HERIT4AGES has exciting news about development in the energy supply system for heritage building renovation. Project partner UNINOVA presented a prototype of a Smart Energy Router (SER) for future implementation at the Funchal Living Lab, with more than 90% efficiency, that would support smarter energy management while improving the overall efficiency of the building’s energy system.
How does it work?
A Smart Energy Router (SER) is an advanced power electronics device, based on modular building blocks, that manages energy transfers between various sources and sinks, including the main distribution grid, renewable-based Distributed Generation (DG), direct AC and DC loads, and Energy Storage Systems (ESS), via a seamless connection implemented in its design. The SER ensures compliance with operational rules and selects a routing strategy for energy delivery that is the most efficient for both the end-consumer and the electrical grid thanks to Intelligent Flexibility Control Algorithms.
The SER maximises the photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption by actively managing the building’s energy fluxes. This, in turn, allows the enhancement of load matching, minimisation of grid dependency and a significant reduction in the cost of energy for the user. It also plays an important role in supporting grid stability and delivering ancillary services, which is especially valuable for islanded microgrids and isolated networks where the balance of local generation and demand is crucial for maintaining power quality.
Energy Routers are assembled with a high level of modularity to facilitate maintenance and with the possibility of adding another renewable energy system or energy storage system in mind, further allowing continued growth of the energy flow system as a whole.
