enfoque colaborativo. Aquí, el gerente de CVPP promueve el comportamiento colaborativo, como el consumo colaborativo, al influir en el comportamiento de consumo de los miembros a través de incentivos. El objetivo es influir en los miembros de la comunidad para que "deleguen" sus "cargas diferibles" para una gestión eficaz por parte del gerente. En este trabajo, se describe un marco para la modelización y simulación de la incentivación y la intervención conductual relacionada, adaptando el CVPP-E como un modelo de gemelo digital de un Rec. Se describe la estructura arquitectónica, el contexto de incentivación, las técnicas de cambio de comportamiento, la metodología de modelado y los resultados esperados del modelo. También se introducen algunas definiciones clave para el modelo y los trabajos futuros. The penetration and growing diversity of Distributed Energy Resources in Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are currently on the rise. The challenge with these emerging ecosystems is that their effective integration and management are becoming increasingly complex. The Collaborative Virtual Power Plant Ecosystem (CVPP-E) concept was proposed as a contribution to their effective management using a collaborative approach. Here, the CVPP manager promotes collaborative behaviour such as collaborative consumption by influencing the consumption behaviour of members through incentives. The objective is to influence community members to "delegate" their "deferrable loads" for effective management by the manager. In this work, a framework for modelling and simulation of incentivization and related behavioural intervention, adapting the CVPP-E as a digital twin model of a REC is described. The architectural structure, context of incentivization, behavioural change techniques, modelling methodology and expected outcomes of the model are outlined. Some key definitions for the model and future works are also introduced. يتزايد حاليًا تغلغل وتنوع موارد الطاقة الموزعة في مجتمعات الطاقة المتجددة (RECs). يتمثل التحدي في هذه النظم الإيكولوجية الناشئة في أن تكاملها وإدارتها الفعالين أصبحا معقدين بشكل متزايد. تم اقتراح مفهوم النظام البيئي لمحطة الطاقة الافتراضية التعاونية (CVPP - E) كمساهمة في إدارتها الفعالة باستخدام نهج تعاوني. هنا، يعزز مدير CVPP السلوك التعاوني مثل الاستهلاك التعاوني من خلال التأثير على السلوك الاستهلاكي للأعضاء من خلال الحوافز. الهدف هو التأثير على أفراد المجتمع "لتفويض" "أحمالهم القابلة للتأجيل" للإدارة الفعالة من قبل المدير. في هذا العمل، يتم وصف إطار لنمذجة ومحاكاة التحفيز والتدخل السلوكي ذي الصلة، وتكييف CVPP - E كنموذج توأم رقمي للجماعة الاقتصادية الإقليمية. يتم تحديد الهيكل المعماري وسياق التحفيز وتقنيات التغيير السلوكي ومنهجية النمذجة والنتائج المتوقعة للنموذج. كما يتم تقديم بعض التعريفات الرئيسية للنموذج والأعمال المستقبلية.