The FLEXITRANSTORE research project, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 program, concluded successfully in May 2022, by developing and demonstrating groundbreaking solutions related to control and energy storage, as well as new wholesale electricity market approaches. All solutions aim to accelerate the integration of renewables into the European energy system and increase the cross-border electricity flows across Europe. The project’s technologies have been developed and demonstrated in six EU countries (Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Belgium, and Spain).
More specifically, the FLEXITRANSTORE project partners have successfully installed two battery energy storage systems (BESS) in substations in two European power systems. The first one was installed at a Wind Park in Greece, while the second one at a substation in Cyprus (interface between the Transmission and the Distribution System Operators). Furthermore, power flow controllers were installed and tested in Greece and Bulgaria, proving the modular nature of the devices, their compatibility for different voltage levels, and their ability to efficiently tackle congestions by redirecting power flows. Moreover, the demonstration of the Dynamic Line Rating scheme for transmission line de-icing has been successfully carried out in Slovenia and Bulgaria, indicating that all icing events can be successfully identified and mitigated during winter. Finally, a new scheme for a wholesale electricity market was run in a fictitious intraday market in Cyprus and Bulgaria, demonstrating that the proposed electricity market scheme can considerably increase market liquidity.
KIOS’ significant role in the development of smart solutions
The KIOS CoE power team in collaboration with the Cyprus national energy authorities (Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Transmission System Operator of Cyprus, Cyprus Electricity Regulatory Authority) played a significant role in the development and testing of smart solutions for the integration of renewable energy sources and storage technologies, through large-scale pilots in Cyprus.
Τhe first pilot involved a large-scale battery energy storage system of 2MWh energy capacity, installed at the Athienou power substation, in the city of Larnaca, and connected to the entire Cyprus power system. This battery can be utilized for storing the excess photovoltaic generation that is maximized during the noon hours. To enable the real-time monitoring of the battery storage system, the KIOS CoE in collaboration with Electricity Authority of Cyprus and the Cyprus Transmission System Operator, have installed advanced measurement devices, called Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), at the Athienou substation. As a result, the real-time information obtained from the measurement devices will enable the effective control of the battery to provide ancillary services to the grid.
The second pilot in Cyprus dealt with a wholesale electricity platform that enables operators and involved end-users, including owners of renewable energy sources and battery storage systems, to participate in a fictitious intra-day electricity market in Cyprus. The market platform was presented to over 70 European stakeholders and demonstrations in Cyprus were carried out between May 2020 and February 2021, using actual data from renewable energy sources and conventional power plants.
The FLEXITRANSTORE project concluded with a final online workshop to demonstrate the lessons learned and the outcomes obtained through the various project activities. In terms of scientific publications, project partners have published 12 peer-reviewed articles, 24 conference proceedings, 5 book chapters, and one book.
This in general, the innovative solutions and tools developed by the FLEXITRANSTORE team contribute towards the improvement of the reliability, security, and resilience of the energy system, leading to smarter and more robust power systems, that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the cost of energy generation, and enhance the quality of life of our citizens.
A short video presenting the FLEXITRANSTORE technologies developed at KIOS CoE is available here.
Additional information on the FLEXITRANSTORE project can also be obtained at the project’s website: http://www.flexitranstore.eu/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 774407
