In the effort to meet our climate targets, our energy system is transitioning towards a new configuration dominated by increasing shares of renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources. At the core of this process stand Distribution System Operators (DSOs), who will have the task to connect most of these new sources to the power grid. As neutral facilitators of the transition, the key resource for DSOs to guarantee the secure and stable operation of the power system is flexibility and digitalisation is its enabler.
Platone proposes an innovative approach for joint data management, supporting DSOs facing an increasing need for network observability and procurement of flexibility. The project develops a layered set of platforms compliant with the existing regulatory framework, called the Platone Open Framework. This will collect, elaborate, and exchange data to support DSOs’, Transmission System Operators’ (TSOs) and other market stakeholders’ operation and needs.
DSOs will invest in a standard, open, non-discriminatory infrastructure, to facilitate the participation of customers and aggregators in flexibility markets, reinforcing their role as market enablers and supporting smarter observability of the distribution network. Blockchain technology will be integrated to ensure transparency to all market players, fostering confidence in flexibility operations. This should result in linking the local system to the transmission domains and ultimately lead to the enhancement of the overall system efficiency.
Platone places grid users at its core, investigating their needs and expectations while unlocking their potential in the provision of flexibility and the decarbonization of our energy system. Together with its sister projects FEVER and edgeFLEX, Platone has founded the FlexCommunity, a knowledge sharing and cooperation platform aimed at facilitating the comprehensive roll-out of flexibility applications.
Hard Facts
Objectives
The project strives to achieve five key objectives:
- Unlocking flexibility to address local congestion and voltage stability.
- Improving grid operation through an advanced observability approach.
- Improving customers engagement and facilitating their fair participation in market.
- Supporting cooperation with TSOs.
- Ensuring reliable and secure power supplies in the context of increasing DER penetration.
E.DSO and DSOs
The Platone platform is being tested by leading European DSOs in three trials sites in Italy, Greece, and Germany.
The Italian demo, led by Areti, implements a complete end-to-end local flexible environment in the large metropolitan area of Rome. The trial involves a variety of users, ranging from an existing virtual energy community to a business building equipped with an electric vehicle smart parking. The aim of the trial is to optimize distribution grid stability, resilience, and security. This will be enabled by the installation of innovative smart technology and the establishment of a real integrated flexibility market.
The Greek demo, led by HEDNO, operates in Mesogeia, near Athens, combining both mainland and interconnected islands with good penetration of renewables. The goals of the trial are optimizing the use of distributed energy resources to provide ancillary services and enabling advanced grid observability. Moreover, the demo advances automation and controllability for increased security and resilience of the distribution system.
The German demo, led by Avacon, involves a low voltage network with high penetration of distributed energy resources serving a local community located in northwest rural Germany. The objectives of the trial are the coordination and allocation of flexibility between a local balancing mechanism and higher-level networks. The demo also aims to effectively uncouple low and medium voltage networks by handling energy supply and export in bulk packages rather than in a real-time exchange.
In Platone, E.DSO leads the DSO Harmonization work package, ensuring coordination among the three demos, with the sister projects of Platone and with the current European Regulatory Framework. E.DSO is also supporting the definition and assessment of the project and demo-specific KPIs for the evaluation of the project impact. Furthermore, E.DSO is actively engaged in the dissemination activities of the project, leading the organization of its Advisory Board.
More Information
- All public deliverables
- Project KPIs definition and measurement methods
- Overview of regulatory aspects that impact the solutions tested in the demos in European countries
- Innovative solutions to enable flexibility and retail markets in distribution grids: The Platone approach
- Key outcomes of The 2nd Platone Coordination Workshop
Contact: Selene Liverani (
