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Intelligent network of urban infrastructures – Smart Power Hamburg
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Hamburg’s "Speicherstadt" warehouse district
© HAMBURG ENERGIE GmbH/ Onnen Heitmann
SMART POWER HAMBURG wants to take a new approach to energy efficiency: How can a network of real estate properties become more efficient via a combined heat and electricity generation system while also offering additional energy services to others? This requires that the urban infrastructures in the form of energy generators, loads and storage systems are intelligently combined. In this regard, the energy forms electricity, heating, cooling and gas are being examined with the aim of integrating renewable energy sources. The urban infrastructures and regulatory provisions provide the underlying framework. This is intended to provide a stimulus for planning cities and urban districts.
Settlement summary
| Project status |  Realisation |
|---|---|
| Location of network | Hamburg |
| Location of local community | Hamburg |
| Settlement in figures | Area: 755 km², Inhabitants: 1,79 Mio. |
| Developer, organizer | Smart Power Hamburg consortium |
| Heat customer, cooling energy customer | Public real estate properties, commerce and industry |
| Project themes |
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Project description
The main focus of SMART POWER HAMBURG is on intelligently linking energy generators, loads and storage systems. In the joint HAMBURG ENERGIE project organised by the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences and RWTH Aachen University, it is being investigated how such a network can enable cities and urban districts not only to supply heat efficiently but also to provide supplementary energy services.
Community
Renewables play an important role in Hamburg as a centre for the energy industry, and not just since it was made “European Green Capital” in 2011. Major system manufacturers such as Siemens, Nordex and REpower have their company headquarters in the Hanseactic city. The International Building Exhibition (IBA Hamburg), which has been in preparation since 2007, will generate new impetus for the future of the city. At universities such as the HAW, entire institutes are devoted to researching “green” issues. For a centre for industry and an energy efficient city like Hamburg, and for a municipal energy supplier, such as HAMBURG ENERGIE, it is therefore important to exploit and utilise expertise on smart grids and the information and communications technology (ICT) on which they are based.
Project
The aim of the project is to develop innovative energy efficiency services. That concerns both the intelligent harmonisation of generators and loads in the linked system itself as well as the development of system services that are becoming increasingly important for electricity generators, the grid and electricity providers. A smart grid (intelligent energy network) is being created based on the existing urban infrastructure along with a platform for exchanging services. Future urban development projects will be able to purchase energy services to increase their efficiency or offer others their skills. The aim is to achieve energy-intelligent cooperation in the various urban districts, i.e. "smart" solutions – or "plietsch" as they like to say in Hamburg.
Measures
Electricity and heat for public real estate properties, commerce and industry shall be provided using combined heat and power generation (CHP). Real estate properties will be additionally equipped with load management systems. New heat storage systems will be connected, whereby the heat storage potential in the existing urban infrastructure (e.g. local heating networks and swimming pools) will be taken into account. The loads together with the potential energy storage systems and CHP systems will be switched to a flexible control system. Parallel to this, a comprehensive software solution (platform) is being developed that implements the developed operating concepts and business models. The underlying framework for developing the operating concepts and the business models is set out by the legal and statutory requirements as well as the technical limitations. The assessment will be conducted by developing models and simulations to analyse the systems and network.
Work plan, realisation
The programme is being realised in seven subprojects:
- Subproject: Model development and simulation
Assessments will be made based on simulation results derived from detailed models of the various systems and the overall system, including the ICT platform. - Subproject: Integration of real estate properties
Real estate properties will be connected together to create an interconnected operation of load management systems. The aim is to achieve intelligent, balancing of loads across locations (smart balancing) - Subproject: CHP network
A CHP network will be created. In order to realise an electricity-led operation of the CHPs, design and connection requirements for the storage types will be established. - Subproject: Storage concepts
The heat storage potential in the existing urban infrastructure (e.g. local heating networks and swimming pools) will be made usable systematically. - Subproject: Information and communication technology
A service-oriented architecture (SOA) will be developed for a platform for operating energy control systems. A platform will be set up and a demonstration operation conducted. - Subproject: Development of legal frameworks and operating concepts
The legal frameworks will be examined and assessed. Innovative operating concepts will be developed for the complex system network. - Subproject: Business models
Innovative energy efficiency services will be developed for sustainable financing. Business models and operating concepts will be examined using simulations.
Methodology
The aim is to continue using the overall system once the project has ended. This requires both continual evaluation during the course of the project as well as evaluation of the project findings at the end of the project. In developing the control system, each part of the respective work package will be iteratively developed, tested and, if successful, integrated into the overall structure. The next task in each work package will then be processed. This will make it possible to respond quickly to necessary adjustments or changes in the requirements. Commissioning and test operations will therefore be continually conducted throughout the project. It is only when all the components have undergone this process that they will be included as part of a one-year demonstration operation.
Real data from a measurement programme during the demonstration operation will in turn be used for validating the simulation results. Together with the eco-efficiency analysis from subproject 6, the real data will provide the basis for assessing the overall system. Here it will be considered from an energy and exergy point of view as to what extent the operation concepts have been successfully implemented and made the overall system more efficient.
The assessment criteria for making final recommendations on the overall system’s suitability for large-scale implementation include its robustness, the economic sustainability of the business models, the efficient use of the energy systems and the resulting ecological advantages. The assessment of the overall system also includes its contribution to Hamburg’s energy efficiency strategy and climate protection concept as well as its integration in other energy efficiency projects in Hamburg.
Financing
The project is being funded by HAMBURG ENERGIE and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
During the project itself it is also intended, however, to develop additional business models, since the goals of energy efficiency and environmental protection – in this case with a particular focus on integrating renewable energy sources – can only be achieved if free competition is promoted in the electricity supply market and decentralised grid users are incorporated. These business models are intended to generate economic advantages for the operator of the control system and platform on the one hand and the participating operators of decentralised systems on the other. A currently standard business model is control energy. Through means of research and development, in Smart Power Hamburg it is intended to demonstrate that further business models are possible based on the technological concept of linking energy generation facilities.
