Smart Multi-Energy District De Nieuwe Dokken
In 2018 was Enervalis the driving force behind a six-month feasibility study called ‘Smart Multi-Energy District “De Nieuwe Dokken”’. The study aimed to examine all technologies necessary for a smart multi-energy neighbourhood in Ghent (smart grid, data management, decision algorithms, etc.). Other specific obstacles were also identified (economic, legal, regulatory, market success, etc.).
DuCoop, Enervalis, ABB, Imec & SF1 Services
Support: € 49.840
Key questions:
• Can we design a smart multi-energy district with a heating network, decentralized wastewater treatment, sustainable mobility and connectivity on 3 levels:
living space, work space and community space? Starting point is brownfield De Nieuwe Dokken in Ghent, which consists of 400 homes and a number
of commercial spaces and public facilities.
• Can a data platform meet the strict data needs for demand side management in a LEC?
• Can we make a promising value network?
Status 2019
Peter De Smet, Peter De Smet, Director, Clean Energy Invest: “The public facilities at De Nieuwe Dokken will open in the summer of 2019. By the end of the year, people will be living in the district. So far, gateways have been installed in 70 home units and a district-wide IT-network is in place. Also, a district-wide PV-network with battery storage is on the agenda. As of June 2019, the district will have its own medium voltage cabinet. We intend to put in place a private direct line connection between the construction zones.
Focus groups with future residents have been organized to collect information, raise involvement and win their trust. This proves to be a very good communication strategy: we are successfully building ‘community awareness’.
The University of Ghent researched the algorithms of Energy Efficiency, Demand Response and Peak Shaving, which are now being integrated in the open source cloud platform OpenMotics.”
Next steps & challenges
Peter De Smet: “Politics and regulation remain hurdles, for example when it comes to the tariff structure and subsidy mechanisms for LECs or the roll-out of direct line connections on public domain.” The integration of datacomms-infrastructure in new buildings requires weekly meetings and intensive communication with contractors. Overall, the feasibilty studies provided us with valuable take-aways, for example regarding the substantial potential of battery storage and the positive economic forecast of electric mobility.”