Objectives

The main objective of DCSMART is to enable a straightforward integration of smart grid system technologies, creation of market opportunities and stakeholders adoption through the development and implementation of direct current distribution smart grids.
The objectives are presented per layer as follows

1. Technology Innovation Layer

  • To develop new protection strategies and design topologies for meshed dc distribution smart grids (±350V / ±700V, in IEC low voltage regulation)
  • To design suitable converters for dc distribution smart grids
  • To investigate what type of communication and ICT interfaces are required to allow the implementation of protection, demand-side management, and reliability strategies
  • To investigate what type of communication and ICT interfaces are required to allow the implementation of protection, demand-side management, and reliability strategies
  • To create models and algorithms to enable congestion management taking advantage of the flexibility provided by dc distribution smart grids
  • To develop intelligent algorithms to increase system reliability by automatic islanding/de-islanding and by enabling autonomous dc smart grid operation
  • To achieve system modularity in as many of the proposed designs and prototypes as possible

2. Market Development Layer

  • To develop solutions that couple smart markets with the physical system, for example, voltage-dependent pricing
  • To develop decentralized real-time markets and market models for the prosumers and DSOs, including parties like electric vehicles
  • To bring the abovementioned solutions towards a proof of concept at the demonstration sites: DC Grid Haarlemmermeer in the Netherlands and the Swiss dc grid.
  • To bring the abovementioned solutions towards a proof of concept at the demonstration sites: DC Grid Haarlemmermeer in the Netherlands and the Swiss dc grid.

3. Stakeholder Adoption Layer

  • To overcome barriers to widespread user adoption by supporting the on-going standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and country-specific standardization for dc distribution grids.
  • To show the effectiveness and applicability of the developed solutions by means of the demonstration sites.