The main goals of REIVE were to study, develop and test solutions and prototypes to manage smart grids with a large penetration of micro-generation and electric vehicles. One of the main results was the design and deployment of a research laboratory that makes it possible to simulate and evaluate different operation scenarios (present and future) of the low voltage grid. A key component of the system is a communications infrastructure, based on wired and wireless technologies, and a network architecture (interfaces and protocols) designed to support metering, monitoring and advanced control functions required for the operation of smart electric grids.

A technological platform was developed as part of REIVE in order to identify, specify, develop, test and evaluate innovative solutions that allow a smooth integration of micro-generation systems and electric vehicles in electric grids, both at technical and commercial levels, thus maximising the use of renewable energy sources in the system.

A key component of smart grids is a communications network infrastructure that must meet functional and performance goals of a variety of applications and services that are essential to their operation, such as metering, monitoring and advanced control functions.

The design of the communications system and, in particular, its tailoring to the project goals and integration into the laboratory, involved the following main steps:

• Identifying and analysing communications scenarios and requirements for metering, monitoring and control of smart grids
• Identifyng and analysing communications technologies, both wired and wireless
• Specifying the communications reference architecture
• Identifying information flows and specifying protocols for message exchange between systems
• Specifying, developing and testing communication modules (interfaces and protocols) and their integration in the laboratory systems
• Testing and evaluating prototypes and control algorithms in various operation scenarios of the electric grid
• Technology transfer to industrial partners

Project leader: INESC Porto 

Industrial Partners:

EDP Distribuição

EFACEC

REN

Logica

Contar

GALP

Scientific Partners:

LNEG

CEETA-ECO

Financial support:

FAI

ON2

Poster: REIVE