scholarly journals Web-based platform for the management of citizen energy communities and their members

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helder Pereira ◽  
Luis Gomes ◽  
Pedro Faria ◽  
Zita Vale ◽  
Carlos Coelho
Keyword(s):  
Demand Response ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
End Users ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Management Models ◽  
Energy Profiles ◽  
Load Response ◽  
Demand Response Programs

AbstractThe appearance of citizen energy communities demands the conception, development, and testing of new management models for the community and its end-users. Citizen energy communities promote the active participation of end-users, including them in the management of the community. End-users are incentivized to participate in demand response programs and share their energy among peers, enabling a decrease in their energy costs. In this paper, it is proposed a platform for the management of citizen energy communities. The paper focuses and presents four services related to energy tariffs, end-users’ aggregation, price elasticity, and load response. The services are based on historical data and enable deep analysis of end-users’ energy profiles. As the platform allows the upload of different scenarios, it is possible to test and validate management models in multiple energy communities and scenarios and study their impact in different conditions. The paper presents a case study, where all the services are applied to a community with 996 end-users.

scholarly journals Optimal Control of Multiple Microgrids and Buildings by an Aggregator

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Ferro ◽  
Riccardo Minciardi ◽  
Luca Parodi ◽  
Michela Robba ◽  
Mansueto Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Distributed Generation ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Demand Response ◽  
Electrical Grid ◽  
Energy Management Systems ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Systems Models ◽  
Fair Assignment ◽  
Demand Response Programs

The electrical grid has been changing in the last decade due to the presence of renewables, distributed generation, storage systems, microgrids, and electric vehicles. The introduction of new legislation and actors in the smart grid’s system opens new challenges for the activities of companies, and for the development of new energy management systems, models, and methods. A new optimization-based bi-level architecture is proposed for an aggregator of consumers in the balancing market, in which incentives for local users (i.e., microgrids, buildings) are considered, as well as flexibility and a fair assignment in reducing the overall load. At the lower level, consumers try to follow the aggregator’s reference values and perform demand response programs to contain their costs and satisfy demands. The approach is applied to a real case study.

scholarly journals Expert Assessment of Prioritized Determinants For a Smarter Grid Through The Lens of Residential Demand Response: The Case Study of Ontario, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
Iliopoulos Nikolaos ◽  
◽  
Onuki Motoharu ◽  
Nistor Ioan ◽  
Esteban Miguel
Keyword(s):  
Smart Grid ◽  
Demand Response ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
Private Data ◽  
Residential Demand ◽  
Technological Limitations ◽  
Demand Response Programs

In recent years, smart grids have attracted considerable attention. However, despite the promising potential of the technologies encompassed within such systems, their adoption has been slow, geographically varied, and in the context of residential demand response, often subject to public scrutiny. The heterogeneous evolution of the smart grid is not only the product of technological limitations but is additionally sensitive to socio-political considerations prevalent at the national or provincial level. Through expert interviews that were conducted in Ontario, Canada, this study provides insights into which smart grid factors are considered as most important for its development, and also what are the drivers, inhibitors, benefits, and drawbacks that a smart grid provides and / or entails, placing particular emphasis on residential demand response programs. The constructs scrutinized were adapted from previous studies, and the information collected was analyzed following the procedure of the Grounded Delphi Method. The findings indicate that a consensus was reached, in that smart grids pave the way for increased demand flexibility and loss reductions, though these are contingent on measures being implemented regarding the creation of investment opportunities, engagement of consumers, and ensuring the security of private data. Relevant policy implications and research recommendations are also explored.

scholarly journals Building a web-based app for persons with physical disabilities: A collaboration between game developers and rehabilitation researchers (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Terrill ◽  
Justin J. MacKenzie ◽  
Maija Reblin ◽  
Jackie Tyne Einers ◽  
Jesse Ferraro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Software Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Software Development Process ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Cord Injury

