EEBUS Solutions
All EEBUS Use Cases are aligned with each other and thus allow for a variety of business models, while avoiding conflicting interests and chaos at the grid connection of a building. Our EEBUS solutions provide an overview of how these use cases can be combined and used best and for which purpose. Real customer value is achieved by combining these solutions.
Power Limitation
The transmission of power limitations for consumption and feed-in ensures compliance with physical and grid-initiated constraints at the grid connection point (GCP) and thus supports a stable local grid operation. This solution enables transparency and control at the GCP.
End-user devices can be continuously operated within the power limitations given by the Distribution System Operator (DSO). This allows energy-related and manufacturer-specific business models to develop, without endangering the grid situation.
The power limitation is protected by a heartbeat mechanism and can be parameterised, e.g. by a validity period or failsafe values. The signal is sent via the Gateway at GCP to the EMS, which adjusts the energy flow of connected devices accordingly and aligned with customer preferences. In the absence of an EMS, the controllable device receives and reacts to the signal directly.
TLS encrypted transport (see SHIP specification) in combination with national requirements for the gateway at the GCP (e.g. SMGW in Germany) ensures data protection and IT security.
System follows country-specific requirements. In Germany the highly secure intelligent Metering System (compliant with BSI TR-03109-compliant) combines the Smart Meter Gateway with a smart meter. Here, the SMGW enables MGCP Use Case.
METER
The Meter is providing the buildings’ total power consumption to the EMS or the DSO.
*In Germany the MGCP measured values are transmitted through the Smart Meter Gateway.
Gateway
Enables secure communication between DSO and External Market Participants and the EMS while applying/considering country-specific requirements (on security and functionality).
EMS
The EMS receives power limitation from the DSO via the Gateway and dispatches available power to the corresponding devices according to the cost and comfort related preferences set by the end-user.
CONTROLLABLE DEVICES
The controllable devices may be connected to an EMS (in case of two or more controllable devices) or directly to the gateway, which allocates the available power capacity to the connected device(s). Devices can continue to be operated within the limits set by the DSO and in compliance to end-user preferences.
Preventive Capacity Allocation
1. Preventive Capacity Allocation – For DSO
This solution enables proactive and preventive capacity management at the grid connection point (GCP). The DSO is able to allocate capacity ranges (via Power envelopes) for the entire premise at GCP to prevent foreseeable grid congestion (overload) scenarios in the low-voltage grid.
The DSO might receive a power demand forecast, e.g. of the building´s EMS, but does not necessarily have to receive any preliminary information for the transmission of power envelopes. Inside the building, the EMS takes care of adjusting energy flows of connected devices within the boundaries of the power envelope. Power envelopes can be valid from the moment of transmission and up to a duration of 48h.
GRID
Identifies a risk for potential grid congestions and allocates available capacity within its low-voltage grid by sending power envelope (either directly or via an Energy Service provider) to the building’s GCP and further to the EMS.
EMS
Receives power schedules/forecasts from connected devices. Sends power demand forecast of the building to DSO (via ESP, or directly) and receives adjusted power envelope. Considers power envelope in the operation and management of connected devices.
CONTROLLABLE DEVICE
Sends own power schedule to EMS and receives adjusted power schedule in return.
EMS
The white good device receives a smart start signal from the EMS to start the wash session.
2. Preventive Capacity Allocation – For TSO
The Energy Service Provider (ESP) can use this solution for balancing services for the Transmission System Operator (TSO) to avoid cross-regional grid congestion. Single devices (e.g. charging stations and their EVs) can be aggregated to a larger power pool and operated in a grid-supportive way.
To do so, the ESP might request the power demand forecast of the building (via the gateway or directly from the asset) and sends back a power envelope to the asset, whereby power maximum equals power minimum. The device can read the signal as binding power schedule and adjusts its power consumption or feed- in accordingly. This power schedule is provided to the EMS which considers it in the overall energy management of the building. Power envelopes can be valid from the moment of transmission and up to a duration of 48h.
TSO
Identifies a risk for future/ potential grid congestions and commissions Energy Service provider (ESP), e.g. Aggregator, to balance power deficits and surpluses (grid stability) beforehand.
ESP
Receives cross-regional grid balancing order from the TSO and aggregates contracted flexible loads (assets) accordingly. It therefore requests the power demand forecast of the building and sends back an adjusted power schedule, which considers the grid-supportive operation of the flexible load.
