Although government and
industry worldwide are focused
on energy efficiency, TNO’s
innovative knowledge can make
the difference in terms of
technical, societal and economic
impact. TNO’s strength lies in the
unique combination of two fields:
technology (ICT knowledge
combined with heat grids, solar
cells, etc.) and experience in
social innovations (policy,
legislation and multi stakeholder
business modelling). This unique
combination makes TNO a force
to be reckoned with.
Impact of technological
and societal innovations
on the transition towards
smart energy systems
I mpact of tec h no logica l an d societa l innovations on t h e
transition towar d s smart energy sy stems
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
In 2007 the members of the European Union
agreed that the percentage of renewable energy
sources in the energy mix has to be 20% by
2020. To achieve this target an even greater
portion of the energy mix will have to be
renewable with a corresponding increase in
energy efficiency. This increase in efficiency
must be achieved not just within the various
energy carriers (electricity, gas, heating) but also
in between. This is a highly complex transition.
Currently, there are different autonomous
developments taking place, each at its own
tempo and, in part, interdependently.
We are seeing the emergence of intermittent sources like
wind and solar energy. In a large-scale rollout there will be a
significant increase in the need for flexibility and rapid-start
reserve capacity to achieve a balance, unless consumers
respond with alertness to (a surplus of) the supply. There
are also developments in the field of local energy generation
and use. To facilitate this development the distribution grid
must be differently designed as a bi-directional system in
which users not only acquire but can also resupply energy.
The speed at which these developments (HRe boilers, PV,
electric transport, heat pumps) in and to the distribution
grid are occurring is still uncertain.
INTELLIGENT ENERGY NETWORKS (SMART GRIDS)
TNO works with commercial players and the government to
develop and integrate knowledge of intelligent energy
networks. These are energy infrastructures (for electricity,
gas, heating, cooling) that can be intelligently supplemented
to all network components through a measurement
infrastructure and control applications. Based on a
multi-stakeholder business model in which major and minor
consumers and producers in the network can be integrated,
the energy supply will become reliable, sustainable and
efficient. In 2050 those networks will have the same supply
security as fossil fuels, especially if the share of sustainable
decentralised energy generation (like solar and wind
energy, greengas, biogas and syngas) increases.
Smart Grids are intelligent energy networks that enable the
use of renewable, locally generated energy to be optimised
and peak loads to be prevented or reduced. Today’s energy
infrastruc¬ture is increasingly being used in a different way
than that for which it was originally designed. In addition,
the aspects of ‘time’ and ‘amount of energy supply’ (by
renewable energy generators like wind or sun) are not easy
to control. Finally, if developments like sustainable
transport (such as the electric car) or sustainable heating
(by heat pumps) become widespread, peak loads may
occur and cause problems in the energy infrastructure.
TNO is helping to develop Smart Grids (see figure) by adding
intelligence to various components of electricity grids as
well as working on the architectures and the design of the
abstraction layer and the energy services layer. In designing
the abstraction layer, it is essential that as many possible
generators and users of energy as well as infrastructure
components are available for the energy services layer. And
key to the design of this energy services layer are the
wishes, demands and freedom of choice of the consumer
and other end users (or the energy users level). Ultimately,
the consumer must be able to choose from the energy
services that appeal to him and fit his particular situation.
When other energy carriers are also involved in ‘smart’
solutions, we refer to ‘Smart Energy Systems’.
showcases
Powermatcher
Smart Grids are essential to cope flexibly and reliably with
the increasingly dynamic suppliers and customers of
energy, sustainable energy in particular. The supply and
demand situation alongside various new developments
(like charging electric cars) that are happening at different
speeds and interdependently are, to a degree, forcing the
government and industry to find radical innovations for
energy grids and for the complete energy supply chain. TNO
and ECN have combined their knowledge of ICT and new
telecom concepts with knowledge of electricity grids and
familiar commercial software to produce the PowerMatcher.
This allows supply and demand of electricity to be more
efficiently matched, with the result is that more sustainable
energy can be absorbed in the system, problem free.
SolaRoad combines road and solar cells
SolaRoad is a road that doubles as a solar panel. The very
special combination of these two functions enables the solar
energy to be captured and converted into electrical energy
within the space that is already being used by roads. This
energy can then be used for all kinds of energy carriers such
as road lighting, traffic installations and even households.
Energy users
In a Smart Grid it is the energy user who decides
how, and within what limits, his energy generators
and consumers (such as household equipment)
respond to the possibilities afforded by the Smart
Grid. In other words, the user determines how he
makes use of the services on offer, like charging his
electric car in bad weather with energy from solar
panels where the sun is actually shining.