BACKGROUND Individuals with disability and their partners, who often provide care, are both at risk for depression and lower quality of life. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are promising to address barriers for mental health care. Rehabilitation researchers and software development researchers must collaborate effectively with each other, and with clinical and patient stakeholders to ensure successful mHealth development. OBJECTIVE To aid researchers interested in mHealth software development by describing the collaborative process between a team of rehabilitation researchers, software development researchers, and stakeholders. Thus, we provide a framework (conceptual model) for other teams to replicate in order to build a web-based mHealth app for individuals with physical disability. METHODS Rehabilitation researchers, software development researchers, and stakeholders (people with physical disabilities and clinicians) are involved in an iterative software development process. The overall process to develop an mHealth intervention includes initial development meetings and a co-design method called “designbox”, in which the needs and key elements of the app are discussed. Based on the objectives outlined, a prototype is developed and goes through scoping iterations with feedback from stakeholders and end-users. The prototype is then tested by users to identify technical errors and gather feedback on usability and accessibility. RESULTS Illustrating the overall development process, we present a case study based on our experience developing an app (SupportGroove) for couples coping with spinal cord injury. Examples of how we addressed specific challenges are also included. For example, feedback from stakeholders resulted in development of app features for individuals with limited functional ability. Initial designs lacked accessibility design principles made visible by end-users. Solutions included large text, single-click, and minimal scrolling to facilitate menu navigation for individuals using eye-gaze technology. Prototype testing allowed further refinement and demonstrated high usability and engagement with activities in the app. Qualitative feedback indicated high levels of satisfaction, accessibility, and confidence in potential utility. We also present key lessons learned about working in a collaborative interdisciplinary team. CONCLUSIONS mHealth promises to help overcome barriers to mental health intervention access. However, the development of these interventions can be challenging because of the disparate and often siloed expertise required. By describing the mHealth software development process and illustrating it with a successful case study of rehabilitation researchers, software development researchers, and stakeholders collaborating effectively, our goal is to help other teams avoid challenges we faced and benefit from our lessons learned. Ultimately, good interdisciplinary collaboration will benefit individuals with disabilities and their families. CLINICALTRIAL n/a

scholarly journals Ramping of Demand Response Event with Deploying Distinct Programs by an Aggregator

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omid Abrishambaf ◽  
Pedro Faria ◽  
Zita Vale
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Demand Response ◽  
Small Time ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Time Simulation ◽  
Demand Reduction ◽  
Resistive Loads ◽  
Demand Response Programs

System operators have moved towards the integration of renewable resources. However, these resources make network management unstable as they have variations in produced energy. Thus, some strategic plans, like demand response programs, are required to overcome these concerns. This paper develops an aggregator model with a precise vision of the demand response timeline. The model at first discusses the role of an aggregator, and thereafter is presented an innovative approach to how the aggregator deals with short and real-time demand response programs. A case study is developed for the model using real-time simulator and laboratory resources to survey the performance of the model under practical challenges. The real-time simulation uses an OP5600 machine that controls six laboratory resistive loads. Furthermore, the actual consumption profiles are adapted from the loads with a small-time step to precisely survey the behavior of each load. Also, remuneration costs of the event during the case study have been calculated and compared using both actual and simulated demand reduction profiles in the periods prior to event, such as the ramp period.

scholarly journals Demand Response Programs Management in an Energy Community with Diversity of Appliances

2021 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 00023
Author(s):  
Rúben Barreto ◽  
Pedro Faria ◽  
Zita Vale
Keyword(s):  
Demand Response ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Demand Response Program ◽  
Energy Community ◽  
Demand Response Programs ◽  
The Given ◽  
Peak Set

This paper shows the behaviour of a Demand Response program designed to be implemented in Energy Communities, where they take advantage of photovoltaic production. The primary objective is to manage both photovoltaic overproduction and village consumption efficiently. The DR program focuses on looking for consecutive periods that exceed a target peak set by the aggregator after analysing the consumption of the given energy community. The case study includes three villages, where participants are expected to be members of a community. The results are that participants will see a reduction in costs and electricity consumption.

