Electra / News



09 Aug 2023

  

Project ELECTRA workshop provides cutting-edge insights and tangible tools for unlocking PV systems' potential

An online workshop on “Modernising the distribution grid for enabling high penetration of photovoltaic electricity through advanced data analytic operational observability and management”, was organised by the PV Technology Laboratory, UCY on 7 August 2023, in closing out the three-year project ELECTRA, funded through the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation.

The workshop provided cutting-edge insights and extensive technical information in the area of data-driven flexibility tools that ensure grid-friendly integration of renewables in smart grids, welcoming participants from academia and industry from around the world (Cyprus, Europe, and the EMMENA region).

The participants, which included project developers and EPCs, as well as investors, consultants and researchers in the renewable energy sector and smart grids, had the opportunity to get in-field knowledge of next-generation grid-supportive tools and the latest technology developments that enable optimised distribution grid operations at high renewable shares.

The workshop was moderated by Dr. George Makrides of the University of Cyprus, who served as the ELECTRA Project Coordinator. He presented the novel data-driven tools and concepts for modernised grids developed throughout the project lifecycle. This was followed up by a demonstration of the two main in-market tools emanating from the project, namely, SUNCASTER and DER-Manager, by Dr. Spyros Theocharides of the University of Cyprus.

Thereafter, Dr. Venizelos Venizelou, representing the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority, outlined the regulatory framework of Cyprus’ electricity market, as well as the anticipated roadmap towards the Energy Transition. On his part, Alexandros Stylianides, representing the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, charted the energy policy framework that is explicitly geared towards higher renewable shares, within the context of Cyprus’ updated National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030.

 


17 Oct 2021

  

Microgrid digital twin

A digital twin of the UCY microgrid has been implemented to facilitate the effective analysis of the operational state of the power network through high-fidelity real-time and time-ahead simulations. Digital twins are emerging as powerful tools for improving the safety, reliability and efficiency of smart grids. To this end, digital twins (high fidelity virtual replicas) provide the feedstock for testing new smart grid technologies (hardware and software), predictive insights and conceptual development. The implemented digital twin (developed using real time simulation technology platforms) comprises of all the generation and demand units of the microgrid and is connected to all the installed smart meters (using Modbus TCP) and distributed energy resources (using SunSpec) in order to visualize the actual real-time measurements alongside to the foreseen simulations. Lastly, it is expected that the digital twin will form the basis for virtually mapping distribution feeders with high photovoltaic shares and further advance in modernizing the grid by demonstrating a digital twin platform for predictive simulations and testing both real-time and accelerated AI-driven applications.

 


23 Sep 2021

  

Publication accepted to IET Renewable Power Generation

Project results in the area of day-ahead aggregated generation forecasting have been published at the IET Renewable Power Generation journal. The publication “A hybrid methodology for distribution level photovoltaic power production forecasting verified at the distribution system of Cyprus” proposes a novel methodology for the implementation of a forecasting tool that provides aggregated PV production day-ahead forecasts for the PV systems installed at a distribution level. Accurate photovoltaic power forecasting is an essential tool that enables the efficient integration of solar electricity and energy trading. More information can be found at the journal’s website

 


21 Jan 2021

  

Best Poster Award 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist (PVSC)!

Electra work, presented by Mr Spyros Theocharides, received Best Poster Award at the 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist (PVSC) Virtual PVSC48. The presented work "The Impact of Data Quality on Day-ahead Photovoltaic Power Production Forecasting", provided a comparative performance evaluation of different data-driven day-ahead forecasting models that were trained with high- and low-quality data to stress the importance of high-quality data for the day-ahead PV production forecasting. More information can be found at the conference’s website

 


09 Aug 2023

Project ELECTRA workshop provides cutting-edge insights and tangible tools for unlocking PV systems' potential
An online workshop on “Modernising the distribution grid for enabling high penetration of photovoltaic electricity through advanced data analytic operational observability and management”, was organised by the PV Technology Laboratory, UCY on 7 August 2023, in closing out the three-year project ELECTRA, funded through the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation.

The workshop provided cutting-edge insights and extensive technical information in the area of data-driven flexibility tools that ensure grid-friendly integration of renewables in smart grids, welcoming participants from academia and industry from around the world (Cyprus, Europe, and the EMMENA region).

The participants, which included project developers and EPCs, as well as investors, consultants and researchers in the renewable energy sector and smart grids, had the opportunity to get in-field knowledge of next-generation grid-supportive tools and the latest technology developments that enable optimised distribution grid operations at high renewable shares.

The workshop was moderated by Dr. George Makrides of the University of Cyprus, who served as the ELECTRA Project Coordinator. He presented the novel data-driven tools and concepts for modernised grids developed throughout the project lifecycle. This was followed up by a demonstration of the two main in-market tools emanating from the project, namely, SUNCASTER and DER-Manager, by Dr. Spyros Theocharides of the University of Cyprus.

Thereafter, Dr. Venizelos Venizelou, representing the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority, outlined the regulatory framework of Cyprus’ electricity market, as well as the anticipated roadmap towards the Energy Transition. On his part, Alexandros Stylianides, representing the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, charted the energy policy framework that is explicitly geared towards higher renewable shares, within the context of Cyprus’ updated National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030.

17 Oct 2021

Microgrid digital twin
A digital twin of the UCY microgrid has been implemented to facilitate the effective analysis of the operational state of the power network through high-fidelity real-time and time-ahead simulations. Digital twins are emerging as powerful tools for improving the safety, reliability and efficiency of smart grids. To this end, digital twins (high fidelity virtual replicas) provide the feedstock for testing new smart grid technologies (hardware and software), predictive insights and conceptual development. The implemented digital twin (developed using real time simulation technology platforms) comprises of all the generation and demand units of the microgrid and is connected to all the installed smart meters (using Modbus TCP) and distributed energy resources (using SunSpec) in order to visualize the actual real-time measurements alongside to the foreseen simulations. Lastly, it is expected that the digital twin will form the basis for virtually mapping distribution feeders with high photovoltaic shares and further advance in modernizing the grid by demonstrating a digital twin platform for predictive simulations and testing both real-time and accelerated AI-driven applications.
23 Sep 2021

Publication accepted to IET Renewable Power Generation
Project results in the area of day-ahead aggregated generation forecasting have been published at the IET Renewable Power Generation journal. The publication “A hybrid methodology for distribution level photovoltaic power production forecasting verified at the distribution system of Cyprus” proposes a novel methodology for the implementation of a forecasting tool that provides aggregated PV production day-ahead forecasts for the PV systems installed at a distribution level. Accurate photovoltaic power forecasting is an essential tool that enables the efficient integration of solar electricity and energy trading. More information can be found at the journal’s website
21 Jan 2021

Best Poster Award 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist (PVSC)!
Electra work, presented by Mr Spyros Theocharides, received Best Poster Award at the 48th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist (PVSC) Virtual PVSC48. The presented work "The Impact of Data Quality on Day-ahead Photovoltaic Power Production Forecasting", provided a comparative performance evaluation of different data-driven day-ahead forecasting models that were trained with high- and low-quality data to stress the importance of high-quality data for the day-ahead PV production forecasting. More information can be found at the conference’s website