Goal: Smart and collective control of hybrid heat pumps using an open standard to prevent grid congestion at low voltage levels
Smart control of hybrid heat pumps
The energy transition faces challenges due to the capacity limits of the electricity grid. The increasing use of electric vehicles, air conditioners, and hybrid heat pumps could, over time, slow down local grids too.
A new generation of heat pumps able to communicate through an open standard is the solution, allowing owners’ devices to be controlled collectively. This means a neighborhood or street can offer flexibility and be compensated for it. A consortium of companies, including Intergas, Inversable, and Enexis, dedicated themselves to this development.
Happy street
By intelligently managing hybrid heat pumps, residents can earn money. Whenever the electricity grid risks congestion, the grid operator signals for action. Residents, whether operating collectively or through an energy company, can then provide the needed flexibility.
How does this work? Residents allow the power output of their hybrid heat pumps to be managed remotely using central control. This benefits the entire street, ensuring the lights stay on, helps the grid operator avoid immediate costly investments, and rewards the residents with profits from the congestion market.
Vision and action
Enablemi initiated the project and brought together the first partners: Enexis, Intergas, and Inversable. These organizations also sought a party to further develop the project, write the application, and manage project delivery—a responsibility Enablemi was pleased to accept.
Dit deed Enablemi
The right value chain partners were identified: TU/e, Samen Energie Neutraal, Enexis, Inversable, Voorstroom, and Intergas. At the consortium’s request, Enablemi also joined the project. The legal structure for cooperation was set up as well.
Enablemi prepared a competitive MOOI application for DACS-HW. In a highly competitive program, the project received high praise from RVO, Netbeheer Nederland, and the Dutch Heating Industry.
Currently, Enablemi manages knowledge dissemination, project management, and project administration, proactively monitoring progress, organizing meetings and events, and handling progress reporting among other activities.
Hoort zegt het voort
Unfamiliarity leads to indifference. RVO wants others to learn from the project and make use of its results. That is why a strong focus is placed on knowledge sharing and communication with target groups throughout this project. Enablemi manages most of these efforts.
Equally important: this project involves not only companies but also consumers, who are the end users of the heat pumps. By taking full advantage of grants and incentives, participants are given a substantial motivation to purchase a hybrid heat pump and join the project. Currently, there are more than 100 participants. Enablemi provides valuable insights on the decision-making process residents go through.
For the DACS-HW project, Enablemi demonstrated technical expertise in heat technology and the energy transition. Their deep understanding of the subsidy landscape enabled them to relieve a significant workload and lay the groundwork for a key project. Beyond this substantive and grant expertise, Enablemi has shown knowledge of the market in which we operate. As a result, the project achieved a high ranking, ensuring its continuation. Collaboration with Enablemi is pleasant, and their role was essential to making the project a reality.
Peter Jan Cool, CTO-COO Intergas Verwarming B.V.
The DACS-HW project contributes to these Sustainable Development Goals
Win-win impact of the DACS-HW project
Aggregating data and smart control of hybrid heat pumps delivers benefits across multiple areas: for residents, for the grid operator, and for the energy transition.
Residents earn money through the project without sacrificing comfort.
The grid operator can defer investments in the low-voltage network, where limited skilled labor means long waiting times.
Finally, this project makes an important contribution to the energy transition. Public policy strongly supports hybrid heat pumps and electric mobility. The transition is only accepted by society if home charging and grid reliability are ensured. This project supports both.
Want to know more about these kinds of projects? Ask Niels for advice!