scholarly journals A Collaboration Between Game Developers and Rehabilitation Researchers to Develop a Web-Based App for Persons With Physical Disabilities: Case Study

10.2196/13511 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e13511
Author(s):  
Alexandra L Terrill ◽  
Justin J MacKenzie ◽  
Maija Reblin ◽  
Jackie Einerson ◽  
Jesse Ferraro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Software Development ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
End Users ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Software Development Process ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Cord Injury

Background Individuals with a disability and their partners, who often provide care, are both at risk for depression and lower quality of life. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are promising to address barriers to mental health care. Rehabilitation researchers and software development researchers must collaborate effectively with each other and with clinical and patient stakeholders to ensure successful mHealth development. Objective This study aimed to aid researchers interested in mHealth software development by describing the collaborative process between a team of rehabilitation researchers, software development researchers, and stakeholders. Thus, we provide a framework (conceptual model) for other teams to replicate to build a Web-based mHealth app for individuals with physical disability. Methods Rehabilitation researchers, software development researchers, and stakeholders (people with physical disabilities and clinicians) are involved in an iterative software development process. The overall process of developing an mHealth intervention includes initial development meetings and a co-design method called design box, in which the needs and key elements of the app are discussed. On the basis of the objectives outlined, a prototype is developed and goes through scoping iterations with feedback from stakeholders and end users. The prototype is then tested by users to identify technical errors and gather feedback on usability and accessibility. Results Illustrating the overall development process, we present a case study based on our experience developing an app (SupportGroove) for couples coping with spinal cord injury. Examples of how we addressed specific challenges are also included. For example, feedback from stakeholders resulted in development of app features for individuals with limited functional ability. Initial designs lacked accessibility design principles made visible by end users. Solutions included large text, single click, and minimal scrolling to facilitate menu navigation for individuals using eye gaze technology. Prototype testing allowed further refinement and demonstrated high usability and engagement with activities in the app. Qualitative feedback indicated high levels of satisfaction, accessibility, and confidence in potential utility. We also present key lessons learned about working in a collaborative interdisciplinary team. Conclusions mHealth promises to help overcome barriers to mental health intervention access. However, the development of these interventions can be challenging because of the disparate and often siloed expertise required. By describing the mHealth software development process and illustrating it with a successful case study of rehabilitation researchers, software development researchers, and stakeholders collaborating effectively, our goal is to help other teams avoid challenges we faced and benefit from our lessons learned. Ultimately, good interdisciplinary collaboration will benefit individuals with disabilities and their families.

A Case Study on Web-based Learning Environment Evaluation in Higher Education: Learner Perspectives in a Private University in Malaysia.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-33
Author(s):  
Zarina Che Imbi ◽  
Tse-Kian Neo ◽  
Mai Neo
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Private University ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Web Based Learning ◽  
Kirkpatrick’S Model

In the era of digital learning, multimedia-based classroom has been commonly used in higher education including Malaysian higher education institutions. A case study has been performed to evaluate web-based learning using Level 1 to 3 of Kirkpatrick's model in a multi-disciplinary course at Multimedia University, Malaysia. In this study, mixed method research was employed in which triangulation was performed from multiple sources of data collection to give deeper understanding. Students perceived that learning with multimedia was enjoyable. They were also motivated in learning and engaged through the use of web module as multimedia was perceived to motivate them and make learning fun. Students showed significant improvements in their knowledge based on the pre-test and post-test results on learning evaluation. Students were perceived to transfer the learning from web-based learning into the learning outcome. The systematic evaluation can provide the feedback that educators and institution as a whole need to improve the learning environment and programme quality. This study contributes to the research field by adding another perspective in evaluations of web-based learning. It also provides empirical evidence on student perspectives, learning and behaviour in a private university. It demonstrated that the Kirkpatrick's model is useful as an evaluation tool to be used in higher education.

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