Press Release
2nd of February, 2012
Almost 1.5 million euro granted for Smart Grid Pilot to develop energy saving potential
The project “Intelligent Net” from the consortium IN4energy was announced by Minister Maxime Verhagen, to be one of 12 selected projects of the Innovation Program for Intelligent Networks (IPIN). IN4Energy will benefit from a grant of almost 1.5 million Euro from the Energy and Innovation funding scheme to realise its smart grid pilot installation in a residential area of Lochem.
“Intelligent Net” will be a key project of the city of Lochem being a driver for sustainability in the country. It will reflect the increasing number of decentralised renewable energy generation in the area turning the residents into so-called prosumers (producer and consumer). Putting the residential customer in the middle of the project to manage the best possible balance between decentralized own and central supply on household level is the main differentiator to other smart grid projects. The aim is to ensure that the need for supplementory energy will be as low as possible. Therefore various innovations will be implemented within the pilot phase over the next three years to demonstrate substantial energy savings and reduction of CO2 emissions.
Innovations
The demand for electricity is continuously growing and also the range of available alternative and sustainable energy sources. Therefore the requirements to manage and operate the relevant infrastructure of electricity network and market model have tremendously increased and driven innovations creating the intelligent network of the future. In parallel we need to understand how to reduce the use of fossil energy sources to gain energy savings, reduce emissions and achieve a sustainable environment.
In the “Intelligent Net” project the IN4energy consortium will implement the following innovations to achieve a sustainable Lochem:
- Decentralised energy generation by placing solar panels on buildings and homes will result in two-way power traffic. The consumer becomes the prosumer
- Prosumers will get a Smart Home System which will provide smart applications and at the same time give them insight into the actual energy balance of their home including production and consumption details
- An intelligent design to either store or provide electricity for the benefit of electric vehicles will be applied
- A fault-free, safe and efficient smart grid will be constructed in Lochem.
- All used systems will be fully integrated which is done by an Open Platform Network Management and Data System to allow applications to integrate and interact within the Smart Grid with the other applications
- With real-time data from the pilot, different models will be validated and forecasts and scenarios can be simulated. Based on this experience, this pilot will be a source of knowledge for future business cases regarding wind, hydropower or biomass
- A direct link will connect the pilot with various trading markets to reduce economic surpluses and deficits in an optimal way, ensuring reliability, durability and cost minimization can be optimally achieved
Consortium
The project “Intelligent Net” for a Sustainable Lochem is being represented by a group of end users, local energy companies, energy suppliers, system operators and installers, technology provider and a dedicated team from the University of Twente specialised in smart grids. The consortium members of IN4energy are: Locamation B.V., Alliander N.V., Cooperative Lochem Energy, University of Twente, Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V. and Trianel Energy B.V.
Subsidy
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation is granting a total subsidy of 16 million Euro for pilots for intelligent networks. The main purpose is to stimulate investment projects with new or improved technology for the Dutch market or to improve existing systems. The goal is to allow entrepreneurs and other parties to learn about the capabilities of intelligent applications and how they can best used to realise important social assets.
The subsidy scheme is carried out by ‘Agentschap NL’. Twelve projects have been selected by the Ministry and ‘Intelligent Net’ in Sustainable Lochem is one of them. During the upcoming Smart Energy Infrastructure conference on 7th and 8th of February, Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation will give his special attention on this.
For any additional information you may contact IN4energy via Locamation B.V.
Contact person
Pascal Bleeker
e-mail: pascal.bleeker@locamation.com
telephone number: +31 (0)74 – 255 21 94
Consortium Members of IN4energy
Locamation B.V.
Locamation, located in Hengelo, is a developer and supplier of independent proven Smart Grid automation and Smart Grid automation related products, solutions and services to public and private network operators. The company has over 50 employees who serve the Dutch as well as the international market. Locamation aims to be a leader in providing smart smart grid solutions and is committed to deliver sustainable and cost competitive technology.
Alliander N.V.
Alliander is a network company. Alliander takes care of the construction, maintenance and renewal of electricity and gas networks. Alliander transports electricity and gas over the networks and they guarantee the safety and reliability thereof. Alliander also supports the free energy market and they encourage economic and social growth in the regions where Alliander is active.
Cooperative Lochem Energy
Lochem Energy is a citizens initiative, a cooperative association that has set itself the objective to generate sustainable energy for the benefit of its members. Initially this cooperative consists of private households within the municipality of Lochem. Institutions and companies can also participate. The cooperative offers a gas and electicity connection, facilitates sustainable solar panels and solar collectors on members’ roofs, helps in a bid to save on energy and works towards creating own energy production for its members from a mix of energy sources (solar, wind, hydropower and biomass).
University of Twente
The core activities of the Computer Architecture for Embedded Systems Group is to investigate the possibilities for developing more energy-efficient architectures for embedded systems and the deployment of these embedded systems for increasing energy efficiency of the current energy supply (i.e. Intelligent networks).
Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V.
Eaton’s electrical business is a global leader in power distribution, power quality, control and automation, power monitoring, and energy management products and services. Eaton is positioned, through its Cutler-Hammer®, Moeller®, Powerware®,Holec®, MEM® and Santak® global electrical product series, to answer today’s most critical electrical power management challenges.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with more than 100 years of experience providing energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. With 2011 sales of $16.0 billion, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 73,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.
Trianel Energy B.V.
Trianel is part of the German Trianel, the largest Association of small, regional energy companies in Western Europe. Core activities consist of energy delivery and service including services for facilitating sustainable products and suppliers. Services cover the entire value chain of marketing/sales, front office, contract administration, operational management, financial management and energy management.
