R&D NESTER AT THE FOREFRONT OF TRANSFORMING ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN BUILDINGS
The European project WeForming is at the forefront of transforming energy management in buildings, focusing on seamless integration with the energy ecosystem. Through groundbreaking solutions, this EU project addresses digital operation, management, and maintenance, along with efficient and interactive energy processing for Intelligent Grid-Forming Buildings (iGFBs).
WeForming - an acronym for Buildings as Efficient Interoperable Formers of Clean Energy Ecosystems - envisions a revolutionary approach to managing energy, one in which buildings are strategic players in supporting and forming the energy networks of the future. At the heart of WeForming's value proposition are iGFBs, actively participating in an interoperable energy ecosystem, including both energy networks and markets. These innovative buildings are designed to seamlessly integrate various energy sources, such as electrical, thermal, mechanical, and chemical energy. Their main goal is to optimize efficiency and self-sufficiency while prioritizing occupants' well-being, enhancing comfort, convenience and safety.
The ultimate mission of WeForming is to establish iGFBs as integral elements in shaping a secure, resilient, and carbon-free energy ecosystem. Over the next three years, the EU-funded project will develop and demonstrate a new generation of iGFBs that leverage advanced technologies and smart energy processing to innovate building energy operations, involving all the participants in the energy building value chain (consumers, aggregators, grid operators, etc.) in a common digital space. This approach will lead to increased multidirectional data flows, with the creation of new digital platforms and operational strategies. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be key to WeForming's framework, ensuring automation and interactivity.
WeForming's methodology and digital solutions will be implemented and validated in six real-life demos across six countries. These use cases will target different systems, building types, consumer needs, economic conditions and climates, providing a comprehensive assessment and adaptability across different scenarios.
Comprising 30 partner entities from 10 countries, the WeForming project addresses the challenges of improving the interoperability between energy carriers, creating new roles and business models for buildings in energy markets, boosting buildings' physical interaction with energy networks, and fostering awareness and acceptance of iGFBs. This is a 3-year project starting in October 2023 and ending in September 2026.
The kick-off meeting for this project took place in Athens, Greece on the 17th and 18th of October, where R&D Nester team was represented. At this project kick-off meeting, the general context and administrative details were analyzed, including the analytical work plan and task schedules, milestones and expected results of the Working Packages.
R&D Nester is responsible for the Working Package 6 "Evaluation and assessment, replication and scalability potential" and has a strong contribution in the Working Package 5 "WeForming Demonstration across technologies and scenarios".
This November, a visit was made to the Portuguese Demonstrator Palácio do Gelo Shopping, in Viseu, a large shopping center with internal generation and energy storage systems.
This visit, allowed the 3 partners involved in the Portuguese Demonstrator, Movida, Builtrix and R&D Nester, to define the work plan for the coming months of cooperation.
The
WeForming project is an innovation action funded by the European Union through
the Horizon Europe Programme.
For more
information:
