Carr Comm

Renewable Energy Sources Power FOrecasting and SyNchronisation for Smart GriD NEtworks MaNagemenT. Renewable energy sources (RES) play a major role to the EU’s aspiration to transform to a climate-neutral economy. Their integration into the power grid is pivotal to the green transition and to the decarbonisation of the energy sector. However, as the most commonly used RES (solar, wind and hydropower) are also weather-dependent, their power generation capacity varies according to the local microclimatic conditions. This power production variability makes RES difficult to integrate into the power grid and to provide seamless, stable and secure amounts of power. On the other hand, power demand also affects the power grid operation, since there must always be a supply/demand balance in the power grid. Grid power imbalances can cause frequency fluctuations and other unwanted transient phenomena, which can compromise grid stability and operation. For that matter, advanced grid monitoring techniques have been developed, employing phasor measurement units (PMUs) to measure the electrical signals in a precise and synchronised way, based on a reliable timing reference. Yet, currently, no Galileo-based applications on PMU timing exist. In the above framework, RESPONDENT comes to address the challenges of RES power generation forecasting, demand forecasting and smart power grid monitoring and supply/demand balancing. An AI/ML RES power generation forecasting algorithm is proposed, exploiting both Copernicus EO and site-specific weather data, along with renewable energy power conversion models. Furthermore, an AI/ML – multiphysics model for power demand of certain communities is also developed. Lastly, RESPONDENT will build a Galileo-enabled PMU and develop a monitoring module, in order to test and verify the advantages offered from the Galileo timing and synchronization services in smart grid monitoring, power balancing and overall operation.

Whilst citizen participation in environmental policy making is still in its infancy, there are signs of a growing level of interest. The majority of citizens, though, both as individuals and as groups often feel disengaged from influencing environmental policies. They also remain unaware of publicly available information, such as the GEOSS or Copernicus initiatives. The SCENT project will alleviate this barrier. It will enable citizens to become the ‘eyes’ of the policy makers by monitoring land-cover/use changes in their everyday activities. This is done through a constellation of smart collaborative technologies delivered by the SCENT toolbox in TRLs 6-8: i) low-cost and portable data collection tools, ii) an innovative crowd-sourcing platform, iii) serious gaming applications for a large-scale image collection and semantic annotation, iv) a powerful machine-learning based intelligence engine for image and text classification, v) an authoring tool for an easy customization by policy makers, vi) numerical models for mapping land-cover changes to quantifiable impact on flood risks and vii) a harmonization platform, consolidating data and adding it to GEOSS and national repositories as OGC-based observations. SCENT will be evaluated in two large scale demonstrations in Kifisos Attica and Danube Delta. Our consortium covers the complete stakeholder chain: industries in machine learning (IBM), SMEs in crowd-sourcing (U-Hopper), gaming (Xteam) and awareness raising (Carr), leading research institutes with expertise in hydrodynamic modelling (UNESCO-IHE), data harmonization and authoring tools (ICCS) and environmental monitoring (DDNI), NGOs at the pilot sites (HRTA, SOR) and policy makers/public bodies (Region of Attica). The SCENT initiative will go beyond the current project and form a European-wide citizen movement, created and fostered by the SCENT stakeholders, that will ensure its sustainability and its complementarity with existing citizen partnerships.

Smart factories are characterized by increasing automation and increasing customization. In these dynamic environments flexible and adaptive work organization is crucial both for productivity and work satisfaction. Factory2Fit project will support this development by developing adaptation solutions with which people with different skills, capabilities and preferences can be engaged, motivated and productive members of the work community in manufacturing industries. The core idea in Factory2Fit project is that the worker is an expert of his/her own work and thus (s)he shall have an active role in designing his/her work. The proposed adaptive automation solutions are based on a dynamic user model that includes physical and cognitive abilities. The worker him/herself gets feedback of his performance and skills, which supports continuous learning and competence development. Virtual factory models will be used as engaging platforms for participatory design of work practices, knowledge sharing and training, involving all the relevant stakeholders in contributing the organizational development. Contextual guidance and knowledge sharing is supported by augmented reality based tools. The adaptation solutions will be developed within three industrial pilots in actual manufacturing environments. The solutions will be generalized and disseminated widely to the manufacturing industry. Adaptive automation solutions to be developed in Factory2Fit will support fluent human-automation cooperation and will have impacts in work satisfaction, less occupational health issues, less stress, better ergonomics, better quality, less errors and better productivity. Adaptive automation supports current and forthcoming workers to develop their competences towards knowledge workers of smart factories with fulfilling work careers. This will further improve the competitiveness of European manufacturing industry and support the principle of responsible manufacturing industry.

The ultimate goal of the REFINE-project is to contribute to the supply of sufficient and attractive financing sources to energy efficiency investments through enhancement of refinancing schemes which are understood as important amplifier for market growth. Refinancing is an approach where an EES provider sells and a refinancing institution acquires receivables to be paid by an EES client. The project activities focus on the enhancement of refinanceability of energy efficiency projects, consisting of the following elements: Ensuring admissibility of refinancing schemes for energy efficiency projects; reducing transaction cost of refinancing schemes through standardisation; and facilitating risk assessment through increased transparency and use of credit guarantees. Based on the assessment of existing good practice examples, generic refinancing schemes are derived and supporting tools are developed, such as standardised contract stipulations and a rating system. The enlarged use of refinancing schemes in the energy efficiency business is stimulated by awareness raising among all relevant target groups and by capacity building improving know-how on practical implementation of refinancing schemes. The consortium covers 11 countries focussing on South and Eastern Europe since energy efficiency projects in these countries suffer most from financing barriers. The project applies a collaborative approach to all its project activities bringing together financial institutions, EES providers and facilitators.