EMS
In the presence of an EMS, it can be requested to send the building’s power demand forecast to the asset (e.g. wallbox). It receives power schedule of the asset and allows for its realisation within the physical or grid-initiated power limitation at the GCP.
CONTROLLABLE DEVICE
Can request building’s power demand forecast from the EMS to forward it to the ESP (e.g. Aggregator). Receives adjusted power schedule from contracted ESP and adjusts its consumption/feed-in accordingly.
Tariff management
Time of use tariffs enable incentive-based load management. They can be used e.g. to optimise local grid load via dynamic grid fees or to optimise cost-effective operation of energy devices based on electricity market prices (e.g. EEX).
The tariff information is sent from the DSO or Energy Provider to the EMS which adjusts the overall power consumption of all connected devices. Depending on the end users’ preferences, the EMS offers incentives to the controllable devices while considering the base load and possible grid constrains given by the DSO. Controllable devices such as EVs or heat pumps will calculate their power consumption schedules by taking advantage of their flexibility and make the consumption schedule available to the EMS. This enables cost-optimised operation of the devices or revenue-optimised PV feed-in.
Market mechanism, such as dynamic tariffs, can continuously been applied, even in times of grid constraints given by the DSO.
ENERGY PROVIDER/DSO
The Energy Provider may provide variable tariffs based on electricity market prices to adjust the consumption to the availability of energy. The DSO can provide dynamic transmission fees as a preventive measure to avoid overload scenarios, by influencing the overall consumption or feed-in of buildings according to the local grid situation.
EMS
The EMS receives the time of use tariff, directly from the DSO or Energy Provider, through a gateway or cloud service and offers the energy through domain specific incentive-tables to the controllable devices. The devices will choose the best price option according to their energy demands and provide their consumption plans to the EMS.
EVSE/EV + HVAC
The controllable device (with significant load) is connected to the EMS to receive the tariff information. The device will choose the best price option according to its’ energy demand and provide its consumption/charging plan to the EMS.
BATTERY INVERTER
The battery is connected to an EMS and incentivised to charge or discharge according to current price of electricity
WHITE GOOD DEVICE
The white good device receives a smart start signal from the EMS in case of ow price of electricity.
Self-Consumption Optimisation
This solution allows end users to benefit from reduced energy costs for the operation of their devices while improving their ecological footprint. EEBUS enables devices to communicate their current and forecasted power consumption or production. The EMS influences the power consumption of controllable devices as well as PV feed-in in such a way that all demands will be scheduled underneath the PV production curve. In presence of energy storage capability such as stationary battery system or bidirectional EV (BEV), PV surplus energy may be stored temporarily to be provided to the building after sun set. During feed-in constraints, costless PV energy is available to even operate devices for free. The EMS also considers device specific constraints, e.g. time of departure or energy demand of the EV.
METER
The meter provides the buildings’ total power consumption to the EMS to align consumption and feed-in at the building’s grid connection point with requirements.
*In Germany the MGCP measured values are transmitted through the Smart Meter Gateway.
EMS
The EMS knows about all energy demands including the base load of the building as well as the PV production forecast. From this the EMS derives the optimal operation schedules of the devices without loss of comfort. If there is a major change in energy production or demand the EMS will recalculate the operation schedules.
EVSE/EV/BATTERY
The EVSE/EV
submits its energy demand and departure time to the EMS. If the end user choses CO2 friendly charging the EMS takes care of charging with high portion of PV energy. In case of a bidirectional EV, the EV’s battery may be discharged for home supply (V2H) if it is ensured that it will be charged up to the departure time according to the end user’s preferences.
The Battery
enables storage of PV energy to provide it to the building after sun set. Within its operating limits it is controlled by the EMS.
HVAC
The HVAC device submits its energy demand to the EMS. In case the PV inverter is power curtailed by the grid, the heat pump may run C02 neutral heat production based on the costless PV energy.
PV Inverter / Battery
The PV inverter is the key element of the self-consumption solution and is considered to produce as much PV energy as possible. It is used to supply the building’s energy demand and - in case of a surplus of PV energy - to charge the stationary battery system or BEV or to run CO2 heat production.
WHITE GOOD DEVICE
The white good device receives a smart start information from the EMS according to the operation schedule calculated by the EMS, which is aligned with own PV production.