Energy services
The energy services are the ‘intelligence’ of the
Smart Grid. Using the possibilities offered by the
energy infrastructure and the connected generators
and consumers, services are defined that, for
instance, enable the integration of renewable
energy to be optimised, peak demand to be levelled
off and charging of electric cars to be coordinated.
Infrastructure abstraction
To optimise the use of all the connected components, generators and users, these are generically
translated, as it were, into the layer of energy
services. Examples of this include equipment that
can temporally shift its energy demand, level off its
peak demand or supply a certain amount of energy
at a particular moment.
Physical infrastructure
This is the set of generators and users of energy
along with the infrastructure that transports this
energy. To be a ‘smart’ participant in a Smart Grid
these physical components must be able to
communicate about their status and possibilities.
illustration: Ruiter Janssen
Flexigas
In the future biogas will have a key role to play as an
alternative to natural gas in making the energy supply in
the Netherlands more sustainable. In the Flexigas project,
in which TNO is working with industry and other research
organisations, components are being developed for the
biogas chain to enable biogas to be produced, transported
and used as efficiently as possible. The flexible chain
formed by these components is termed a biogas grid in
which biomass, anaerobic digestion, reprocessing, storage,
transport and use are the main links. Flexigas is looking at
the structural options, performing laboratory and field
experiments to this end.
The Flexigas principle is based on biogas production and
subsequent conversion into green gas (natural gas quality)
whose application as such will not necessarily lead to the
most economic chain. Future local markets will accept
broader quality ranges if it becomes economically more
favourable. Flexigas aims to boost the profitability of biogas
chains by incorporating qualitative and quantitative
flexibility in the chain.
Multi-stakeholder Business Models
TNO is developing an interactive assessment tool that
enables the comparison of various heterogeneous
solutions for local energy supply. The aim is to find the
optimum physical and economic dimensions for local or
regional energy supply to identify the corresponding value
web. The results of this project will be employed to help
local government come to an agreement with other
stakeholders (companies, housing corporations, research
organisations, ancillary suppliers and others) on the actual
steps to be taken.
TNO boosts renewable energy share in Aruba
from 20 to 40 per cent
Aruba wants to make the transition to a renewable energy
supply as fast as possible. TNO is supporting Aruba to
achieve this with applied technology research together with
(local) companies, government and universities. Among
others, use of solar and wind energy as well as deep-sea
cooling are important topics. TNO and her partners have
expertise in these areas.
I mpact of tec h no logica l an d societa l innovations on t h e
transition towar d s smart energy sy stems
The orchestrator
The Netherlands is uniquely placed to be a fieldlab for
Smart Energy Systems with its energy mix of electricity,
natural gas, heating and cooling, semi-open market
structure and strong sense of security and privacy. With
energy technologies and technological lifecycles developing
at different speeds, TNO is able to establish concepts and
architectures that are based on modularity, thereby
preventing compartmentalisation and undesirable
integration, and contain the flexibility to incorporate new
technologies, facilitate new services and industries. The
resulting diversity and heterogeneity can utilise existing
systems and technologies, and so boost profitability.
Of course, the successful introduction and application of a
Smart Energy System requires consumers and industry as
well as policy, law and legislation to adopt such a system
and the creation of an economic ecosystem for new
services and industry. TNO’s unique combination of
expertise in technological innovation and societal
frameworks allows us to play an orchestrating role in the
development of smart energy systems.
CONTACT
Suzanne van Kooten
Innovation Director Energy Efficiency
[email protected]
T +31 (0)88 866 71 67
Richard Beekhuis
Business line manager Smart Energy Systems
[email protected]
T +31 (0)88 866 77 18
Gerrit Jan Valk
Business developer Energy Efficiency
[email protected]
T +31 (0)88 866 73 01
www.tno.nl/energy-efficiency
Colophon
TNO is an independent innovation organisation that
connects people and knowledge to create innovations that
sustainably boost the competitiveness of industry and
wellbeing of society. Some 4000 professionals at TNO work
on practicable knowledge and solutions for the global
problems of scarcity, focusing on seven themes including
energy: helping to secure the long-term availability of energy
through innovations for more efficient energy consumption,
energy storage and renewable energy sources.
TNO.NL
TNO CONNECTS PEOPLE AND KNOWLEDGE
TO CREATE INNOVATIONS THAT SUSTAINABLY
BOOST THE COMPETITIVE STRENGTH OF
INDUSTRY AND WELL-BEING OF SOCIETY.