Page 295 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

The European Union: Nordic Countries and Germany Chapter j 14 269

FIGURE 14.8 Bornholm energy system (EcoGrid EU, 2015).

on the island participated in flexible electricity demand response to the real-
time electricity price signals using demand response appliances and smart
controllers. Participants were divided into four groups, and every 5 min
electricity prices were updated and the amount of electricity available was
determined. Depending on the group, this information was accessed by one’s
own initiative, shared via a notification to one’s cell phone, or based on the
electricity price electric heating systems and heat pumps were automatically
turned on or off. This is used to study how participants can stabilize the
fluctuating nature of wind power to ensure a stable grid system while saving
money on their electricity bills (EcoGrid EU, 2015). The objective of the
EcoGrid was to develop and demonstrate real-time market solutions that can
be used into the future as energy systems continue to fluctuate because of high
penetrations of renewable energy as a way to balance grid fluctuations
(Fig. 14.9).
Currently the technology used on Bornholm applied only to house-heating
systems; however, in the future it will include home appliances and electric
vehicles. A test house was furthermore created, a normal residential house
equipped with the EcoGrid Technology, to teach those participating in the
project how the EcoGrid project could affect their energy usage and to
demonstrate how the system operates, and over 600 houses took part in group
training sessions.

SWEDEN

Sweden is a country heavily dedicated toward sustainability, enacting a variety
of measures and practices with the environment in mind, such as the heavy use