MESP - An Interoperable Platform for Multi-Energy Systems

The future integration of different energy carriers in a single multi-energy network is fundamental for enhancing the flexibility, efficiency and sustainability of the whole energy system. This challenge is strongly associated with the digital transition of networks, as it requires an integrated management of data coming not only from several internal systems of utilities (GIS, asset management, DMS), but also related to different energy vectors. This paper presents a semantic, modular, open-source platform based on international standards to manage and study multi-energy networks: the Multi Energy Semantic Platform (MESP). The architecture, based on Kubernetes and microservices, ensures synergy between semantic web technologies and big data/machine learning algorithms. To show the potential of the platform, a real case study for the city of Milan is presented. In this example, the electricity distribution grid and the district heating network are described using a compatible semantic model (based on IEC CIM) and their exchange points are identified and geographically visualized. Both utilities and universities may benefit from this open-source platform, which supports an easy integration of innovative artificial intelligence algorithms and is adaptable according to the needs of considered use cases. Moreover, the MESP may support management operations of energy communities or small electric cooperatives, which cannot afford large investments both in economic terms and in human resources.