Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future Needs

This paper compares various approaches to the scalability and replicability analysis (SRA) of smart grid pilot projects, highlighting the need for a comprehensive SRA methodology as called for by the European Commission and International Energy Agency. This study addresses the need for a standardize...

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Main Authors: Ilaria Losa, Rafael Cossent
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/21/5312
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author Ilaria Losa
Rafael Cossent
author_facet Ilaria Losa
Rafael Cossent
author_sort Ilaria Losa
collection DOAJ
description This paper compares various approaches to the scalability and replicability analysis (SRA) of smart grid pilot projects, highlighting the need for a comprehensive SRA methodology as called for by the European Commission and International Energy Agency. This study addresses the need for a standardized SRA methodology and explores how three EU-funded projects—Platone, EUniversal, and IElectrix—adapted the general guidelines developed by the BRIDGE initiative. These guidelines provide recommendations for developing a comprehensive large-scale deployment analysis. The results show that while the guidelines are usable and flexible, project-specific conditions and data availability limitations—particularly in regulatory and technical analysis—can pose challenges. Some key recommendations to overcome these and facilitate future applications are identified. These include defining SRA methodologies and securing data-sharing agreements early. The lack of standardized approaches for presenting SRA results hampers cross-project comparison. Thus, creating an open-use case repository and updating the BRIDGE guidelines with more detailed examples, benchmarks, and reference networks is recommended. Additionally, linking SRA with cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is suggested in order to evaluate the commercial viability of smart grid solutions. The paper concludes that while the BRIDGE guidelines have proven to be fit for purpose, further developments are needed to facilitate their practical application in real-world projects.
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spelling doaj-art-dce2c9fc95774e70b0f00c19ffc97eda2024-11-08T14:35:16ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-10-011721531210.3390/en17215312Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future NeedsIlaria Losa0Rafael Cossent1Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico, 20134 Milano, ItalyInstitute for Research in Technology (IIT), Universidad Pontificia Comillas, 28015 Madrid, SpainThis paper compares various approaches to the scalability and replicability analysis (SRA) of smart grid pilot projects, highlighting the need for a comprehensive SRA methodology as called for by the European Commission and International Energy Agency. This study addresses the need for a standardized SRA methodology and explores how three EU-funded projects—Platone, EUniversal, and IElectrix—adapted the general guidelines developed by the BRIDGE initiative. These guidelines provide recommendations for developing a comprehensive large-scale deployment analysis. The results show that while the guidelines are usable and flexible, project-specific conditions and data availability limitations—particularly in regulatory and technical analysis—can pose challenges. Some key recommendations to overcome these and facilitate future applications are identified. These include defining SRA methodologies and securing data-sharing agreements early. The lack of standardized approaches for presenting SRA results hampers cross-project comparison. Thus, creating an open-use case repository and updating the BRIDGE guidelines with more detailed examples, benchmarks, and reference networks is recommended. Additionally, linking SRA with cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is suggested in order to evaluate the commercial viability of smart grid solutions. The paper concludes that while the BRIDGE guidelines have proven to be fit for purpose, further developments are needed to facilitate their practical application in real-world projects.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/21/5312scalability and replicability analysissmart grid projectscongestion managementdistribution grid flexibility
spellingShingle Ilaria Losa
Rafael Cossent
Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future Needs
Energies
scalability and replicability analysis
smart grid projects
congestion management
distribution grid flexibility
title Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future Needs
title_full Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future Needs
title_fullStr Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future Needs
title_full_unstemmed Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future Needs
title_short Scalability and Replicability Analysis in Smart Grid Demonstration Projects: Lessons Learned and Future Needs
title_sort scalability and replicability analysis in smart grid demonstration projects lessons learned and future needs
topic scalability and replicability analysis
smart grid projects
congestion management
distribution grid flexibility
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/21/5312
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