Internet of Energy (IoE, IoEn) as part of IoT

Widely used acronym IoT is well known all over the world. In information technology this notion comprises general technology of daily use, connected to the public internet network sharing its information or capability to be controlled. The Internet of Energy (IoEn) is like bubble which encloses in the IoT space all technology related to production, transfer and consumption of energy. In most cases the IoEn is associated with electrical energy. It is about disruptive technology used in electrical energy sector which practically overshadows existing approach between production and consumption.

Simplified view from consumer perspective is in a different way of dealing with energy. Increasing numbers of RES installation in electrical system still doesn’t changed the way that our homes are mostly powered by electricity from considerably distant large central sources flowing via complex infrastructure of transmission and distribution network, ending the process with final monthly bill composed of several elements. The option to influence the price or origin o generated power is very limited. But in IoE world, the view from consumer perspective will be different. Consumer will be able to chose the source of the energy he will purchase and where he send the energy he generated.

Consumption place market potential is in the degree of its flexibility and in amount of consumed/generated electrical power. Home appliances, smart plugs, smart thermostats, generation and storage, electrical vehicles, that all can be transferred in collective intelligence held by consumer itself not by any energy company.

IoEn also includes new options and approaches for energy system operators and current world research works with that potential how to put all this disruptive technology in good use. Although it sounds promising, considering a revolutionary coup would bring to most of us the risk of intermittent electricity supply. Single steps leading to new age of energy transactions or toward intelligent grids must be carefully considered. The key players which must be part of transition in energy sector are grid operators. To fully support the IoEn the grid infrastructure OT systems should be integrated with IT. That in real world means that the grid as critical infrastructure, which within its conservativeness never been exposed to the wide network with many connected users, will suddenly have to withstand possible cyber-attacks. Prudent society will probably not go recklessly throught financial and environmental savings risking the intermittent electricity supply.

Evolutionary steps into the world of IoEn are research projects focused on both sides, the support of public grid operation and the energy capacity/flexibility sharing in end consumers’ communities. One example is European research project Shar-Q on which since November 2016 cooperates 11 partners from 6 European countries including Czech and Slovak company Atos IT Solutions and Services, s.r.o. .

Shar-Q will during three years establish and demonstrate the ecosystem, which will enable peer-to-peer cooperation among prosumers or at least owners of electrical energy storages and other subjects in the energy market. Shar-Q aims to ensure better utilization rate of renewable energy sources or electrical energy storages and to shorten the ROI time of purchased technology. One of the project goals is to keep the electrical grid in stability notwithstanding the growing ratio of renewable sources. Another goal is to motivate end consumers to invest into disruptive technologies including renewable energy sources and electrical storages by developing new business models and market opportunities leading to ecological, social and economic benefits.

Shar-Q project is open to the public which has an opportunity to watch the progress or even direct the research aspects of the project. For more information, please, contact via our portal http://www.sharqproject.eu/contact .

Project Shar-Q „Virtual Storage Capacity Sharing Over Virtual Neighbourhoods of Energy Ecosystems” is funded by EU (Horizont 2020) as part of its strategy to achieve a safe, clean, efficient and sustainable energy.