DEMAND Project: Bottom-Up Aggregation of Prosumers in Distribution Networks

The paper explains the concept of the DEMAND project, whose aim is to develop a technical framework for allowing a Bottom-Up aggregation of prosumers connected to the distribution grid. Load and generation aggregation is a very current issue given the great potential that the coordinated management of distributed resources has on power systems operation and design. The novelty in DEMAND is the absence of a physical aggregator and the recourse to a virtual aggregation environment (VAE) for allowing the exchange of information among the prosumers in order to provide a service to the DSO. After a general description of the research project, the paper presents the services that the aggregated community can offer to the grid, the components to be installed at the prosumer's facility for the participation to the DEMAND community and the steps of the flexibility bidding and provision phases.