The REFLEX project aims at developing an innovative renewable energies storage solution, the “Smart Energy Hub”, based on reversible Solid Oxide Cell (rSOC) technology, that is to say able to operate either in electrolysis mode (SOEC) to store excess electricity to produce H2, or in fuel cell mode (SOFC) when energy needs exceed local production, to produce electricity and heat again from H2 or any other fuel locally available. The challenging issue of achieving concomitantly high efficiency, high flexibility in operation and cost optimum is duly addressed through improvements of rSOC components (cells, stacks, power electronics, heat exchangers) and system, and the definition of advanced operation strategies. The specifications, detailed system design and the advanced operation strategies are supported by modelling tasks. An in-field demonstration will be performed in a technological park, where the Smart Energy Hub will be coupled to local solar and mini-hydro renewable sources and will provide electricity and heat to the headquarters of the park. It will demonstrate, in a real environment, the high power-to-power round-trip efficiency of this technology and its flexibility in dynamic operation, thus moving the technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to 6. The Smart Energy Hub being modular, made of multistacks/multimodules arrangements, scale up studies will be performed to evaluate the techno-economic performance of the technology to address different scales of products for different markets. To reach these objectives, REFLEX is a cross multidisciplinary consortium gathering 9 organisations from 6 member states (France, Italy, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland). The partnership covers all competences necessary: cells and stacks development and testing (ELCOGEN, CEA, DTU), power electronics (USE, GPTech), system design and manufacturing (SYLFEN), system modelling (VTT), field test (Envipark), techno-economical and market analysis (ENGIE).

Six TSOs, eleven research partners, together with sixteen industry (manufacturers, solution providers) and market (producers, ESCo) players address, through a holistic approach, the identification and development of flexibilities required to enable the Energy Transition to high share of renewables. This approach captures synergies across needs and sources of flexibilities, such as multiple services from one source, or hybridizing sources, thus resulting in a cost-efficient power system. OSMOSE proposes four TSO-led demonstrations (RTE, REE, TERNA and ELES) aiming at increasing the techno-economic potential of a wide range of flexibility solutions and covering several applications, i.e.: synchronisation of large power systems by multiservice hybrid storage; multiple services provided by the coordinated control of different storage and FACTS devices; multiple services provided by grid devices, large demand-response and RES generation coordinated in a smart management system; cross-border sharing of flexibility sources through a near real-time cross-border energy market. The demonstrations are coordinated with and supported by simulation-based studies which aim (i) to forecast the economically optimal mix of flexibility solutions in long-term energy scenarios (2030 and 2050) and (ii) to build recommendations for improvements of the existing market mechanisms and regulatory frameworks, thus enabling the reliable and sustainable development of flexibility assets by market players in coordination with regulated players. Interoperability and improved TSO/DSO interactions are addressed so as to ease the scaling up and replication of the flexibility solutions. A database is built for the sharing of real-life techno-economic performances of electrochemical storage devices. Activities are planned to prepare a strategy for the exploitation and dissemination of the project’s results, with specific messages for each category of stakeholders of the electricity system.

Energy storage systems (ESS) are gaining popularity among low voltage users as well as industrial application basically as a result of the falling price of these technologies. However many issues are still open such as the challenges coming from the integration of multiple distributed resources to the electric grid or the customers attitude regarding these new element in their installation. Regarding this potential market and user needs, GPBox energy platform is presented as a revolutionary concept in the energy sector which pretend to involve all the actors in the electric market –from electric utilities to small users– through the integration of distributed energy resources based on an on-cloud system known as eBroker. eBroker concept goes beyond current development of buy cheap/sell expensive with a full value chain from customers habit evaluation to electric grid enhancement, providing Behind the Meter services (i.e. Black Start, Voltage and Frequency support, Resource adequacy, etc.) to electric network operators, while it saves up to 25% to the user’s electric bill. Market projection shows that Energy Storage Systems (battery based) market will be worth about $ 34 billion of annual revenue in 2023. While the European market size will be $ 10-12 billion of annual revenue in 2023 (30%-40% of the total market). Renewable integration and grid ancillary services account for the vast majority of this ESS market. GPBox will provide Behind the Meter services based on embedded artificial intelligent tools which will allow cost saving to the electric network operators valued at more than 20% of current OPEX. With this first phase, GPTech objective is to obtain a feasibility study and a detailed business plan which will consolidate current expectation regarding technological, operational and economic viability of GPBox business line of products; it will include a solid exploitation strategy and a reliable business model focused on 2018.