Stefan Wilker

Emotion in Consumer Simulations for the Development and Testing of Recommendations for Marketing Strategies

To examine the impact factors and mechanisms of the decision to switch to green electricity, we develop a socio-cognitive agent-based simulation. Following seminal research in the field of decision making we focus on emotion and social norms as core mechanisms in consumer decisions. A survey of possible consumers provides the information how to calibrate the simulation, by which means a first validation is reached. Further data analysis supports model validation and exploration. Overall, this methodology provides the premises of using simulations for recommending marketing strategies that support the distribution of environmental-friendly energy providers.

ICT emulation platform setup demonstration of smart grid component prototype examples

The shift towards massively distributed energy generation demands more decentralized flexibility to meet strict power quality constraints of the electric grid. A cyber-physical system such as a smart grid can provide increased flexibility by utilizing additional information and communication technologies to better monitor the medium and low voltage distribution networks and to actively control grid-connected resources, ranging from loads to distributed generation, to electric mobility but at the cost of increased complexity. Essential future functionalities such as dynamic management of line use, fault detection and fast service restoration are only possible with appropriate sensors and actuators in place. These missing sensors and actuators on the distribution level are being developed today. This paper presents a standards based, low cost, open source, ICT emulation platform setup to test necessary networking concepts of these smart grid component prototypes already in various stages of development. Preliminary development results of the first example applications chosen: Customer Energy Management System, Smart Breaker, and Smart Meter, are shown in this work in progress paper.

Demo Abstract: Demonstration of new sensor and actuator equipment for distributed grids

Changes in the energy domain have created a high demand for new equipment and strategies to face its new challenges. To this end, stronger coordination between producers and consumers, as well as distributed control gain importance. This demonstration intends to show how developments from the project iniGrid can contribute towards this goal, by utilizing newly developed smart breakers to meet grid sided usage restrictions. The described demonstration system allows energy consumers more control over their usage and provides aggregators and energy suppliers as well as distribution system operators with additional means to improve grid stability and ways to counteract imminent catastrophic failures.

Local intelligence for a customer energy management system equipped with smart breakers

The electricity grid of the future needs to be smart to react to the currently changing production landscape caused by increasing generation of renewable energy at customer sites and the increased energy demands, driven by technological evolvement in consumer technology, e.g., heat pumps or electric vehicles. This paper tries to provide insights into first results of a work in progress creating a customer energy management system that utilizes the benefit of novel switchable breakers for customers and offers independent system operators, or distribution grid operators, some local intelligence which they can influence and use as predictable resources in their forecasts. These demand side management capabilities are only the first use cases under consideration.

Smart grid architecture model standardization and the applicability of domain language specific modeling tools

In order to satisfy the increasing demand for electricity and to meet this demand with renewable energies, the present electrical grid has to adapt. The EU has already initiated measures to standardize and support a European Smart Grid development to facilitate communication amongst experts of different domains. Hence, this requires a mutual harmonization of terminologies as well as tools to strengthen its bearing. This paper compares the DISCERN toolbox and the SGAM toolbox. Both address the issue of a standardized modeling solutions in the domain of Smart Grids. For both toolboxes the availability, requirements, and ease of use are examined and validated based on practical use case examples. Finally, the applicability for smart grid model driven development is discussed, open development issues indicated and suggestions for further improvements provided.