WP1: Flexibility and Constraint Data

Newcastle University’s initial role in the SmartHubs project will be to attain a detailed technical understanding of the performance parameters of each technology to be deployed in the smart local energy system (SLES), allowing flexibility and constraints to be compared between technologies across heat, power and transport sectors. We will assess what data is required to supply our later work packages of modelling and simulation and monitoring and evaluation. Through this data collection stage, we will account for energy consumers’ requirements alongside the technology parameters.

WP2: Modelling and Simulation

We will determine the modelling methods and tools to be used in the project, assessing state of the art open source modelling and simulation tools suitable for SLES. We will identify gaps in available tools and specify the resulting requirements of additional or new components, and develop and integrate missing modelling and simulation components.

WP3: External Research Environment Interaction

Throughout the project, we will develop relationships with relevant energy system researchers through the University’s research centres and the new opportunities provided by SmartHubs. We will build partnerships with local educational institutions and national research networks that wish to engage with the project. 

WP4: System Interactions and Optimisation 

Using the tools determined in earlier work packages, we will assess how the flexibility in system operation can be harnessed, across energy vectors and end user requirements, to get as close as possible to the preferred performance objectives. We will define alternative operating modes that optimise against performance criteria, including cost, environmental performance and resilience. We aim to demonstrate a range of operating modes, within and beyond the existing system’s operating conditions.

WP5: Monitoring and Evaluation

We will record the performance of SLES technologies in sufficient detail to report conclusively on outcomes, as well as creating a database of operational data for analysis. We will develop a periodic reporting process that determines insights and outcomes from the operation of the SLES that can be shared effectively with project partners and feed into external dissemination.

WP6: UK Scale Replication

We will use the findings from the SmartHubs project to provide robust recommendations for future implementations of SLES across the UK.This work package will organise the findings from previous work packages to provide an informative and actionable report for broad dissemination that shows how the methods developed in the SLES project can be applied to other instances of local energy systems.